December i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
533 
to the Madras Government show that the average 
quantity of drug given in each ease was for— 
Cinchonine sulphate . . . . 78-900 grains. 
Cmchomdino „ . . . . 08-8G3 
Quiaetum (Sikkim febrifuge) . . 107-135 „ 
According to these figures a pound of cinchonine sulph- 
ate would oure eighty-five eases at a cost of ten shill- 
ings, whilst a pound of the febrifuge would cure only 
sixty-live eases at a cost of thirty-two shillings, and a 
pound of cinehonidine sulphate would erne a hunched 
and one cases at a cost of less than thirty-four shillings. 
As regards relative cost, even at the tune above re- 
ferred to, it appears, therefore, that the advantage was 
not in favour of the [ndian-made febrifuge. Beyond that 
it must also he remembered Unit owing to the increased 
supplies of cinchona lank from every quarter the price 
of quinine is diminishing, while that of the febrifuge 
remains much the same and will present a still more 
onfavourable relation to the cost of other alkaloids. 
We have nothing to indicate that there is any prob- 
ability of the cost of the Indian-made febrifuge being 
reduced, for though the full amount of alkaloid is not 
obtained by the process adopted, it is perhaps the best 
that could be employed on the spot, and its wastefulness 
is an inevitable characteristic. 
Mr. Howard's opinion is unfavourable to the use of 
mixed alkaloids, and he is unable to perceive any ad- 
vantage that has arisen from their administration in thai 
way. Ou the contrary he thinks the alternate use of 
the different alkaloids separately is attended with better 
results, since he has observed that when the constitu- 
tion has become intolerant of quinine from long use, 
the change to sulphate of cinehonidine has been decidedly 
advantageous. 
PROFITS OF GRAPE CULTURE IN 
CALIFORNIA. 
jtion. 
icull 
The grape interest is expanding in e\ei 
It is not only in one section of the state 
ore is receiving such marked attention, but everywhere, 
both north and south. Thousands of acres are set out 
with grape cuttings, and in three years' time returns 
can be had. Even at the present time, oilers have been 
made in Fresno county to harvest the next grape crop, 
taking all the chances of possible failure or material 
| deterioration into consideration, for the net guaranteed 
stun of $150. per acre, the entire expense to be assumed 
' by the contractor, without takers in a single instance. 
The net profits of careful cultivation have been, in 
Borne instances, over $300 per acre. The wine, brandy, 
and raisin interest, centre on this one branch of industry, 
which is at present in its infancy, and hast just emerged 
j from that heavy cloud that has been weighing it down 
for years. — Rio News. 
HAN ANA Crr/l'l NATION" IN COLOMHIA. 
With reference to the profits of some branches of 
tropical agriculture Consul W. W. Randall — formerly vice- 
cousid general at this port — writes as follows from 
Barrauquilla, Colombia : 
•• The banana is planted at a cost of 15c. each, in- 
cluding the cost of and labor in clearing the land. It 
Ipvelopes in eight mouths, and yields a bunch of bananas 
Ruth in your markets from $1 to &2. They can he 
Bold here at the ship's side for 25c. per hunch. After 
tin- Oral crop the cost per year is trilling and the returns 
sure. Fortunes have been and Mill can be gathered ou 
this simple product. Another important plant which 
mills mi immense profit and appears to he but little 
known is the cocoa or chocolate plant. This plant 
uttiiin- maturity in this country in three years; the 
crop on the fourth year returns the original investment. 
After tin- each plant CftU be tOUntod oil to vield tile 
134 
owner at least $1-50 profit per annum. Being planted 
closely, the result per acre is about $500 profit. With 
a hundred acres carefully cultivated a man can have 
his income of $50,000 without fear of frosts, freshets, 
drouth, or any of the uncertainties attending a northern 
climate." — 11 in ,\V<r.-\ 
CTATEMALA INDIGO. 
llv Oil. 
•xhibited by the republic of 
and preparation ot indigo in that country : This species 
of indigo is known to American and European com- 
merce as " Guatemala indigo." In Salvador it is called 
by the native name of " Iiquilite," and is considered 
the most important agricultural crop of the entire 
republic. The plant grows wild, but is cultivated in 
properly prepared ground. Both the crops and the pro- 
duce vary according to the geological composition of the 
sod. Thus at the base of the volcano of San Salvador 
the yield of dye is sometimes about half a pound per 
load of leaves, while at some distance from the sea, 
thirteen or fourteen ounces are obtained. Lidigo is 
grown over nearly the whole of Salvador, forming ex- 
tensive fields and furnishing one of the most valuable 
products to its agricultural industry. The localities in 
which the plants are grown are called " manchones." 
The workmen, who are styled " sacateros," cut the 
plants with a small sickle, and make them up into 
sheaves of from fifty to sixty pounds weight. The 
,plants, after being cut, are thrown into vats filled with 
water; they "are here allowed to soak for a period of 
from twelve to seventeen hours, the time varying 
according to the temperature and quality of the water. 
When the liquid is in a state of fermentation the color- 
ing matter is drawn off into another vat, where it is 
beaten or kept in motion by means of wooden wheels, 
and then the dye is precipitated by the sap contained 
in the bark of the " tihui late" of the " platanillo," or 
of the " cuaja tinto." The first named bark is referred 
to as a species of lonidium, the second to Carina ind- 
ictt, while of the third i no clew is given as to the 
scientific name of the plant. All these plants have an 
acid reaction. When once the dye is precipitated it is 
allowed to remain during the night, and the next day 
it is boiled, filtered, pressed, and dried in the sun. 
Each bale, or " suron," contains 150 pounds, and the 
different qualities, or grades of the indigo are specified 
by numbers — from four to six, ordinary quality, or 
" cortes," from seven to nine, fine or superior, or 
" sobresalieutes.' 
The usual annual produce of indigo in Salvador 
amounts to about 2,100,000 pounds, the annual exports 
being between 14,000 to 15,000 " surons," of 150 pounds 
each, representing an approximate value of 1,721,378 
piastres or dollars. The superior quality indigo is sold 
at the country fans at about 8 reals per pound. In 
the American and European markets the prices vary of 
course, according to the supply from other countries. — ■ 
.S'c ie n t ific A me rica n. 
HORTICULTURE IN ALGERIA. 
(Journal oj the Society of Art", 7th October 1881.) 
Mous. V. Ch. Joly has communicated a paper on this 
subject to the Soc'iete d 1 Horticulture of Paris, of 
which the following is an abstract : — 
The more we advance towards the north, the more 
we find the taste for horticulture developed, just in 
the same proportion as .were nature does least, necessity 
will always render man active and industrious. 
Before speaking of the production of fruits, flowers, and 
trees. I ought to mention the great question which 
preoccupies Algeria, namely the water question ; without 
water, no vegetables, no animals, no colonisation is 
