JAMAICA . 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



Vol VI 



New Series SEPTEMBER, 1899, p _ 



CINCHONA : A RETROSPECT AND A PROSPECT. 



Cinchona bark and quinine are now at one of the most interesting 

 periods of their history since the introduction of the former to Europe 

 in 1640 and the discovery of the latter about 1820. For the benefit 

 of those, who have missed the opportunity of following recent 

 developments in these drugs a few succinct notes on these will be worth 

 giving, and we may at the same time add something new in the shape 

 of information as to the course of events in the future. 



Quinine has seen a period of active speculation, during which its 

 price in the " second-hand" market (that is in the buying and selling 

 of German quinine in London that mainly takes place in Mincing 

 Lane and between parties none of which are makers) has gone up to 

 Is. 9£d. per ounce, and since receded to Is. 4d. The natural cause 

 of such an advance was, the short supplies of bark that continental 

 makers of quinine possessed, in spite of the huge shipments from the 

 producing countries in 1898. 



The course of events that has led up to this state of affairs is re- 

 markable. South America, the home of the cinchonas, has for some years 

 been almost a negligible source of supply for cinchona bark. Since the 

 cultivation of the cinchona trees was taken up in -Java, India, and Ceylon 

 prices have declined so much as to discourage the exporters and collec- 

 tors in South America from pursuing their labours. India and Ceylon, 

 once started on the cultivation, rapidly grew, the latter especially ex- 

 tending its output so quickly as to cause most venturesome prophecies 

 of its future. But prices became too low even for it, and Java, which 

 was longer in getting on its feet, when it did stand took a firmer foot- 

 ing, and so has been able to endure the cutting down of prices. The 

 Dutch in his island laid hold of the best kind of tree, and then made 

 tremendous strides in securing the bark market,which was thus transfer- 

 red from London to Amsterdam. Ceylon planters at last found prices so 

 unremunerative that they began uprooting trees, and turning their 

 attention to other things. India reached her height in 1889, and has 

 since then been going down fast, her planters also being disgusted with 



