Drugs and 



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successful cinchona plantations. In 1851 the botanist Hasskarl was sent to Peru 

 for the purpose of obtaining seeds and plants. Only a comparatively small number 

 of plants arrived in good condition in Java, where the first cultural efforts were 

 made. In 1856 Hasskarl had 156 young plants out of the 400 which he secured. 

 The efforts prospered, and as early as 1862 there were over 1,360,000 seedlings and 

 young trees, mostly of Cinchona calisaya, C. lancifolia, C. micrantha and 

 C. succirubra. Cinchona paludiana, a species of doubtful utility, grew very rapidly. 



About 1852 the British Government began to take active interest in cinchona 

 culture, due in a large measure to a report by Royle, addressed to the East India 

 Company, in which it was set forth that the Government of India was then spend- 

 ing about £30,000 annually for cinchona bark and quinine. After some hesitation 

 and discussion it was decided to make attempts to secure seeds and plants from 

 Bolivia. The Bolivian Government, however, was and still is very jealous of its 

 cinchonas, native and cultivated, and has done everything possible in the way of 

 preventing or hindering their introduction into other countries. The government 

 has either refused to allow seeds and plants to leave the country or has insisted 

 on prohibitory prices. In spite of all obstacles, seeds and plants were secured. 

 In 1860 Markham, through the influence of R. Spruce, obtained some 150 plants 

 of C. calisaya, var josephiana, C. orata, C. micrantha and C. pubescens. G. J. 

 Pritchett, under Markham's direction, also secured numerous plants and seeds 

 of C. micrantha and C. nitida. Plants and seeds were also obtained from the Dutch 

 plantations of Java, and seeds of C. lancifolia from New Granada through Dr. 

 Karsten. The British Government undertook these operations on a large scale, 

 sparing no pains or expense. After careful consideration it was decided that the 

 most suitable area for possible successful cinchona culture in British India was 

 on the south-west coast in the Madras presidency, among the Nilgiri (Neilgkerry) 

 hills. The first plantations were established at an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea 

 level. Propagation was rapid, and in 18615 nearly 2,000,000 plants were well estab- 

 lished in the Nilgiri hills alone, to say nothing of various isolated private planta- 

 tions. Of the different species attempted, C. officinalis did best. Since that time 

 the India cinchona plantations have increased rapidly, other areas being planted 

 in different parts of India. The bark began to appear in the London market in 

 1867, and since then has continued to be shipped in increasing quantities. 



Both the Dutch and British efforts with cinchona culture have proven 

 successful in every way. More or less extensive plantations are found in Bolivia 

 and other South American countries, in Central America, West Indies, Mexico, 

 Africa and a few other countries. None of these, however, has the importance 

 of the Dutch and English plantations. 



CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN THE ANDES. 



The average altitude of the Andean natural habitat of the cinchonas ranges 

 from 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. The highest altitude, as noted by Karsten, 

 is 11,000 feet, and C. succirubra is occasionally found as low as 2,500 feet. In a 

 general way it may be stated that the altitude of the cinchona zone decreases with 

 the recession from the equator, and the most valuable sorts are not found loAver 

 than 5,000 feet. None has ever been found in the lowlands and river valleys. The 

 climate of this region is said to be very variable, sunshine, showers, storms, thick 

 fogs and mists alternating with rapid succession, yet with no great range in 

 temperature. According to Fluckiger a transient depression of the thermometer 

 even to the freezing point and not infrequent hailstorms may be borne without 

 detriment by the more hardy species. The mean temperature most favourable to 

 the growth of the majority of species appears to be 12 degrees to 20 degrees C. 

 (51 degrees to 68 degrees F.). It is very evident that the native cinchonas have 



