484 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. (January i, 1889. 
for practical purposes), was maturing a gigantic 
scheme for "cornering" the article. At that period 
the South Amerioan barks still gave the tone to the 
market, forming, in 1880, 58 per cent.; in 1881, 77 
per cent.; and in 1882, 72 per cent, of our total 
imports; and sudden fluctuations in price were 
greatly assisted by the restless political state of the 
South American Republics and the small number 
of great importers on this side. An idea of the 
importance of the shipments of Cuprea bark may 
be gathered from the fact that in 1881 over 
15,300,000 lb. of this variety were exported from the 
port of Baranquilla alone, a quantity almost equalling 
that shipped from Ceylon during the season 1885-6, 
the most productive one on record in the island. 
And when, in 1884, a large London firm of importers 
of South American bark came to grief, their stook 
of Cuprea alone is said to have reached over 
5,500,000 of lb. Much of this bark, especially the 
paroels imported when the first exploited woods became 
exhausted, is of a rather low average standard ; but 
nevertheless these importations represent an enormous 
aggregate of alkaloid. For years the owners of these 
barks seem to have witnessed the depreciation of 
their stock without being able to come to the resolu- 
tion to sell off as best they could, and only within 
the last few months have they begun to freely 
place their bark in auction, and thus it beoomes 
easy to estimate with some precision the difference 
which their policy of waiting for the never-returning 
tide of prosperity has made in the balance at their 
bankers. Let us take two typical examples from 
last Tuesday's sales, and compare the offers then 
made with the prices which the parcels might have 
realised some years ago ; for it is notorious that 
offers from five to ten times as high as are now 
eagerly accepted for the very same lots were at one 
time ioornfully refused. A parcel of 146 serons 
of Cuprea bark, imported in April 1882, was sold 
this week at 3d. per lb. The average weight of 
each seron being 140 lb., the owners obtained for 
their lot, roughly speaking, and not calculating 
allowances, discounts, &c, 2551. "When this bark was 
landed, six and a half years ago, they might easily 
have iold the same parcel at 2s. 6d. per lb. — then 
an average market value of Cuprea bark — thus 
realising 2,550?. Add to this 250Z. for six and a 
half years' loss of capital, warehouse charges, &c — 
a very moderate allowance — and one can easily imagine 
the feelings which the original importers (supposing 
the parcel to be still in his hands) must have experi- 
enced upon examining the sale acoount of the 
transaction. Another instance is that of a parcel of 
116 eerons of "Soft Colombian" bark, imported in 
March 1883, for which the owners last Tuesday 
refused to accept 3d. per lb., a decision which they 
may have reason to regret. When this bark was 
landed the price of the mark which it bears (horse's 
head over B) was from 3». to 3s. 3d. per lb., and 
the lot would have approximately cleared 2,400£. On 
Tuesday about 2002. might have been obtained for 
it — a price which would, perhaps, have defrayed the 
accumulated charges and the estimated allowance 
for interest, but very probably may now not again 
be obtainable. Well might the auctioneer, in offering 
some of these goods, refer to the " dreadful sacrifices " 
the owners were making, a remark, by the way, 
received with unsympathetic merriment. But it 
cannot be overlooked that the owners had had 
ample warning of the coming debdcle, and the 
general verdict will no doubt be that it served them 
right. In 1879 and 1880 the price of this "Soft 
Colombian " bark attained its zenith, from 5s. to 6s. 
(5d. per lb. being then obtainable for the best qualities ; 
but even in 1883, when the parcel above referred 
to was imported, the value was already falling at 
an ominous rate, and it was then well enough known 
to those who followed the bark market closely that 
in another three or four years tho reign of South 
American barks would have altogether passed away. 
At present all appearances would seem to indicate 
that the most advisable course for the holders of 
the South American barks, the accumulations of 
which still fill room after room in the gigantic 
warehouses at our docks, is to liquidate their goods 
in the promptest possible way, and to accept the 
inevitable without incurring further risks for the 
jsake of a few pounds. — Chemist and Drruggist. 
CULTIVATION OF THE ORANGE TREE 
IN SPAIN. 
Report by Consular Agent Lowenstein, op Grao, 
on the Cultivation and Propagation op thb 
Orange Tree in thf Province of Valencia. 
The study of the orange tree has determined by 
analysis that its ashes give the following result per 
cent, viz : — 
composition of the ashes op the fruit. 
Constituents. mwrnre 0om P 08t - 
Per cent. Per cent. 
Potash 20.15 15-28 
Soda 10.22 12.14 
Lime 30.12 30.24 
Magnesia ... 9.02 8.10 
Phosphoric acid 20.04 18.24 
Sulphuric acid 1.08 4.14 
Silicic acid 4.50 5.82 
Oxide of iron 4.25 4.78 
Loss 062 1.29 
100.00 100.00 
Ashes of the fruit ... per 100 3.57 3.48 
composition op the trunk, branches and leaver. 
Constituents. 
Potash 
Soda ... 
Lime 
Magnesia ... 
Phosphoric acid 
Sulphuric acid 
Silicic acid 
Iron and loss 
A.zoe of the leaves 
Ashes of the leaves 
per 100 
do. 
branches I" eave8 - 
Per cent. 
14.15 
10.67 
31.57 
10.64 
18.82 
4.89 
2.82 
6.44 
100.00 
1.57 
6.32 
100.00 
1.60 
6.20 
The orange trees analysed were from. Alcira 
(Valencia) ; some manured with compost and others 
with mineral manure. The proportional difference 
noted between the assimilated nutritive principles is 
not to be wondered at, for, as has been observed, this 
varies with the same plant according to the nature of 
the soil and the manure employed. 
Diseases op the Orange Tree. 
The development of disease in the orange trees is 
greatly contributed to by atmospherical phenomena, 
various insects, and parasitical plants, as also the 
neglect or limited knowledge of the cultivators. 
The effects of cold, snow, humidity, dews, frosts, 
hail, wind, burning rust, chlorosis or yellowing of 
the leaves, and withering are as follows :— 
Cold— This commences by destroying the tender 
shoots of the trees, followed by the drying up of the 
blossom, after which takes place the disorganization 
of the fruit and afterwards that of the leaves, branches, 
trunk and finally roots. Crevices open in the branches, 
whioh bend aud turn black, the leaves wrinkle, roll 
up and die ; the flowers become blackened and dis- 
organized ; the fruit loses its brilliancy, dissipates its 
odorous principles, loses its juice and becomes bitter, 
falls off the tree and rots, or if the cold has not been 
very intense the fruit is half frozen and remains on 
the tree till the following spring. 
