THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[April i, 1882. 
vice versa. Mr. Moens referring to Mr. Cross was quite 
right in saying that the opinion of a cinchona grower 
in this, and many other respects, was of far more value 
than of a cinchona collector. In my own mind I 
have proved the question beyond doubt by the above 
experiments, and, if these are not conclusive, 1 main- 
tain that no observation of the plant in nature, or a 
casual though careful inspection of it cultivated, can 
lead to more convincing evidence. One has naturally 
a very great respect for science and for scientific men, 
but they are very likely to be wrong, especially if 
occupied with any of the natural sciences in their 
wider relations, when they suddenly express their 
opinions on plants removed from their natural con- 
ditions and placed under the modelling hand of man, in 
whose huids most of our cultivated plants have become 
like the clay in the hands of the potter : still more 
so, when the habits of these plants have become almost 
the sole study aud care of the cultivator himself and 
his daily bread depended upon their successful growth. 
Nor do I see any reason why, if steadily persisted in, 
the knowledge of the cultivator should not become 
as scientific and his observation just as keen and 
accurate as those of the so-called scientist. 
There has also been much comment upon the relative 
merits of succirubra, pubescens, Uritusinga, and officinalis, 
and much confusing discussion on nomenclature ; and 
upon this latter even the wise men differ largely. 
I care not for the specific name as it accords 
with collectors, except simply as an identifica- 
tion of the various useful kinds meant, any more 
than I do of the contradictory statements of the early 
fathers on church government, and look for just as 
much unanimity in the one as the other. Most planters, 
who have given much time to cinchona, have 
noticed the intermediate character of pubescens between 
succirubra and officinalis, and many will have noticed 
the result of seed from unmixed and mix> d clearings, 
and will form their own opinion on hybridity and 
whether pubescens be a hybrid or not. 
To return to the practical and useful: I have fre- 
quently had pubescens bark analyzed, and generally 
have sent some succirubra bark along with it gathered 
from adjacent trees, for my aim has always been re- 
lative, which, in my mind, appears the only practical 
way. I, — Without exception the quantity of Quinine 
iSulphas has always been one hundred per cent greater 
in pubescens than in succ rubra and rarely inferior to 
ordinary crown bark. II, — The yield of bark per 
tree of pubescens has also always been equal to succi- 
rubra and consequently much greater than crown bark. 
I am now having more analyses made, and, as they 
are to represent the average quality of bark from 
several of each kind of cinchona I possess, takeu from 
many trees of the same species, so as to shew what 
may be expected from a whole field rather than 
a tree, I look to rather conclusive results, 
and the particulars I. shall be glad to send you later on. 
it is very satisfactory to read that Messrs. W. 
Smith, Christy and others have true Ledgers in flower 
and seed, of which it is well to know that at last we 
have some accurate data to go upon ; for I maintain 
irrespective of the names of the varieties that analysis 
is the only true test of what is valuable from a 
planter's standpoint. 
Mr. Eliot Howard has very kindly shewn me over 
his exceedingly valuable collections, and has given 
me important information and advice on the depos- 
ition of the akaloids, which was quite new to me in 
connection with this interesting plant, of which I shall 
write more anon. 
From the wide extension of cinchona cultivation 
all over the world, I should strongly advise Ceylon 
men not to run that to death as they previously did 
coffee, but to seek for other useful plants for their 
popper ridges and exhausted lands. Before I left Cey- 
lon I saw Ceara rubber growing well in Colombo 
cabook soil and rushing up vigorously in Ran- 
gala, at an altitude of 4,000 feet above the sea. The 
seed will grow if sowed at stake, if the precaution 
has been taken to soak it and file or grind its edges 
befoie sowing A better pi. n is to rai-e it in baskets, 
the plants being put out when six inches high, which 
they reach in about a mouth's time. After this it 
will rapidly b com" a tree ; so thst, if planted from 15 
to 20 feet apart, it can take full care of itself irrespectivr 
of weeding, after ii is 4 months old. What a diffe-c 
encc Kadugannawa would present now had this tree 
been planted in the declining coffee, for it appears 
to grow well in very indifferent and exhausted soil. 
The time too is not far distant when rubber will 
be in very great demand, for the trees from which 
supplies are now being derived are being destroyed 
by the ruthless manner of collection. 
NKW PRODUCTS. 
CHAMPION RED BARK CINCHONA TREKS 
IN CEYLON, 14 YEARS' OLD, ON GLEN CAIRN, 
DIKOYA, GIVING 112 LB. DRY BARK. 
Kandy, 6th March 1882. 
Dear Sir,— What will Mr. Campbell of KeJburne 
and Mr. Lavie of Gh nalpine say to the following? 
Mr. Fowke, of Glencairn estate in Dikoya, uprooted 
a succirubra tree about three weeks ago, and gives the 
subjo ned particulars of its dimensions aud the quantity 
of bark harvested. I may mention that the tree was 
probably 13 or 14 years old and had a single stem only. 
Height, 42 feet. 
Girth at lowest part of stem, 4 feet 6 inches ; girth 
six feet above ground, 3 feet 3 inches. 
Wet bark. Dry bark. 
Stem quill 1421b. ... 701b. 
Root 92 lb. ... 30 lb. 
Branch 40 1b. ... 121b. 
274 lb. 112 lb. 
E. S. G. 
[Some of the pieces ought to make splendid show bark 
for druggists, for which, perhaps, as much as 7s to 10s 
per lb. may be paid. — Ed.] 
' CASTOR OIL PLANTS AND INSECTS. 
Dimbula, 6th Mai ch 1882. 
Dear Sir, — The paragraph, in a recent issue of the 
Ceylon Observer, contained information which, as re- 
gaids Ceylon, w»s certainly not accurate. The cutting 
taken from a French paper has, perhaps, been wrongly 
translated. 
So far from the castor oil plant being "an ex- 
cellent remedy against flies," I find it peculiarly 
subject to the attacks of insects. I know of four 
kinds of larvae that feed on its leaves ; many species 
of diptera may be found (uninjured) on its "flowers, 
and I have had more than 2,000 castor oil plants of 
both varieties, entirely destroyed bv aphides. — Yours 
faithfully, " B. 
[The paragraph was quoted from an English paper and 
we are not responsible for the translation. — Ed.] 
THE VALUE OF SULPHATE OF QUININE:— 
A CORRECTION. 
March 7th, 1SS2. 
Dear Sir,— In your issue of 4th instant.in the article 
on Jamaica Barks by Howard, there is a footnote signed 
D. M., stating that value per unit of sulphate of quin- 
ine is 1/9. Thisis not correct, aud is misleading to people 
valuing their bark. 
The cost of manufacture must be taken into ac- 
count, and this is about 30/ per lb.; so that the ap- 
proximate value at present price, of quinine sulphate 
is about J/3 per unit,— Yours faithfully, (J, 
