1837.] 



and preparation of Senna. 



361 



The lands appropriated in that district to the culture of Senna, are of 

 a very expensive description, while it does not by any means appear 

 certain that they are the best, since, by giving a tendency- 1 to excessive 

 luxuriance, it is probable the due elaboration of the active principles of 

 the plant is prevented, and mucilage formed j to which its diminished 

 activity and greater tendency to fermentation may be mainly owing. 

 Bearing in mind its power of resisting heat and drought, it will perhaps 

 on this account be found, that the much cheaper, light sandy soils of the 

 sea coast, and along the banks of rivers (now extensively appropriated 

 to the cultivation of Indigo) are better adapted for its culture. The si- 

 milarity, indeed, in many respects, of the Indigo plant is such, as to give 

 us reason to believe, that any soil found suitable for it, will answer for 

 Senna. Commercially speaking, it is of importance to determine, whe- 

 ther the drug produced on cheap and easily wrought soils, has its active 

 properties increased or diminished. I would, therefore, recommend 

 attention to this subject, since, if the former is found to be the case, it 

 will probably materially diminish the cost, and fit it for the consump- 

 tion of the Indian markets. The Tinnevelly Senna being nearly 500 

 per cent, dearer than the Egyptian or bazar Senna. 



I have mentioned above that only one crop, of three gatherings, lasting 

 through a period of about one month, is procured from each plant, after 

 which it is no longer considered fit to produce a marketable article. 

 Mr. Royle informs us that he raised at Seharunpore some plants from 

 seed picked from a parcel of bazar Senna. A figure of the plant, proves 

 its identity with the one cultivated in Tinnevelly, while its medicinal 

 properties were ascertained by experiment, to be equal to the best any 

 where grown. He, in collecting the crop, in place of gathering the leaves 

 as practised here, cut down the whole bush. Some sown early (in March) 

 " were cut down three different times, and always threw out a profusion 

 of new branches, so that several crops were procured from the same 

 plant in one season." The vegetation of some that was sown later, 

 seemed only stopped by the accession of the cold weather. A combi- 

 nation of these plans might prove eminently productive, for, by sowing 

 earlier, say in August and September, the first crop might be gathered 

 in February or March, the plants might then be cut down, the soil 

 slightly ploughed and manured between the rows, and watered ; when 

 a second crop might be expected about the usual time of gathering the 

 first, according to the present practice ; and, perhaps, as many as four 

 crops might thus be obtained from the same roots, as they would be ex- 

 tending and strengthening after every cutting ! This is the method 

 adopted with Indigo, and I can see no reason to apprehend failure in the 

 case of Senna, while it might be the means of effecting so great a reduc- 

 tion in the cost of production, as w T ould enable it not only to compete 

 with on equal terms, but even to undersell, the Egyptian article in this 



