August i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
219 
to investigate tho subject in Ceylon. These inquiries are 
still progressing, and, pending the final report, it would 
lie unwise, I think, to give any dogmatic opinion or 
advice. 
It, may be mentioned that Mr. Anderson was good 
enough to forward me a copy of his essay some time ago, 
and that having brought it to the notice of the Agri- 
Horticultural Society, thoy published his practical " con- 
clusions" in their Proceedings. 
Order thereon, 11th June 1881. Colonel Beddome is of 
opinion that tho remedies proposed by Mr. Anderson might 
be tried on small given areas, but considors the expense 
attenling the trial prohibitive as regards large estates. 
\\ bile concurring generally with tho Conservator's con- 
clusions, the Superintendent, Government Central Museum, 
thinks that chemical manures would assist the coffee 
shrub in recovering its condition after an attack of loaf- 
disease; but recent investigations would rather point to 
a selection of healthy seed as being tho main preventive 
of the disease, as it is not improbable that germs of the 
leaf-disease lurk in the seed. 
The above is addressed to the Commissioner of the 
Nilgiris ; the Conservator of Forests ; he Superintend- 
ent, Government Central Museum ; the Honorary 
Secretary, Nilgiri Planters' Association ; the Honorary 
Secretary, Wynaad Planters' Assciation. — Ed.] 
CINCHONA C. LEDGERIANA PLANTS ON 
YARROW AND ST. ANDREW'S ESTATES, 
CEYLON. 
St. Andrew's, Maskeliya, 16th July 1881. 
Dbar Sir, — The origin of the Yarrow Ledgeriana 
trees is probably of interest, and as the paragraph 
in the local Times is hardly correct I may as well 
give the following particulars, 
When the late Mr. Mclvor was in Ceylon in 1875, 
I had the benefit of a visit from him, and he gave 
me, amongst other seeds, a small quantity of the C. 
Calisaya, saying that it would yield a very rich bark, 
bat would never be more than a stunted shrub in 
size. While his opinion as to the richness of the 
bark has proved true, his idea as to the growth of 
the plant, founded on his experience at 7,000 feet 
elevation, has proved wrong, when the proper elevation 
is selected. 
The oldest of the plauts resulting from this seed 
were put out on this estate in June 1876, and, as 
an experiment, I planted the remaining plants anil some 
cuttings on Yarrow • in December 1S77. — Yours 
faithfully, THOS. NORTH CHRISTIE. 
men I'uicK.s r>i; i;kd i;ai;r. 
Kirkoswald, Bogawantalawa, 18th July 1881. 
Dear Sir,— In reply to " Peruvian" and " Cateador" 
in your issue of 12th inst , the Kirkoswald succi- 
rubra trees, which produced the 5s 5d bark referred to, 
•wore eight years old. The following oxtract from 
Messrs Brookes & Faith's Fortnightly Report de- 
scribes the bark : — 
Mincing Lane, 9th June J881. 
* • * " Suecirubra— Importers were free sellers, 
and nearly all offered sold at very irregular prices, but 
ordiuary up to middling quality quill showed a decline 
from 2d to 4d per lb., excepting sightly Druggists 
quality, which sold with capital competition at full 
values. Wo would call particular uttcutiou to 12 
cases mark "Kirkoswald" recently arrived per " Nava- 
rino." Tho quality of these was the Guest and most hand- 
some we have seeu iu this market fur a considerable 
time past, being very bold, fine stout, even unbroken 
selected sightly quill, about 2 feet long, and realised 
5a 5d per lb. Wo understand the analysis turned 
out well, but tho high prico obtained was duo to 
the fine appearance. 0 her lots of druggist's quill sold 
from 2s lOd to 3s 8d per lb. 
I quite agree with "S. T." in your issue of 16th 
intant in considering this district eminently suited 
for cinchona cultivation, for in no other have I seon 
more luxuriant growth, nor have I heard of better ana- 
lyses being obtained from trees of the same age. 
From the 8 year old trees cut down in February 
last, the average weight per tree was 9 lb. (stem and 
branch only) dry bark. 
I strongly recommend the packing of good drug- 
gists' quill in cases, on the estate, to prevent its 
being damaged in transport ; and feel certain that 
had I packed the contents of the 12 cases (meutioncd 
in B & F.'s report) iu ordinary bags, they would not have 
reached Englaud in as good order, or fetched as good 
a price.— Yours truly, R. B. ARTHUR. 
English Fruit Trees in Central Africa. — A 
correspondent of the Times states that a small selec- 
tion of English fruit trees — apples, pears, apricots, 
cherries, figs, plums, etc. —despatched to Central Africa 
last December to one of the upland stations of the 
Universities' mission, bore the three months' journey 
so well as to show signs of life and growth within 
a very few days of their being planted in their neie 
home. — Colonics & India. 
The Yarrow Ledgekiana Trees. — It appears the 
"Ledger" trees on Yarrow, from which the famous 
sample was taken which obtained a valuation of 
17s. a lb., were grown from a quantity of the true 
seed obtained by Mr. Maclvor from Mr. Ledger, 
and by the former given to the extent of a quarter of 
an ounce, to the present proprietors of Yarrow es- 
tate. From this small quantity a number of plants 
were raised which were partly distributed to two 
friends, and the balance are now to be seen on 
Yarrow ; now about three years old, of which one 
hundred and forty are of the undoubted "Ledger" varie- 
ty, the remainder of a less certain character, 
though evidently very good. The sample analysed, 
for it was only sample, was taken from a few trees : 
they are about twelve feet high and six or eight 
inches in circumference and are now coming into 
flower. The whole of this valuable seed will be 
kept for forming nurseries with which to plaut up 
the remainder of the Yarrow estate, making it a 
most, valuable property. — C. Times. [Seeing that Mr. 
Mclvor died early in 1876, ne could scarcely be the 
person who gave the proprietor of Yarrow seed some 
four years ago? — Ed.] 
American Tea. — Some tea from Georgia found its 
way into the New York market, and has been dis- 
cussed by the trade there. The tea was grown by 
Mr. H. Jackson, formerly ot Assam, from whence 
also the plant came. We learn that the experts — 
"After testing the different samples, Were united in 
the opinion that the teas were very good when 
compared with Indian tea— which, however, is a 
kind very little in use in the United States. It was 
also remarked that the American tea lacked the 
strength of that grown in India. The experts further 
said that in order to test the quality of American 
tea it is necessary to prepare it as Japan teas are 
made, and it was promised that the next samples 
would bo so prepared. The estimated cost of the 
tea on exhibition was from 16c. to 20c. per lb." We 
quote this from a trade journal. It is difficult to 
understand why the American teas "were good 
when compared with Indian tea," when it is ad* 
mitted that they " lacked strength" by tho same 
comparison. With nil due deference to the experts, 
wo are of opiuion that tho American oonaumer will 
bo less anxious about the preparation of this tea 
according to tho Japan fashion when he learns to ap- 
preciate Indian tea. — JJomc and Colonial Mail. 
