Mav i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
941 
Manures without nitrogen Grain. Straw. Net profit 
Ashes of cattle dung 
Bone superphosphate 
Bone dust 
23 Loss,, 0-2- 5 
39 8 Loss per acre 
12 Loss 5 Loss R2-2-4 
The most prominent fact shewn in this table is 
the great superiority of the nitrogenous over the 
non-nitrogenous manures. Under the heading Inig- 
ation the value of a late watering is prominently 
brought forward, for while one, two, and three 
wateiiugs gave increases in grain of from 300 to 370 
per cent over a plot unwatered which was a total 
failure, a fourth watering ran up the percentage to 
500 in grain, and 350 in straw, or in other words 
an extra watering, costing R4-14-0 per acre, gave an 
increase of R20 in the total produce. Again, a 
useful experiment is recorded as an off-shoot of this, 
although it is given as a difference of ploughing time, 
as in the one case ploughed-up land received and 
retained the rain, while it would to a great extent 
be wasted on uuplougbed lands :— 
Outturn per acre. Grain. Straw. Value. 
lb. lb. R. a. p. 
Portion ploughed in July ... 1,630 2,676'4 55 9 10 
Not ploughed till Sept. 983 1,493 8 32 13 10 
Hence the difference in value of outturn mnde by 
early ploughing amounted to over R22 per acre. 
Following on as a natural sequence, we learn that 
a crop of castor oil grown on the Farm on deeply 
cultivated land, was the only crop of any kind 
gathered from land of the same description for miles 
around. 
Of new staples tried we may dismiss Cape oats as 
they do not thrive in Southern India, with the re- 
mark that they yielded remarkably well, giving 2,299 
lb. of grain and 3,993 lb. of straw per acre. Some 
trials were made with acclimatized American corn, 
of such a variety, named the American Canada corn 
yielded no less than 4,382 lb. of hulled corn per 
acre, giving the handsome profit of K64-8-7. This 
should not be overlooked by Eurasiaus who would 
be agriculturists, for in Southern as well as Northern 
India maize under competent management yields oue 
of the heaviest possible crops, as those who re- 
member the lato Bangalore Experimental Farm can 
testify. In the section devoted to the development 
and construction of Improved Agricultural implements, 
we are amused at the account of an attempt to 
introduce a winnowing machine. First an English 
winnowing machine costing R200, and therefore 
beyond the means of the average ryot, was tried ; 
then an implement of Farm construction value R35 
was used ; and lastly the native method was tested. 
The following results aro record : — 
Time to Cost of 
Method of Num- winnow winnow- 
winnowing. ber. Cost. 100 mds. ing. 
English winnower 4 Men. 6j An. 18/;. 58m. 15"4 Ans- 
Farm ,, ... 3 ,, 5* „ 32 „ 16 „ 2L1 „ 
Native method ... 3 ,, 64, „ 28„ 33,, 187 „ 
English winnower 4 ,, 6* „ 20,, 50,, 169 „ 
Farm ,, ... 3 ,, 5i ,, 4U,, 39 „ 266 „ 
Native method ... 3 ,, 10i ,, 51,, 41,, 67 8 ,, 
The idea thai wind can bo usefully converted into 
a motive power by means of an American windmill 
is disproved, and the experiment is consequently 
valuable in eiploding a widely entertained idea. The 
working of the windmill, costing when delivered 
K300, was, with the wages of a boy to look after 
it 5 annas a day, which is proved to be more thau 
the dhenkoli, w orked by two men, and the windmill 
was totally disabled by B dust storm, apparently of 
no morn than ordinary velocity. This Windmill! mm 
obtaiuud at the suggestion of the GeviTniitont of India 
who are ever on the look out for a happy panacea 
for the ryot in lieu of persuading him to carry out 
the ordinary agricultural practice of an enlightened 
age, deep cultivation, the use not the abuso of water, 
the conservation of manure, selection of seed, and 
so on. — Madras Mail. 
THE SUPPLY OF CINCHONA BARK. 
Though the enormous advance during the last few 
weeks in the price of quinine sulphate and of the 
bark from which that important medicine is manu- 
factured has been caused probably by speculative 
operations, the fact is suggestive of the necessity for 
a more assured regularity in the relation between 
the supply of the raw material and the demand for 
it. At present the South American sources of supply, 
though naturally abundani, are under conditions which 
leave room for some apprehensions as to their con- 
tinuing to be available in the same manner that they 
have been hitherto. The cultivation of cinchonas has 
indeed been undertaken in some parts of the country, 
but from the unsetlled state of political affairs and 
the insecurity of property, it may be a long time 
before this %vork is so generally entered upon as to 
provide a more constunt Bupply of bark in place of 
that derived from the natural forests. 
Under these circumstances the cultivation of cin- 
chona in India, Ceylon and Java acquires an especial 
importance, and any step that promises to conduce 
to the successful prosecution of this enterprise deservos 
to meet with encouragement. In this relation we are 
glad to mention the publication of a small work in 
Ceylon, under the title of the ' Cinchona Planter's 
Manual,' in which the author, Mr. T. C. Owen, has 
furnished a resume of the information, scattered through 
blue books and other difficulty accessible works, con- 
cerning the experience which has been acquired since 
the attempt to cultivate cinchonas was first made by 
the Dutch and British Governments. Within the 
space of 203 octavo pages, Mr. Owen has given a 
very lucid account of what is known on the subject, 
free from scientific technicalities and well adapted for 
guidance of planters engaged in the cultivation of 
quiuine yiflding cinchonas. 
In preparing this manual the works of Dr. King, 
Dr. Bidie, the late Mr. Maclvor, and the reports 
on the India and Java Government plantations have 
been laid under contribution, while a most useful 
classification of such members of the cinchona genus 
as are of interest to planters, with the characteristics 
of each, has been furnished by Dr. Triruen, the 
Director of Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. 
After giving a concise sketch of plant physiology 
and a general description of the cinchona alkaloids, 
as well of the species and varieties of the alkaloid- 
yielding cinchonas and of the results obtained by their 
cultivation in India, Ceylon and Java, Mr. Owen 
proceeds to treat of those matters which demand the 
special consideration of the planter, such as the 
choice of land in regard to soil, situation, climatic 
conditions, elevation, etc., the several operations of 
clearing, weeding, laying out of roads, draining an 1 
plautiug. Then follows a chapter on the management 
of nurseries, on manuring, and harteetiu*;, wuilo 111 
the succeeding part of the woi k the diseases and 
enemies of the cinchona trees are dealt with. 
In spcakini; of the important subject of hybridi/. 
ation, Mr. Owen endorses Mr. Broughtou'a opinion 
that the numerous so-called hybrids are in many 
ouses rather sports or forms developing into races 
which probably occur in South America. Thus irevt 
of QfficilUtli* obtained by cuttings from two apparently 
identical plants showed nil the varieties knowu as 
qfflotnaliti OotukntnM, Drittatnga, ttitpn, etc., the 
tendency to vary being to stroug that eren a twig 
in a tree showed foliage ditlsreut Irom the parent 
