June i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
825 
CINCHONA BAEK PKOSPECTS. 
We think it may bo inferred from tho follow- 
1L1 g reports of the English, American and German 
»ait and quinine markets given in the Chemi.it and 
Druggist received by last mail, that the largo Blocks 
of quinine held by speculators — money-lenders 
chiefly — and the gradual working off, of such re- 
serves, has had a good deal to do with the depres- 
sion in the bark markets. Manufacturers could not 
possibly go in for increasing their stocks of an article 
which thoy knew to be already held by middlemen 
extensively, and accordingly they have been buying 
the raw material after a languid fashion. It is 
not a very pleasant fact to contemplate that— 
apart from the steady though gradual increase in 
consumption, especially in the United States, and 
what has to be done in promoting new demands, — 
the factor that would more than any other, favour- 
ably affect quinine, is the breaking out of the 
great War in Eastern Europe which Eussia has 
been, and is still, threatening. Armies in the field 
during summer in South-eastern Europe would require 
an enormous quantity of quinine. Meantime, we 
quote as follows : — 
Loudon, April 12th. Cinchona. — At Tuosday's sales 
there was a dull tone, and prices mar ked a decline 
averaging 5 to 10 per cent. The unit is calculated at 
2id to 2Jd, and nearer the lower than the higher figure. 
Heavier shipments from Ceylon account for this de- 
cline. Tho packages catalogued included 1,158 puck- 
ages of South American, of which only about 120 sold. 
Calisaya quill (Bolivian cultivated) sold at 7d to 7.Jd 
for broken (one packagoat BJd), to 8Jd to lOid for fair 
to good. Of Ceylon and Kast India there were 2,243 
packages, of which nearly two-thirds sold. Tho aver- 
age quality was, howover, very low. Succirubra rea- 
lised ljd to .'id for sittings. Id to Udfor branch, ljd to 
-lid for chips, some of which wcro largely mixed with 
branch ; tipoke shavings, 2*d to 5d ; root, 2Jd to 44d, 
and a small supply of special quality, 8Ad ; renewed, 2d 
to 3d ; ordinary to fair, 4.\d to Od ; good to fine, 7d to 
lOd. Grown brought 2d to 3d for branchy and small, 
and 5d for fair ; stom chips, 3^d to 5*d for shavings, 
l>*d for root, from 3d up to Is Id for renewed. Ledgeri- 
ana was sold at lOd to Is for stom chips, and 3d to 5d 
for branch. Of 31 cases of Java sold, long bold red re- 
alised 8^1 to !Hd, dull short quill varying from JAd to 9d. 
QuiNINK has had a rather eventful week. Before the 
Bales German makers had offered their product at 
Is 7d, and second-hand holders did business at Is 6d. 
After the sales large transactions took place direct at 
Is (id, and second-hand holders quotoda halfpenny less. 
Ovor 30.000 oz. of BS. anil Brunswick brands were 
bought at Is tid, after which, however, makers de- 
clined to go on. On Thursday there was a much 
stronger feeling, and after 25,000 oz. had been booked 
for forward delivery at Is 7d, makers refused to quote. 
Messrs. Howards, who intimated on Wednesday an 
inclination to accept lower terms than tiny had 
been quoting, wore tinner again on Thursday, but ap- 
parently not disinclined for business ->t their old rates, 
2s 2d per oz. in vials. It is generally thought that 
tho article has touched bottom — indood, a much 
bettor folding prevails, and if it woro not for the 
fear that a few lots hold by money-lenders 011 
ftcconnt ol speculators recently goue to grief are 
likely to be put upon tho market, a larger advance 
would probably forthwith take place. Thero seems 
to be an intent on the part of the manufacturers 
jointly to do their utmost to keep prices down. Thoy 
liiive doubtless profited well this yoar, as they have 
managed to buy back the bulk of their sales at reduced 
prices, without importing now stuff to any appreciable 
(•Mint. 
TAXUUMM aro in strong demand, with advancing 
rates. A parcel of new season Barbadoes, consisting 
of 205 packages, Hold under the hummer this week at 
21h (id to 2i">h per cwt. for slightly dark to fair bright, 
and some old MoiitHcrrat nt 15s to 17s tid. 
Irr.CAiTANHA. — Tho arrival this wook of «7 packages 
by the " llorrox " from Monte Video 1 > a welcome 
rciuforccmeut of our much shrunken stock. 
104 
The American Markets: New York, March 2(ith. 
— Quinine. — While the American manufacturers havo 
steadily maintained their price for some time back 
at 49c. (2s O.Jd) for bulk, foreign has been selling at 
43c. (Is Did), to 45c. (Is 10^1) according to brand, even 
in the face of quotations from abroad of Some 
largo holders increased their price immediately upon 
receipt of the advices of advances abroad and tho 
advance in prices of bark at the London sales, but 
they wore not sustained by others, who being anxious 
to realise, still continue to offer at previous prices, 
at which moderate quantities can at present be ob- 
tained, showing a weakness in the market here, 
which is attributed to large stocks in speculators' 
hands, and a bolief in the minds of many that there 
is a good profit 111 manufacturing the article at present 
selling prices. 
The German Market: — Hamburg, April 10th. — 
Barks. — Cinchona (Porto (Jabello) : Fine qualities are 
rare and command high figures. Very extreme prices, 
140m. (6Ad) asked by owners. In spite of the high 
prices there has been a regular demaud for this bark. 
Maracaibo was sold at 30m. (l£d), a very low price. 
Lima, in large supply, met with no demand. The new 
cultivated Calisaya bark was realised at 3.60m. to 4m. 
(Is 7d). Condurango very steady at 3.25m. Quillaya 
bark is arriving iu considerable quantities and depress- 
ing the market. Second-hand holders have reduced 
their price to 25m. to 26m. 
♦ 
SALT AS A MANURE. 
It is a well known fact that common salt (chloride of 
sodium) is a valuable fertiliser when used in small 
quantities or diluted with about 300 times its own 
weight or water — though destructive to plant life if 
used with only, or less than, 30 times its own weight 
of water. I use salt for manure iu special cases while 
the price is eleven measures (about 16 lb.) per rupee; 
if it was about 20 or 24 measures for rupee— I would 
use hundreds of pounds for every oue that I now uso. 
May it not be possible for Government to enlarge the 
present Customs Department, or to create a new one, 
specially with reference to the use of salt for agri- 
cultural purposes, whose duties would be to collect a 
light tax of say 8 as. or 12 as. per maund, aud to see 
that the salt was mixed with other manure on the soil 
beyond the possibility of extraction for human con- 
sumption. It seems monstrous that agriculture in so 
poor a country should be handicapped by a tax on 
manure while the Government is apparently desirous of 
improving it — the present revenue from salt must be 
the reason. The present system prohibits the use of 
salt for agriculture — and this letter is to propose that 
Government should raise a reduced revenue on it, just 
sufficient to cover the cost of the extra establishment 
required, and perhaps even to yield a small revenue. 
The quantity ol salt that would be used for agricultural 
purposes would be so large that a very small tax per 
maund would realise a large sum. The manufacture of 
the salt would find employment for much of the in- 
creasing populition, anil would enable the land to pro- 
duce more for their support. This matter ought to bo 
taken in hand by Government without delay as a 
means of obtaining revenue as well as a reliel to agri- 
culture, for any less tax than the pre.-ent will be a 
corresponding boon to agriculture. Tbo accompanying 
extract from tho Tea Cyclopiedia, well describes the 
situation. 
" .Salt (ohorido of sodium) being a direct constituent 
of plant*, is a valuable fertiliser. Salt stimulates tho 
organs of plants to more active vegetation. It pro- 
ne, tcs the decomposition of the animtl and the vege- 
tal-!, matters ol tho soil. It prevents e» il < fleets Ir.'in 
changes of temperature. It causes the soil to attract 
more moisture. It dt stroys vermin and weeds. It 
prevents mil. lew and helps to eradicate blight. All 
plants lake up salt with the greatest avidity, and if tbo 
Government of this country could only bo made to see 
through tho spectacle* ol the Gonn»ii iJovernnieiit.aiid 
allow metln luted salt, unlit for human consumption, 
though Uut unclean to the caste prejudices of the 
native*, to be sold tor a uomioal figure, » U1 *' " 
