CASSIA AND OTHER SPICE BARKS. 



491 



sources, we may suggest as mother plants C. cassia, Bl. and G. Bur- 

 manni, Bl. var. a. Ghinense, both stated by Teijsman and Binnendijk 

 to be cultivated in Java. The latter species growing also in the 

 Philippines, probably affords the cassia bark which is shipped from 

 Manila {Pharmacogra-pMa). 



The bark is stripped off by running a knife along the branch on 

 both sides, and then gradually loosening it, and after it is taken off it 

 is suffered to lie for twenty-four hours, during which it undergoes a 

 kind of fermentation, and the epidermis is easily scraped off. The 

 bark soon dries into the quilted shape in which it is brought to 

 market. In China it ranges in price from 8 to 25 dollars per picul. 

 It is there used to flavour medicine, and for making incense. The 

 extreme tender ends of the branches of the tree are also used as a 

 spice. 



Of late years no separate account has been taken by the Board of 

 Trade of Cassia bark, but we can get at some details of the special 

 commerce by referring back to the official returns of a few years 

 past. The imports and value of this spice bark were as follows 

 in the years specified : — 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value: 



1856 

 1857 

 1858 

 1859 

 1860 

 1861 

 1862 

 1863 



lbs. 



1,408,021 

 454,538 

 819,198 

 9-^9,729 

 580,560 

 283,869 

 580,141 



1,086,985 



£ 



46,575 

 20,575 

 35,705 

 32,780 

 22,142 

 11,247 

 20,180 

 41,263 



1864 

 1865 

 1866 

 1867 

 1868 

 1869 

 1870 



lbs. 

 885,936 

 1,117,909 

 349,349 

 521,852 

 568,212 

 530,537 

 875,991 



£ 



34,096 

 43,481 

 12,346 

 23,579 

 29,518 

 25,072 

 40,612 



If we trace the re-exports of cassia bark in the years for which the 

 shipments have been enumerated, we find that there is but a small 

 consumption of it in this country, not more than about 40,000 lbs. a 

 year on the average. The bulk of the receipts go to the Continent, 

 true cinnamon bark being preferred here. 



The re-exports of Cassia bark were in 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



1866 

 1867 

 1868 



lbs. 

 538,672 

 534,735 

 362,329 



£ 



25,963 

 24,361 

 18,693 



1869 

 1870 



lbs. 

 544,422 

 611,123 



£ 



26,699 

 27,192 



In 1872 the value of the Cassia lignea bark shipped from the 

 fourteen Chinese ports open to commerce was 11,591,334 dollars; 

 and in 1873, 14,007,924 dollars. Some Cassia bark is shipped from 

 Padang to the United States. 



There has been a very large and steady increase in the export of 



