ioo8 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[June i, 1882. 
In connection with this subject Dr. Bidie infers 
from the number of hybrid-looking cinchonas on the 
Government estates that cross-breeding is very com- 
mon, and that the structure of the flowers confirms 
this view. He points out also that Colonel Bed- 
dome's opinion was that natural hybridisation could 
scarcely occur in the cinchonas, as from the mauner 
of maturing of the flowers, self-fertilisation is pre- 
vented, and crossing of species rendered possible. Mr. 
Mclvor, whose experience was exsensive, also believed 
in the existence of natural and artificial hybrids, and, 
as the varieties on the estates support this view, he 
considers that it ought to be accepted until proved by 
experiment to be wrong, and points out, that in the 
case of "pubescens," otherwise called ' - lano3a," Mr. 
Mclvor had doubts as to its being a hybrid or distinct 
species, and believed that it would not come true from 
seed. But it is a fact that on a private estate, in 
which he was interested, it was propagated from seed, 
and extensively planted out. There was a solitary 
" pubescens" tree on the Naduvattam estates which Dr. 
Bidie was anxious to compare with the ordinary variety 
scattered over the estates, as bark taken from it yielded 
wonderful results, but he found that it had disappeared 
and regrets the circumstance exceedingly. 
There are many varieties of the yellow bark tree on 
the estates with distinct characters, although they do 
not generally thrive at Naduvattam, and, as it is im- 
portant that the value of these should be ascertained, he 
made a complete collection of their barks which in- 
cluded no less than fifteer. varieties, and he is confident 
that, though some may prove worthless, others will be 
found valuable. Though, as pointed out above, the yellow 
bark trees are very delicate, be draws attention to a 
signal exception in a tree of which a few specimens ex- 
ist on the estates, which grow vigorously, attain a 
great height, and are very hardy. This bad hitherto 
been considered a hybrid, but it has all the character of 
a typical calisaya. 
The total number of bark and herbarium specimens 
collected amounts to 38, and every care was taken in 
their collection, so that the results of their examina- 
tion may prove of value both in a practical and 
botanical pomt of view. Precautions were also adopted 
to avoid confusion in any future reference. 
Government, in their order, express their indebtedness 
to Dr. Bidie for his report, which fully satisfies them 
on the points raised by Mr. Cross. ' The specimens 
collected are to be packed and despatched to the 
Secretary of State. — Madras Times. 
STATISTICS OF CINCHONA : QUANTITIES IM- 
PORTED INTO AND PRICES REALIZED 
IN BRITAIN. 
We and our readers are greatly indebted to Mr. 
Dobree for having, with the efficient aid of Mr. 
Hamilton, prepared so very satisfactory an answer 
to his own question, put, some time ago, through 
our columns. Here it is : — 
To the, Editor, "Ceylon Observer." 
Udugama, April 15th, 1882. 
Dear Sir, — About two years ago I wrote a letter 
to your paper, asking whether the price of cinchona 
bark was likely to keep up when the large acreage 
planted with cinchona in Ceylon, India and Java 
commenced to he harvested. 
No satisfactory answer was ever given to my letter, 
but the enclosed account of cinchona bark in lb. 
imported into Great Britain during the last five years, 
atid the amount paid for that bark is, I consider, a 
most satisfactory answer. . 
All official reports on cinchona imports are given 
in serons, cases and bales, and are no real guide to 
the true amount imported, but the following, which 
was compiled for rne by Mr. J. Hamilton, who is him- 
self largely interested in cinchona, shews the imports 
in lb. You will notice that the imports have steadily 
increased three and a half times in quantity, and four 
and a half times in value, daring the live years, and 
the average value per lb. has increased from 2s 0£d 
to 2a 7d. 
The increase has been steady, aud, therefore, I think, 
is all the more likely to last. 
The imports of bark into France, Germany and Italy 
are, I bilieve, also increasing in nearly the same pro- 
portion. — I remain, yours faithfully, T. S. Dobree. 
" Peruvian Bark" Statistics, compiled partially from Board of 
Trade Returns. Imports into Great Britain for five years aud 
valuations. 
For the month of 
January 1877. 
222,992 lb. valued at £1 
1878. 
i;j2.iiox 
1879. 
112.72u 
do 
£151,312 
£61,744 
£81,243 
do £85,264 
do £240,151 
do 
For year ending 
Dee, 1877. 
3,912,832 
1878. 
6,131,552 
1879. 
0,818,336 
do 
S,037,.r24 
1681. 
11.U21.3U1 
do £402,234 
do £658,288 
do £973,163 
do £1,185,334 
do £1,812,501 
vcragc 
per lb. 
1/9 
do 
do 
1/11 
do 
do 
2/11 
do 
do 
2/10 
do 
do 
2/8 
do 
do 
2/5 , 
do 
2/OJ | 
do 
do 
2/1 1 
do 
do 
2/1 [ 
do 
do 
2/7 1 
do 
do 
2/7 J 
In reducing the imports to pounds Mr. Hamilton 
has done a very important service to all interested 
in the enterpnze of cinchona culture. The result of 
his figures, which we may accept as reliable, is, that, 
in the face of imports of " Peruviau bark" into 
Britain, shewing an increase in five years of three aud 
a half times, the average value, instead of going down, 
has actually increased beyond the increase in quantity, 
that is by four and a half times. In figures the in- 
crease in average price is represented by 6Jd per lb., 
the difference between 2s 0£d at the commencement 
of the period, and 2s 7d at the end. And Mr. Dobree 
has reason to believe that the imports of bark into 
the leading countries of continental Europe have in- 
Greased in about the same proportion. 
It will be observed that, while the imports of bark 
into Britain in 1877 amounted to only 3,912,0001b., 
valued at £402,000, or an average per lb. of 2s 0£d, 
the figures for 1881 had gone up to 14,024,0001b., 
valued at £1,812,000, an average per lb. of 2s 7d. 
This is a case, beyond most, where our rejoicings 
are not merely of a selfish or local nature, but are 
as expansive as the limits of humanity. Indeed we 
see no reason to exclude the brute creation, for, in 
the treatment of the diseases of cattle, sheep, horses 
and dogs, the cinchona bark alkaloids are just as 
valuable as they are in the case of human patients. 
In the swampy and malarious regions of the earth, 
and this description embraces the coldest parts of 
Russia and the north of Europe as well as the hot 
alluvials and deltas of the tropics, increased use of 
quinine and the other products of the bitter bark means 
human suffering relieved, the sick rescued from death. 
