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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [February i, 1882. 
obtain, I would rather give the preference to the flush 
collar than to a collar several inches high. 
I do not think we shall have more coppicing as a 
system over given areas. I am much opposed to it for 
many reasons, and I think my report will go to prove 
that it is not desirable ; but if we did again coppice, I 
should prefer the plan of first establishing a shoot. It 
will be seen by my report that when this plan is fol- 
lowed there is not a single failure, and that this is 
fully proved from several blocks of oiler experiments 
which I was quite ignorant of at the time that I made 
the proposition. Mr. Cross appears to think that the 
young coppice growth was thinned out prematurely, but 
I do not understand how he could give an opinion on 
this point without having seen the growth at the time 
it was thinned. It is very easy to tell the proper time ; 
it is of course allowed to grow up till there are several 
prominent leaders; the growth of these would then be 
seriously retarded and interfered with unless the rest 
were cut away, and it is then apparent whether it is 
advisable to leave two, three, or four shoots. Adzing off 
with a rounded top is in my opinion preferable to a 
sloping cut or wedge form of coppice. 
3. I do not agree with Mr. Cross's remarks as to 
the climate of the Nilgiris being unsuited for the 
" Pubescens" form of Red bark, and I think that he 
would now be incline 1 to modify these statements from 
his subsequent observation, as many of his letters to 
me quite contradict them. Mr. Cross calls this tree 
"Pata de Gallinazo," and he informs me that he found it 
at a much higher elevation than " tile" or Red bark. 
He now considers it a new and unlescribe 1 species, 
and I agree with him; but whether a new species or 
only a variety of the " Succirubra," it has evidently 
found its home on the plateau of the Nilgiris, and would 
probably not grow so well at lower elevations. It suc- 
ceels admirably on Dodabetta, over 7,000 feet, where 
" Succirubra" will make no growth, and on the higher 
exposed situations at Naduvatam and Pykara where 
" Succirubra" never grew more than three or four feet 
high, and is now being uprooted, and Mr. Cross has 
himself lately written to me on the subject of its hardy 
character and robust and splendid growth. I agree with 
Mr. Cross that the Nilgiri is to high and cold for 
" Succirubra," but still it :'s grown to a good profit in 
the forest soil of Naduvatam, and exhibits exceedingly 
healthy growth. 
4. Mr. Cross is inclined to taboo "Succirubra," alto- 
gether on account of its inferior yield of quinine. Its 
growth is so rapid compared to Crown bark, and its 
yield in " bark" so far greater than that and several 
of the finer kin Is, and its cultivation is so much easier, 
that I expect it w'dl hold its own; its yiell besides in 
other alkaloids is very great; it may have to be ousted 
in favor of its congener " Pubescens" or the " Uritu- 
singa" var. of " O'ficinalis," but this is a question for fur- 
ther experience and research. 
5. I cannot agree with Mr. Cross in his suggestions 
about forming a dense sort of underwood of Chinchona 
in the plantations; it would be opposed to every sys L em 
of arboriculture and would be simply ruin to the plant- 
ations ; the trees that did not get their heads to the 
light would come to nothing and interfere with the 
root room of others, and the result would be little or 
no bark of any value. We are not growing osiers or 
scrub firewood. 
G. Regarding the remarks on "collection of seed" 
by Mr. Cross and the Collector, I cannot believe that 
thifl has not received attention. " T lis selection of the 
fittest" is the first aim of all florists and arboricultur- 
ists as well as breeders of animals, and was so long 
before Mr. Darwin's voluminous writings on the subject ; 
a practical man, with the training Mr. Molvor had 
I" i "'■ ho isuuc to this country, mist have been fully 
alive to the importance of this. During my inspection 
I objierved muslin bags tied round the panicles of seed 
on some of the finest tress, which is proof that atten- 
tion is paid to this subject. Re gar ling the cutting off 
of the panicles of flowers which the young tree? pro- 
duce so prolilically, I would observe that I strongly re- 
commended, many years ago, when the trees first com- 
menced to flower so profuselv, that this shoul 1 be done 
as an experiment over about an acre, as I thought it 
would favor the govth of the trees and perhaps the 
virtue of the bark, and at any rate be a very inter- 
esting experiment; but I was met by the statements 
that it would be too expensive to attempt it in large 
plantations, and that expensive to >ls would be nesessary, 
otherwise the branches voul I be m icii broken and injured. 
7. The Calisaya will never answer at Naluvatam, 
but I have written fully on this question in my report. 
There are four varieties only, " the ordinary Calisaya," 
"the Ledger," the "Anglica," and the "Javanica;" 
the two former are known to be most superior; they 
are scarcely distinguishable, an I I shall be surprised if 
farther research proves the "Ledger" so very superior. 
The very favorable reports on this variety are probably 
due to the high cultivation of a few inlividuals; how- 
ever, I may be wrong. Mr. Rowson told me that " An- 
glica and Javanica " had been analyse 1 and gave a very 
poor yield; and this has been found the case in Java, 
where their cultivation is given up ; the last named is 
only a brushy shrub. 
8. I quite agree with Mr. Cross that grafting could 
be of no value when the object is " bark ; " and Mr. 
Cross agrees with me that the art of hybridizing would 
not be at all likely to increase the value of the bark. 
9. Mr. Cross appears to be of opinion that the natural 
bark may be richer in alkaloid than renewed bark; this 
is opposed to all the experience hitherto gainel. I be- 
lieve I am right in saying that every analysis has 
hitherto proved the great superiority of the latter, and 
that it always fetches a mica higher price. Mr. Cross 
is also wrong in saying that a tree 'once barkel will 
always require to be wrought after the same manner as 
long as it lives, as it is a fact that trees which have 
been many times barked are now growing splendidly from 
coppice. 
10. We must be careful not to be guide 1 too much by 
any report on the analysis of Mr. Cross's thirty small 
selected specimens. I much fear more harm than good 
has been done by the analysis of only favoured indi- 
viduals, and that it is likely to be the result of much 
annoyance ; I do not myself believe in the vaunte 1 superi- 
ority of such varieties as " Angus tif Jia " or " Crispa " 
over ordinary "OJicinalis" nor of " Ledgeriana " over 
ordinary " Calisaya." It is due probably only to high 
cultivation or to other favourable con litions appertain- 
ing to the selected individual; time only, however, can 
fully prove this. 
11. The plantations have only lately been handed 
over to this Department, anl it is my intention to draw 
up a full memorandum of instructions for the officers 
in charge, but this would be premature till Government 
have reviewed my report and expressed then- wishes as 
to various points. 
From Colonel R. H. Beddome, Conservator of Forests, 
to the Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, 
Ootacamun 1, dated Ootacamund, 6th June 1831, No. 208. 
Referring to paragraph 4 of the G. O., No. 393, dated 
4th March last, I have the honor to forward a letter* 
from Mr. Cross. 
2. I quite agree with Mr. Cross as to the elevation 
required for " Calisaya " or its variety " Le igeriana," 
and that t lere is no site on the plateau of the Nilgiris 
adapted for it. I have fully treated on this questiS 
in my report on the plantations just submitted to Govern- 
ment, and I have recommended that ground should be 
taken up on the slopes below Naduvatam or in the 
Silent Valley. 
' * Dated 23rd May 1881. 
