June i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
o45 
complete destruction of a large proportion of this, which has become almost absolutely valueless 
and is a perfect hot-bed of Hemileia, is to be strongly advocated wherever it can be effected; and 
compensation, where necessary, might be made by the free gift of other useful food plants. 
By such a combination on the part of the community against the common enemy, it is 
reasonable to expect a good deal might be effected. Our experience of other truly parasitic fungi 
does not warrant us in expecting to eradicate Hemileia by these means, but there can be little doubt 
that even a sensible and sustained diminution in haf-disease would result in a considerable recovery 
in the staple product of Ceylon. 
The bearing of Liberian coffee on the practical aspect of the question is also important. 
A temporary distrust of this admirable plant is, I am glad to see, yielding to a more just appre- 
ciation of its great value. Cqff'ea liberica is of course severely attacked by the leaf-disease fungus 
but on the whole this species, as compared with varieties of. Carabica,i% less damaged by°the 
disease; and I think a more regular and heavier crop maybe generally calculated upon. Possibly 
its frequent blossoming and fruiting may give it some advantage. Some disappointment has been 
caused by attempts to grow it in unsuitable localities ; Liberian coffee requires a moist atmosphere 
as well as a hot climate ; exposure to dry heat readily scorches the berries, and on light soils 
may even destroy the plant. In Trinidad slight shade is considered a necessity, and is I think 
desirable here in some localities, at least while the plants are young. 
In my last report I expressed regret at the small response to our efforts to get the cul- 
tivation of this kind of coffee taken up by the Sinhalese, and I am now glad to be able to report a 
considerable change for the better. A rather large demand indeed has sprung up in many parts of 
the low-country. In partially meeting this over 50,000 young plants have been gratuitously 
distributed from Henaratgoda through the Government Agents by the headmen to native cultiva- 
tors. It would be well if this species— so admirably adapted for Sinhalese garden culture were 
to entirely supplant the old village coffee, and I think it might well °be made a condition of gratis 
distribution that this old coffee should be destroyed. 
Cinchona. — The observations I made last year on the supreme importance of selection based 
on analysis in the scientific cultivation of C. Ledgcriana have been supported by our further 
experience. In rel'ercnre to tin's it is satisfactory to note how well, as a general rule the botanical 
characteristics tally with the bark value, so that selection intelligently made on the former basis 
is usually justified by the subsequent analysis. It must however be allowed that one occasionally 
finds very distinct exceptions to this general statement, forcing one to the conviction that the 
production of alkaloids must be largely personal (so to speak) to the particular tree, apart from its 
inherited external characters. We must therefore still regard analysis as the only certain guide. 
It may be well also to note here another cognate fact (liable I find to be misunderstoodf: the 
proportion of quinine is not taken into consideration in determining whether a given tree is to be 
named L'dgrrin mi or ( 'alixago. That question is a botanical one, and is decided wholly by external 
or visible characters. It is in accordance with experience that quite undoubted C. Ledgeriana 
may afford a very poor bark, but that does not make it any the less C. Ledgeriana, as some people 
seem to think. 1 have published the distinguishing characters of C. Ledgeriana Moens in a 
paper, accompanied by two coloured figures, in the " Journal of Botany" for November. ' 
The practice of the simple process of grafting on succirubra has proved very easy 
and successful in a large proportion of cases ; and it or some similar process must become the 
general practice in the cultivation of specially valuable trees on the principles advocated. 
The more general recognition of the necessity of analysis has led to a request on the part 
of cultivators, that Government might afford some facilities for such assays. If is perhaps 
remarkable that there is here no qualified analyst in official unqdoy. Did such an officer exist 
however, it is to be presumed he would be engaged entirely in Government work, and as happily 
the Government does not grow cinchona for sale, that work would not often be bark aiialvsis' 
The practice of the Governments of Madras and of Java (somewhat infelicitouslv adduced as an 
example to that of Ceylon) has been dictated by very different motives to those which rule here 
(where competition between Government and private enterprise is unknown), :U i,l has alwavs been 
directed wholly to the Government advantage. At the same time the desirability of frequent 
assays of bark made on the spot is so evident, that it is to be Imped the matter will be earnestlv 
considered with a view to the initiation of some combined action in the matter between the planters 
interested and the Executive, due regard being of course paid to the interests of local analysts 1 
