October i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
38s 
CINCHONA IN BOLIVIA. 
I11 the Proceedings of the Geographical Society for 
last month, there is printed a paper on Eastern 
Bolivia and the Gran Chaeo. I make the following 
extract with reference to cinchona from it, as likely 
to be of interest to your readers : — 
"The cinchonap'antations are at a height above the sea 
from 1,300 to 6,000 feet, and are formed, to some extent, 
with 1 he young plants from the forest, but cbieOy from 
seed, the small plants being transplanted, when 
three to four inches high, to the bottom of holes six 
feet apart and some six inches square by a foot deep, 
the mouth of the hole being covered by a piece 
of bark : the young plant is thus protected till it 
reaches the surface level, when the bark is thrown off, 
and it is able to bear the force of the sun. A 
year and a half from the time of the seed being sown, 
the plant attains a height of six to seven feet, and at 
the age of six years the trees are cut, each one 
yielding some 5 lb. of dry hark. The cost of forming 
a plantation of upwards of 50,000 plants a year old 
may be calculated at the rate of 2£d per plant. 
'•The bark grown on the steepest slopes appear to 
be the tiuest, and the immediate proximity of the high 
Cordillera is evidently advantageous, probably owing 
to the greater amount of moisture in the air. the 
more clouded atmosphere aud the frequent showers. 
Farther east the quality is much inferior. The finest 
Oaltsaya district extends northward along the slope of 
bhe mountains from lat. 16° 30'. This region also produces 
coffee of the finest quality, but little known 
abroad, owing to the high cost of transport, 
the production consequently not exceeding the de- 
mand of the nearest centres of population : indeed 
very line coffee is grown on all the eastern Andean 
llopea North of the 18th parallel, in the district 
of Guarayos, and on the ranges in other parts of 
Ohiquitos, that produced on the lower plains being 
somewhat inferior The privileged region of the ' Juu- 
gas,' or warm ravines of the La Paz Cordillera, pro- 
duces, besides coffee, the plant yielding the coca, so 
largely consumed by the Indian races of this part of 
the continent. The duty collected on this article 
alone by the Bolivian Government amounts to £40,000 
anuually." 
CALCUTTA BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
We have received the annual report for 1S80-81 
of the Royal ISotanical Garden, Calcutta, by the 
Superintendent, Dr. Geo. King, with the order of 
Government thereon, from which we notice that 
Dr. King does not think that the cultivation of 
rhe.en is likely to prove a commercial success in Bengal. 
The prizes offered for an efficient machine for cleaning 
the tibre havo hitlvrto failed to create much interest, 
in the subject, and it is unlikely that zemindars and 
not, will undertake the cultivation of the plaint until 
theri' is a cheap and effective means of bringing it into 
I m 1 ketable condition. 
Trials havo been made with various grasses with a 
vuh to discovering one yielding a paper-fibre, but 
hit herto unsuccossiuIL . 
Dr. King recommends that attention should bo given 
to the utilization of the plantain, which, so far as 
tbo 11 anufacture of paper is conci rncd, promises to 
bo the best of the tihre-producing plants in India, 
Tho Government has undertaken to assist persons 
willing to experiment with plantain. As regards 
economic plants wo learn that 
I In- Ceard rubber oontinuea to grow vigorously and 
to give promise of success. The Patd rubber and the 
KaaOjga^C&r rubber havo uutiroly failed. The other 
notio rubbers are very largo trues or climbers, and 
though, as Dr. King states, the oolleotion of rubber 
from them in their nativo forests when they have 
07 
grown to maturity may be profitable, the cost 
of planting and protection for several years, until 
they come to maturity, will probably prevent their 
cultivation in this country from becoming a success. 
Of the other economic plants, the mahogany and guattgo 
or rain tree appear to be the only exotic trees which, 
grow well in Bengal, and for which there is a demand. 
Among persons who have received or sent plants and 
seeds are Dr. Trimen and Capt. Bayley. The Kew 
Gardens also sent dried Ceylon plants for the herba- 
rium. At the Lloyd Botanic Garden, Darjeeling, pota- 
toes of the best English and Australian varieties are 
being raised to be distributed with a view to improv- 
ing the local produce. 
CEYLON COCOA AGAIN TOPPING THE 
MARKET. 
We are indebted to Messrs. Sabonadiere & Co. for 
the following detailed report and memorandum of sales 
from the Brokers, of Pallekelle and Ambeeotte cocoa, 
which are of special interest to all planters of this 
new product. Here we have a considerable shipment 
of cocoa, and the pre-eminence attained by previous 
samples is well maintained. It is evident that Cey- 
lon producers, assisted by their mercantile agents 
and shippers, are in a po-ition to keep the first place 
for excellence in preparation, whether it be of coffee 
(Arabicaand Liberica), cinnamon, coconut oil, or cocoa, 
and also, we trust, as the future will shew, in respect 
of tea, cinchona bark, cardamom?, India-rubbei, tobacco, 
&c. . &c. We trust that the high priceB obtained for 
first-claes qualities, will amply reward local enterprise 
in new products : — 
Report on 196 bags Cocoa, ex " Booldana" from 
Colombo. 
You will observe that the unclayed cocoa fetched 
the best prices. There is really nothing to say about 
this cocoa. It is often wise to leave well alone. You 
get enormous prices for these small lots, because the 
berries happen to have inside a colour which the 
chocolat makers like. The demand from this quarter 
is, however, a small one, and easily satisfied, and 
therefore, when your shipments are on a larger scale, 
you will have to be satisfied with lower prices. 
Amba, 27 bags, we think the finest cocoa in the parcel, 
it being bold and plump. Otherwise, « ith the exception 
of the difference in the size of th« beans, the cocoas 
are really all much alike; the break of the beans 
Wc fancy the cocoa is liked best unclayed. The clay- 
ing seems to make the busks much harder and heavier. 
We don't think we can do better than to advise you 
to try and send future shipments as liko Amba '27 
bags us possible.— (Signed) I. A. Rut'Kiiis & Benckaft. 
List of prices o/196 bags Cocoa, ex " Bootdana." 
Marks. 
Bags. 
At per cwt. 
Polli 1 
60 
99/ 
do 
13 
100/ 
do 2 
37 
92/6 
do T 
8 
70/6 
do 1 B . 
t 
92/6 
do 2 
1 sea 
damaged 72/6 
do B 
12 
84/ 
do T B .. 
1 
32/ 
Amba A 
27 
lU/6 
do B 
15 
104/6 
do A A . 
15 
109/6 
do I! B 
I 
87 
do T T 
44/fi 
IVt» bags Cocoa. 
