December t, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
409 
To the Editor of the " Ceylon Obseyver.'' 
CINCHONA. 
London, 20th Oct. 1887. 
Dkah Sih,— Ah anything bearing on cinchona is 
always interesting to Ceylon growers, I have been 
endeavouring to get some particulars which may 
be of use to those who like myself arc interested 
in the artiolc. 
Our New York friends, Messrs Castleton and 
Moffat, under date of 15th October write us as 
follows : — 
" Quinine and Bark. — Wo find that the 
stock of bark in United States on 1st September 
was 1,984 packages, of which more than ^ was 
almost worthless, being rejections of former years. 
This is outside of manufacturers hands. 
Stock of quinine in United State., is variously 
estimated at from half a million to one million 
ounces, probably 000,000 to 700,000 is a fair 
estimate of stock held by speculators ; or in excess 
of dealers' usual supply. 
The consumption of quinine in 1886 was 3,100,000 
oz. The consumption has increased 70 per cent in 
this country, during the past 5 years. [N. B,— El>.' 
The value on this market keeps almost on a par 
with London and Germany. 
Tho present stock of bark in Europe and America 
contains 3,710,000 oz, of quinine, which gives us as 
visible supply 
oz. 
Stock of Quinine in America 700 000 
Estimated stock of Quinine in Europe 1,0"0 000 
Do do Bark 3,740,000 
5,410,OUO 
Total visible supply 
or say 10 or 11 months' supply. 
The estimate of European stock of quinine is 
more guess work, as we have no figures to base it 
upon, but believe it is a full estimate. 
We enclose statistics of supply and consumption 
running back to 1871, which are instructive, the 
present price being far below anything in the pre- 
vious history of the article. 
Can you give ns any information as to prospec- 
tive supplies of bark from Ceylon '? This is the 
point on which the whole question rests. If Ceylon 
is going to be short this coming year, or its supplies 
Ctmld he he'd back for a time to give the Trade a 
breathing spell, a marked change in the situation 
would be seen. 
The world's consumption of quinine in 1880 was 
a little over 6,000,000 oz., and it increases year 
by year about 10 per cent." 
From tho above you will see that the position 
of bark is good ; and a groat deal more depends 
on growers in Ceylon as to the future price of 
the article; if thoy wish the price to go up they 
must sto/i harvesting, and even if the unit price 
won to jump to 100 per cent, they must still 
kMfl back supplies; it's the only way we nre ever 
likely to get the prico hero to a paying point. 
Yi Indus ' ' iiuctii-iH wont Hut at ljd to \),\ per unit, 
a price that will not cover tho charges on low 
class bark. 
Tho;ic planters that arc coinpelh d to ship, let tliciu 
d" .i by sailing vojsoI tin the Cape , ' thoy thushuvo 
• month hlornge room free, ut only an extra uost of 
about i por cent for insuranco f. p. a. or 1 per cent 
if insured with average— and a possibility of a 
cheaper rate of freight. 
Stock of bark in London on 20th October wna 
60,490 packages against 69,870 same date last year; 
• riui.tore OOHftUM to ship nr.; compelled to r«nl- 
MM rapidly Ed 
u 
it is impossible, as no records are kept, to find out 
how much of this is good bark, but a fair average 
would be li per cent of quinine per lb. 
Manufacturers here do not hold much stock, pre- 
ferring to supply their wants at each auction. 
If Ceylon growers would now only combine to 
keep back their stocks, and let the trade have time 
to work oil imports; we would soon see an appreci- 
able rise. The markets on this side are governed by 
Ceylon, and I wish Ceylon men to bear this in mind. 
Trusting, foregoing may be of some interest to your 
readers, 1 remain, yours truly, 
E. T. LELMEGE. 
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Above receipts and deliveries represent bales of > ver- 
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considered equal to 2h .Soutli Americm bales. 
COCONUT CULTIVATION. 
Hapitigam Korale, 11th Nov. 1887. 
De.vh Siu, — During the forty years that I have 
been an occasional contributor to the co umns of 
the Old ltag, I have had many disgusting ex- 
periences of the transformations made by your 
P.D. ; the last not being the least. In a recent 
communication I ventured to use an expressivo 
fragment of my mother tongue, signifying impulsive 
briskness, which, to my horror, came out of your 
shop as virus. If writing a book be a grand 
opportunity for the enemy of tin* author, a printer's 
error will sometimes serve equally wi ll.* 
After ouo of the fierce political debates that 
habitually took place between Aristides and Themis- 
tocles, the former turned to the people and told 
them that the affairs of Athens would never 
prosper till they seized the pair, himself and hi.-i 
opponont. and threw thorn into the Uaratarium. 
In tho case of your Siyane Koralo por respondent 
and uayaeUi I do not ndvisc any measure > 
radical, but 1 think you might elo.n- your column 
to both of us, till we Inarm d to discusi pro- 
fessional matters in a philosophical spirit. BCeJi 
ing truth rather than victory. For any de- 
parture from this spirit, in my own cose, I Bepent 
in dust and a-dn s, in cow thariu and rotten 0 I) 
• Wbnt »■«» the bioad Scot' h rd " / ' . 
mi ovcr-Uitrod uiou' r) " luide gto I •- uw, tbou^li nttb-r 
vuipb.it.0-— K». 
