January 2, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
597 
do almost equally well. The operation is simpler, if the 
succirubra has a double stem, one of which is then cut off 
Siagonally at the fork, leavmg a flap of bark at the upper 
end of the cut. The ledgeriana shoot is then cut, eo that 
it shall correspond in shape and size with the cut sur- 
face of the succirubra. but a flap of bark is left hanging 
from its lower end. The two cut surfaces are then litted 
together, the flap of ledger bark overlying the sued- 
rubra stem and the flap in the succirubra over- 
lying the Ledger cutting, and i bus giving a better hold 
to the binding. The pots which contain the grafted 
plants are then laid on their sides graft uppermost, in 
propagating frames and keptun'il the bark begins to 
unite and new leaves to show, when they are placed 
upright. The succirubra is cut off just above the graft 
as soon as the plants are fairly united and there is no 
fear of this further mutilation of the tree injuring the 
young graft the bandage being removed at the same 
time. Four weeks is the time tbat generally elapses 
before this can be done. It has been proved that a good 
graft grows faster than an original Ledgeriana tree, 
and that the qualities of the stock never in the slight- 
est degree affect the tree it bears. A skilled laborer 
can graft from 200 to 250 Ledger cuttings on succi- 
rubra stems every day and the operation is therefore 
evidently not a very expensive one. There can be no 
dout as toils advisability in all cases where individual 
trees of special value are to be propagated from." 
Crinpa. — I saw abundance of what Dr. Trimen calls 
the " Crispa vari< ty of officinalis," and it is the same 
as wo have abundantly represented in the Dodabetta 
plantations not differing from ordinary " officinalis" 
except in its rather smaller leaves and often running 
into the ordinary form so as not to be distinguishable. 
Urilusinr/a.—l saw no " Uritusinga " in Ceylon 
amougst the older Crown barks, and I am unable to 
distin«uish this variety from " Officinalis " when they 
arc young. 
Hackgalle Government Gardens.— As a cinchona 
plantation these have been utterly neglected. The 
older trees have almost all died out, or been cut 
down and the coppice not attended to; they were 
scarcely worth a visit; there were, however, numerous 
nurseries for seedlings of various kinds. 
Grass Land.— I saw scarcely any grass land plant- 
ing. Unlike the Nilgiris, where nearly all the grass 
land rejoices in an open and gravelly soil, the grass 
land (or pa' anas, as they are called) in the Central 
Provinces havo generally a black peaty soil quite un- 
fit for the growth of chinchona, and similar to what 
we have in swampy ravines only. I daresay there 
may be suitable grass-land soils in parts that I did 
not visit, but I only saw some small patches; but in 
these "officinalis" wus growing well where planted, 
but it was quite young. 
Importance of Analysis.— My visit to Ceylon and the 
advantages I have had of discussing matters with Dr. 
Trillion, and also of hearing Mr. Moens' views through 
Dr. Trimon, has made me alter my opinions very 
much with reference to the value of analysis, and I 
think it now all-important that very great attention 
should be paid to this subject in our plantations, partic- 
ularly with reference to "officinalis" and the " Pata" 
(Magnifolia), individuals of which have been proved to 
differ so one from another in their yield of quinine. 
We should find out the individuals which give the 
richest yield and propagate largely from these, and these 
only, both as to seed and cuttings, continuing the ex- 
periment through several generations. Though the ex- 
periments might not be altogether satisfactory at first, and 
though wo might find that the seed and even the 
cuttings of the richest yieldera might often give very 
varied results when planted out ever largo areax, I feel 
sure experiments of this Hort must bo in tho right di- 
rection, and if persevered in, would ultimately give 
very good or even startling results, as with Mr. Moons, 
150 
and we should then be able to distribute the very best 
(and only the very best) seed and rooted cuttings to the 
public. This, however, can never be carried out satis- 
factorily ui less we have a qualified Chemical Analyser 
for our plantations as well as a thoroughly practical 
gardener, but surely in a question of such importance 
the expense should not be considered or allowed to 
interfere. 
Chinchona Planter's Manual. — A most excellent little 
Manual lias just been published in Ceylon at the 
Observer Office by Mr. T. C. Owen. It treats most fully 
upon all subjects connected with chinchona planting, 
planting, and has evidently been most carefully com- 
piled from all the books, pamphlets and reports on the 
subject in this and other countries, and from much 
personal observation. It is just the book required by 
the officers in charge of our plantations, and not 
knowing that anything of the sort was likely to 
be published, I had intended, as already reported, 
drawing up a somewhat similar though much 
briefer pamphlet, after I had had the advantage 
of some further experience outside our own limited 
area; this, however, will now be unnecessary. I hope 
that Government will take a certain number of copies 
of this Manual, and tbat the Nilgiri Cinchona office 
may be supplied with 25 copies. 
THE FUTURE OF QUININE. 
(Communicated.) 
Quinine is not so low as quoted by you the other 
day, but it is true that one contract was entered into 
as low as at 7s 6d per oz. Immediately after, however, 
the price rose again to 8s. 
The present low price though injurious to the few who 
may have bark cut and ready for the market, is un- 
doubtedly to the advantage of everyone interested in 
cinchona, and who can wait for a year before cuttiug, 
as by that time the market will have doubtless re- 
covered, and, as most of the cinchona in Ceylon is 
at a stage which will not admit of its being cut for 
the next year or two, the present fall may be con- 
sidered for the general good. 
Those who know the trade best are very confident 
of the great increase in consumption which the pre- 
sent pricC3 will bring about, and that the use of 
quinine once taken up becomes a necessity and is 
never abandoned ; so that consumption becomes per- 
manently increased, even though prices should re- 
turn to the old level. It was at about 5s 6d per 
oz. that quinine came into general use, and none of 
the ground gained at that low figure was lost when 
it reached 128 6d per oz. 
These are reasons why the fall is particularly op 
portune at the present time, checking, as it will, if not 
entirely stopping, the shipments of Cuprean bark 
wbioh are now flooding the London market, and may 
be considered the primary cause of the depression. 
This Cuprean bark is brought to port at great cost 
and it was questionable whether even at late prices 
it would prove profitable to exporters. Besides check- 
ing the development of this new bark, all the inferior 
qualities of South American will now cease to be 
shipped and auotlier gain will be the check which the 
manufacture and use of quinetum and other mixtures ol 
the lower alkaloids will receive, which, it was leared. 
might in time becomes serious opponents of quiniuo. 
It is interesting to notice, in connection with this 
question, that barks have not fallen proportionately 
with quinine : vido the prices obtained for the parcels 
of Abbotsford bark at the last sales, and this may be 
accounted for by the fact that a largo quantity of bark 
now goes direct to the oontiueut, being bsnght iu 
Colombo and elsewhere by the agents of the continental 
manufacturers, and thereby a great saving in freight 
