594 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [January 2, 1882. 
he says seems to have occurred at Darjeeling. There 
is evidently some confusion about the pubescent va- 
riety, and I fear that the officials do not always 
distinguish between some forms of " Succirubra " 
and "Pubescens" when growing in shola soil, and 
that awkward mistakes are liable to occur both in 
the supply of seed and collection of bark. Mr. 
Cross also informs mo that he found trees of this 
"Pata de Gallinazo" in the oldest plantations at 
Naduvatam and that he has no doubt it was intro- 
duced here from the commencement, but that it was 
not distinguished from "Succirubra" till it grew up 
and flowered or till its robuster growth became ap- 
aprent. 
I forward with this report carefully dried and 
mounted specimens of both " Magnifolia " and " Pubes- 
cens," so I trust that they may be compared with 
typical specimens of tho various species in the Kew 
Herbarium. I also forward specimens of all other 
species referred to in this report for comparison, &c. 
I examined the two trees in Dodabetfca from which 
Narrainsawmy tells me the analysis of hybrid "PubescenB" 
is given in G.O., No. 1.336, dated 23rd June 1879 
(Nos. 10, 11 and 12) ; they are both the glabrous variety 
that Mr. Rowson calls "Magnifolia" and Mr. Cross 
styles " Pata de Gallinazo." The results from tho 
three specimens sent vary much in the precentage of the 
different alkaloids, and also the variations with the 
samples sent from Naduvatam are considerable ; this is 
not satisfactory, though there is proof that we have in 
this plant a very valuable species. 
The Dodabetta Superintendent informs me that this 
tree suffers less from frost than the "officinalis." 
Mr. Howard calls this tree "officinalis" var. 
"Pubescens." It is in my opinion nearer "succi- 
rubra" than "Pubescens" [Officinalis? — Ed.] and 
it will be seen from some specimens that I for- 
ward that the leaves from shoots and suckers are 
nearly as large as those of " succirubra," though 
more lanceolate in shape and more pointed. No 
varieties of " officinalis," not even its largest leaved 
from " Uritusinga," ever produce leaves nearly as 
large as this. 
I much fear that in some cases seed of true " Succi- 
rubra " may have been forwarded from Naduvatam 
to Ceylon, Darjeeling or elsewhere instead of true 
" Pubescens," and that unfortunate mistakes may 
thereby arise. 
I have had long talks with Mr. Cross about this 
tree., and we have examined many together, and he 
now writes me : "The circumstance that this prolific 
and hardy sort has so long escaped notice, and the 
uncertainty that still exists as to which of the two 
sorts ('Succirubra' or the so-called 'Pubescens') is 
the richest in alkaloids is much to be wondered at." 
It is I now think all important that the doubts 
about it should be cleared up and that we 
should have a careful analysis from a considerable 
number of both the glabrous and pubescens varieties.* 
This species is very strong growing,and will cert- 
a ij ^ty yield far more bark in a given time than 
an y ^>ther ; it will ulso, I think, prove to be longer 
lived. . 
* Notk ~'J- nere s *iH some doubt as to " Magni- 
folia " and "Pubescens" being one and the same 
J • *.her slight variations of the same speci- 
es, though T myself feel fully convinced that they 
are. I trust, ho ^ ev , er > that the fact f ma y b f f te fc 
li.hed from the dn. ******* now forwarded. It 
is a fact that it is M. U^oLa (true) which gave the 
favourable anahsis in J 1 ' °- No - 1 ' 336 ' of J™ 
1879, as far as Dodabetta 13 concerned, whilst it is 
"Pubescens" that is bein ? lar S el y propagated at 
Naduvatam. The Naduvatam analysis was from trees 
growing in Oseinglon which / have, not seen, but Mr. 
Cross states they are " Magnii d 1 *- 
It is of course, of comparatively little importance 
whether the so-called hybrid belongs to the red or 
crown bark species, so long as its growth and yield 
of quinine are so exceptionally good as is now reported. 
Colonel Beddome after going over the Nilgid and Cey- 
lon plantations speaks of it as the " Cinchona of the 
future," and certainly if 7 per cent'of quinine is attain- 
able as in the case of the Agrakanda tree, and the 
trees prove hardier and of more rapid growth than 
the Calisayas, the preciois Ledgeriana itself may find 
no mean rival in Pata de Gallinazo. The highest 
price secured for "Pubescens" bark of this species 
from the Nilgiris was 7s 6d per lb, It must not be 
forgotten, however, that the growth of Calisayas in 
several districts in Ceylon has been eminently satis- 
factory, as was shewn by Mr. J. A. Roberts of Pus- 
sellawa some time ago. The very successful experience 
of belts of blue gums on "Lover's Leap" ciuchoua 
estate nearNuwara Eliya (noticed by Colonel Beddome) 
ought to be decisive. There are no failures and no 
canker visible on this favoured property, we believe, 
and yet the soil was far from favourable to begin 
with. Messrs. Taylor and f-'cott — to whom the credit 
of the cnreful planting and the happy plan of belts 
one chain apart, trees 6 018? feet distant in the row, 
belongs — are inclined to think that the gums have 
not only sheltered the cinchonas, but have benefited 
the soil, more especially in withdrawing superfluous 
moisture. We believe their experience points to the 
wisdom of even closer planting of the gums, say four 
feet apart in the rows. In reference to Mr. Cross's 
" Pata de Gillinazo " we may mention that in a 
private letter received from Madras, from a reliable 
quarter, it is stated that the latest analysis of the 
"natural" bark of "Pubescens" gives nearly 13 per 
cent of alkaloids, of which 7'07 is "sulphate of 
quinine," but this is not so good as 6'77 pure quinine 
from the tree on Agrakanda. It will be observed that 
Colonel Beddome's visit to Ceylon has opened his eyes 
to the value of chemical analyses, and so the Madras 
Government (on his recommendation) will no doubt 
at once engage a successor to Mr. Broughton, while 
the Ceylou authorities without any reference to ana- 
lyses, are getting out a trained cinchona cultivator 
in Mr. Nock, to take charge of the wretched neglected 
piece of waste ground and the petty nurseries known 
as " Hakgala Gardens." Our next visitor in connection 
with cinchona cultivation will probably be Mr. Gammie 
of Sikhim. Writing on the 4th instant this gentle- 
man says : — 
"I cannot yet fix the date of my visit to Ceylon but 
hope to get away soon. We have just got our bark 
boiling apparatus erected, and begin boiling at once, 
and until everything is shown to be in fair working 
order I cannot think of applying for leave." 
Mr. Gammie will deserve a hearty welcome here not 
only for his intelligent and successful management of 
the Northern Gardens, but also for his indefatigable 
efforts to manufacture on the spot a febrifuge suitable 
for use in India. 
COLONEL BEDDOME'S REPORT ON THE 
CEYLON CINCHONA PLANTATIONS. 
Colonel R. H. Beddome, Conservator of Forests, 
reported to the Government, that he lately paid a 
short visit to Ceylon in connection with Cinchona. 
He says : — 
Route Pursued. —I was only able to spare a fortnight, 
