January 2, 1882.] 
THE TROPICx\.L AGRICULTURIST. 
639 
me that Mr. Mclvor considers it hopeless to grow this 
variety ; its growth being so slow and poor, it would he 
far less profitable than the ordinary variety of " Officin- 
alis," notwithstanding the superiority in its yield in al- 
kaloids. I can always distinguish this plant at the first 
glance, but Mr. Cross considers it not even a variety 
but only a condition of growth of < Ulicinalis," con- 
duced by poverty of soil or some other condition. 1 can- 
not say that I quite agree with this, but there is the 
fact that some 700 plants, supposed to be this species, 
in the nurseries at the Ootacamund Gardens, and planted 
out in rich soil at Naduvatam, turned out to be ordinary 
" Officinalis." There is not sufficient evidence, however, 
as to what the original plants really were. 
Var. Crispa f Mr. Cross informs me that he recog- 
(at least 'Vie k -.11 in /eylon as such) supposed 
to be very rich in quinine, scattered about with " Of- 
ficinalis in our Dodabotta plantations. I forward dried 
specimens of this form which Mr. Cross distinguishes 
by its rather smaller leaves, but I must say that I can 
not distinguish it satisfactorily from ordinary " Officin- 
alis," and it appears at any rate to run into it. 
Var. with very narrow leaf.— There are a few plants 
of a very narrow-leaved form of "Officinalis" in the 
Dodabetta plantations, of which I also forward speci- 
mens. This variety is-easily distinguished, and I believe 
it is the one Mr. Mclvor considered as "Crispa;" it 
much value. I am very disinclined to attach too much 
value to the fact of a very favourable analysis (as we 
find in reports) of single individuals of varieties like 
favourable conditions, or to attempt their extended culti- 
vation on such grounds. It is of course evident that 
they are valuable yiclders under certain conditions, but 
it would require stronger evidence, I think, to establish 
the fact that they are far superior to the ordinary type 
of "Officinalis," as a very high percentage of alkaloids 
has sometimes bo«n obtained from singlo specimens of 
that also. If a cultivator takes a fancy to any particular 
variety lie can probably get a very flourishing report on 
its yield by the high 'cultivation of a few individuals, 
but this does not bold good in a large plantation, and 
I should ho sorry to place faith in it with varieties like 
'■ Angustifolia " and '» Crispa." Uritusinga is, I think, 
valuable on account of its very strong growth and much 
greater yield in bark ; the analysis of this from Doda- 
betta is giveu in G. O., No. 1,336, of the 23rd June 
1H7'.), under the head of " Condaininea " as distinct from 
Crown barks. 
47. Cultivation of Crown Barks by Government slwuld 
l>r /,. /,/ up. — Crown barks will only grow at a high eleva- 
tion, and there are fow or no sites for them except on 
the Nilgiris, where only grass land and not shola is now 
Available to the public. "Sueeirubra" and "Calisaya" ( 
on the other hand arc spreading all over the Wynaad, ! 
Ooorg, Ac, it is desirable therefore that Government 
should keep this in new, and, if possible, extend the 
cultivation of Crown barks* or at any rate work up their ' 
present estates without any stint as to expenditure. 
18. Yellow liorl;*.— It is to bo regretted that these 
arc BUOb a failure at Naduvatam; they all die out and 
1 the climate is evidently too cold and probably too dry 1 
for them ; they grow at low elevations and iii a very 1 
moist climate La their native habitat in Bolivia and 
Southern Peru, and ii i , useless to make further attempt 
at the cultivation of " Calisaya " or its variety " Ledger- 
ioiia " at Naduvatam; but 1 would strongly recommend 
that a small garden should be Opened out for expeii 
mciiting on their growth at 1,000 or 2,000 feel below 
Our present plantations; they are, 1 believe, growing. 
Well in pail- of W.vuaad ami in the < >uehtci l..ny Vallev 
at about :»,()»)<) feet elevation. 
!•• It is not easy to distinguish the variety " Ledgeriana " 
Bom ordinary "Calisaya" when in leaf only, bul Mr. 
♦Eowson tells me he can always do so when liny are 
in flower, as the " Ledger " has white flowers, whilst 
those of the ordinary "Calisaya" are pinkish, ' 
Auf/lica, supposed to be a sport or variety of "Cali- 
saya," is represented by a few trees at Naduvatam ; its 
bark is said to be of little or no value. 
Javanica, said also to be a variety of " Calisaya," is 
also represented by a few plants at Naduvatam; it 
present situa 
ions and migl 
50. Columbian Barks — Pitayensis (Pitayo bark). — 
There are some few very healthy trees of this in the 
Dodabetta plantation, but the tree has not been propag- 
ated hero as yet. Mr. Cross anticipates valuable results 
from its introduction, and informs me it grew to 70 and 
80 feet high and 3 to 4 feet in diameter where he 
met with it at 9 to 10,000 feet in Grenada. Samples 
of the bark of our Dodabetta trees have been sent by 
Mr. Cross to Mr. Howard for analysis, and on this 
report the question of its extended cultivation must de- 
pend ; it is supposed to yield much quinine. 
Santa F€— Soft Columbian (C. Lancifolia).— The plants 
brought by Mr. Cross from New Grenada (7 to 10,000 
feet elevation) are healthy and are being propagated, 
so it is hoped this valuable species may ere long be 
established on the Nilgiris. It is known to yield a very 
high percentage of quinine, and Mr. Cross anticipates 
great results from its introduction. It grows, he tells 
Oarthdgena Bmh— (Ohmchona Cordifolia).— The two 
plants brought lately by Mr. Cross from the Central 
Codillera near Bogota (elevation -1 to 0,000 feet) are 
healthy and strong glowing and are being propagated, 
and the prospects of establishing it on the Nilgiris are 
be a strong growing large 
•ance does not belie ; its 
ne as that of Sueeirubra, 
a the same localities as 
me that he believes the 
which is promised to this 
promising. It is suppc 
tree, which its presen 
yield m' quinine is luucl 
and it will probablj si 
that species. Mr. Cros 
" China Cuprca," the si 
Government {ride G. 0., No. 630, of the 8th April 
1881) from Bogota is the same Bpecies. 
51.. Pahudiana. — There are a few of this very distinct 
species in the Dodabetta plantations; it is said to be 
quite valueless, and its extensive propagation in .lava, 
owing to its robust and rapid growth, caused much loss 
and annoyance. 
[See page 600 for extract on " Hybrids " from the 
report omitted here. — Ei>. /'. .1/ 
54. Analysis of the various Barks. — I fear that too 
much reliance may hitherto have been placed on the 
analysis of the harks of single individuals of one species 
or variety, grown under unusually favorable conditions ; 
soil, solar influences, shade, moisture, long droughts, 
exposure to wind, frost. Ac, must probably eXOMUBC great 
influences on the bark and yield of alkaloids, and ana- 
lysis should not be too much relied on, unless taken 
from a conaidorable number of trees subject to the varied 
conditions which they must experience in a plantation. 
