L10 



The cinchona bark, is, of course, chiefly used tor tne manufacture 

 of alkaloid quinine, but it is difficult to correctly estimate the amount of 

 qninine produced in any countrv, since some of tha cinchona imported 

 is used in other ways, but the folio wing tabular statement has been given 

 as probably representing the world's production of quinine last year. 

 (Chemist and Druggist, Feb. 25. 1899.) 



Germany - - 7,594,000 oz 



United States 3,333,000 " 



France - 1,424,000 " 



United Kingdom - 1,500,000 " 



Java and other countries 1.000,000 ik 



The imports of bark in the United Kingdom and Holland during 

 the first quarter of last year amounted to 4,715,000 lb., while this year 

 the total is only 2,789,000 lb. 



The present value of English sulphate of quinine is 2s per oz., 

 against Is 4d. per oz. last vear. (Imp. Inst. Journ., v., p. 156, June, 

 1899.) 



CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN SOUTH INDIA. 



Action of the Madras Government. 



Madras, May 17th. — Mr. Standen, Government Quinologist, 

 Madras, has been deputed to visit Java to study the system of planting 

 cinchona and manufacturing Quinine there, and will be absent for some 

 months. 



It is proposed by the Madras Government to considerably extend 

 its cinchona plantations on the Neilgherries, and a large area has 

 recentlv been cleared close to the Pykara Falls.— Times of India. 



PEPPER CULTIVATION IN ASSAM. 



The Assam Government has recentlv issued a note on the cultiva- 

 tion of black pepper in that province, with the idea of inducing the 

 people to cultivate it extensively as a commercial product. At the pre- 

 sent time it is only produced in sufficient quantities to supply local re- 

 quirements. The pepper-vine in Assam, it appears, is generally reared 

 on betel-nut trees, and the average yield of a single vine is said to be 

 about three seers (40 seers=2^ lb.) of cured pepper. An acre of betel- 

 nut plantation holds about 500 trees. — Chemist and Druggist, March 11. 



