55 



does not require the flooding which is necessary for the early growth 

 of the Bengal indigo plant, and is therefore not exposed to the danger 

 of having its colour extracted during an exceptionally rainy season. 

 In fact in many respects, it possesses the properties eminently suited 

 for a profitable indigo crop, and in China at least the dye is pronounced 

 finer than that obtained from any other plant. It is propagated freely 

 by cuttings, yields prunings twice or three times a year, and is 

 perennial." 



The plant grows well at Cinchona and will possibly thrive in most 

 parts of Jamaica. 



This is another plant that will possibly be included in the " minor 

 products" list before long. 



Chiretta (Swertia Chirata, Ham.) — Seeds of this were obtained from 

 Mr. W. Gollan, Superintendent of the Government Botanic Gardens, 

 Saharanpur, N.W.P., India. The following short account of the plant 

 and its uses is taken from Watt's Dictionary. "A small, erect, 

 herbaceous plant 2 to 5 feet in height, met with in the temperate 

 Himalaya at altitudes 4,000 and 10,000 feet from Kashmir to Bhutan, 

 and in the Khasia mountains between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. The 

 drug obtained from the dried plant has long been held in high esteem 

 by the natives of India. By Hindu medical writers it is much esteemed 

 on account of its tonic, anthelmintic, and febrifuge properties, and 

 it is prescribed in fevers of all sorts in a variety of forms, and in 

 combination with other medicines of its class. By European practitioners 

 in India it is very frequently prescribed in place of gentian, and was 

 described by Fleming as possessing all the stomachic, tonic, febrifuge, 

 and anti-diarrhoetic virtues which are ascribed to that drug, and in a 

 greater degree than they are generally found in it in the state in 

 which it comes to us from Europe." 



Grafting Oranges. — In December and January last Mr. Harris 

 proceeded to three places at David's Hill near Cinchona for the purpose 

 of inarching oranges, selecting trees that are known to produce early 

 crops of good fruit. On January 20th and 27th notice having been 

 given by placards, a small number of people turned out when practical 

 demonstrations were given, and the advantages to be gained by pro- 

 ducing earlier crops of oranges were fully explained to them. The 

 branches inarched have not yet been severed from the trees, but when 

 they are removed they will be planted out in favourable localities for 

 propagating purposes. When speaking to the people about oranges Mr. 

 Harris took the opportunity of urging them to endeavour to produce a 

 better class of vegetables than those now grown by them They grow 

 potatoes, peas, turnips, carrots, cabbages, beet-root, etc., but all of 

 inferior kinds, whereas if they paid a trifle more for seeds of improved 

 varieties of such things, they would have no difficulty in producing 

 really good vegetables that would find ready sale. This is a matter in 

 which they need a little guidance and advice, and they appear willing 

 to be guided and advised. 



Assam Rubber. — There are three trees of this rubber (Ficus elastica) 

 at Pleasant Hill, near Cinchona, and through the kindness of the 

 proprietors, Messrs. Balguy and Turner, experiments have been made in 

 collecting milk from the trees, and from this a small sample of rubber 

 has been obtained. The trees are apparently of different ages, but all 



