Dec. r, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
40I 
PROSFECTS OF CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN 
CEYLON. 
Eeferenoa was recently made by U3 to the im- 
proved demand noticeable for quinine in America. 
Although the oauae for this is not entirely 
demonstrable, there is no doubt that the inareaee 
exiBts, and there is reason to believe that it may 
yet extend. Under these oiraumatances it seemed 
reasonable to hope that prices in the European 
markets would rise to a point at which the 
export of cinchona bark from Ceylon might again 
become profitable. To judge from what Mr. John 
Hamilton of Messrs. S. Eucker & Co. recently 
mentioned in conversation with our London 
correspondent, it would, however, appear to be 
the case that some time yet must pass before it 
will be possible to state whether that expectation 
may be well founded or not. Mr. Hamilton agrees 
with ua that Java now holds the key of the position 
and everything must depend upon the future course 
of cinchona cultivation in that island. The soil 
there appears to possess qualifications for the 
cultivation that are absent in the cases both of 
Ceylon and India. The bark Java sends home is 
almost entirely that of the Ledgeriana variety, 
and it contains a very materially greater pro- 
portion of quinine than does the cultivated product 
of Ceylon and India. 
Still, it is admitted that the position of 
cinchona bark ia the London market has aenaibly 
strengthened. But with the inoreaEe of its export 
from Java, the controlling power of the London 
trade has become largely transferred to the great 
auction marts of Amsterdam and other leading 
continental centres. Hence home dealers look 
more to quotations at those places than to such 
as are derived from the auctions in Mincing 
Lane. Under all these conditions, Mr. Hamilton 
cannot exproFs himself hopefully with regard 
to the future of cinchona cultivation in 
Ceylon. It is true he believes it to be the case 
that there remains but a narrow area in 
the great Dutch island upon which the 
extension of planting can proceed: but he 
is strongly of opinion that it muat be a long 
time yet before the demand can rise to a point 
at which it will outstrip the capacity of Java to 
supply it. Nor does he seem to think that any 
proposal that our planters might again endeavor 
to extend their cultivation of the tree should be 
favourably received by them. Tea, in Mr. Hamil- 
ton's judgment, would suffer if cinchona trees 
encroached too much upon it, and he regards that 
cultivation as being too valuable to permit of 
any risk of injury being done to it by a revival 
of former efforts. Atd besides, while acknowledging 
that there is a promise of improved prices 
for the bark, he fears that neither Ceylon nor 
India are likely to reap much benefit unless their 
production of it can be raised to the high level of 
that of Java. The soil generally throughout that 
island is superior in most respects to that of 
Ceylon, and as regards the growth of cmchona 
ic possesses very undoubted and very material 
advantage. 
With these opinions before us, it becomes 
increasingly diflioult to offer advice to our own 
planters with respect to their future dealings with 
the tree. Already, as we know, there has been a 
wide up-rooting of it over areas on which it was 
at one time dominant. There remain, how- 
ever, a considerable number of trees 
scattered about our tea estates. The question 
now, as it appear to us, is not altogether 
whether the number of these should receive 
extension, but aa to whether it may be worth 
while to maintain it at its existicg level, For 
years to come, probably, the key of the position 
which Mr. Hamilton asserts Java to hold must 
remain with it. Demand must outstrip her capacity 
for production before that of either India or 
Ceylon is likely to be largely called upon. In- 
dividual planters must decide on their future 
course for themselves. In certain localities it ia 
possible cinchona may be cultivated in Ceylon 
of a quality that may rival in richness of extract 
the yield of the Javanese bark, and in such 
oases we should say it would be wise to plant 
judiciously when circumstances may admit of this 
being beneficially and eoonomically done. But 
the future offers no prospect for this ieland 
such as was experienced when it first entered 
upon the cultivation. Cinchona is never again 
likely, we should say, to call for the attention 
of our planters as a possibly leading item of 
their business. Java has beaten us, and is likely 
from natural causes to always maintaia tbQ 
superiority now established lor her. 
^ — , 
THE DECLINE OF SULPHATE OP 
CINCHONIDINE 
The Oil Paint and Drug Beporter calls attention to 
the decline in the use ot eulpbats of cinohonidine 
which only aboul; ten years ago still figured eiten- 
Bively ill every misoellaueous order for goods was 
accorded a favoured place amorg the staple arliclea 
8Dd of which the oommercial fluotaations were eagerly 
watched by the trade. Since 1882, when sulphate of 
cinchonidiae ot Americsn manufaotura was worth from 
9O3. to .'^1 per oz. in New York, the value of the drug has 
declined to 3^c. per oz. Concurrently with this decline 
in valup, the conaniuption ot oinchonidine has dimi- 
nished particnlarly within the list five years. Apart 
from the domcstio article, of which the production 
and distribution sre not definitely known, the supplies 
drawn from Europe have fallen off lo the following 
extent:— '84, 381,885 cz.; '85, 478,747 oz. ; '86,449,414 
oz. ; '87, 570,162,oz. ; '88, 6U9,57C oz. ; '89, 171.251 oz. ; 
'90, 106,829 oz.; '91, 156,229 oz. ; and '92, 11,483 oz. 
— Chemist and Drugtjist. 
INCREASE IN THE WEST.INDIAN AEROW- 
ROOT PRODUCTION. 
The production of arrowroot in the Weft Indian 
Island of St. Vincent has lately increased at tremen- 
dous rate, the quantities exported from the island 
having been 15,458 tarrelsin '88, 16,732 in '89,20,846 
in '90, 17,540 in '91, »nd 23,433 barrels in '92. Of 
the '92 exports 17,008 barrels were shipped to the 
United Kingdom and 6,224 barrels to the Unite.! 
States. The advantage to the island of this extension of 
cultivation is shown by the fact Ihat^whereaa the average 
value of the arrowroot exports for the last three years 
was 29,152/., the shipmcnti in 1892 alone were valueil 
at 61,313/. The increaso in the quantity produced 
WAS caused by s great advance in the price of the 
starch which had previously brought tuch low figures 
that its cultivation had almoEt become unprofimble. 
In h'a Official Report for 1892 Administrator Goulda- 
bury, with more enthusiasm than grammar, states 
that: "Arrowroot and cocoa are now the main 
chances of the colony. As the product of arrowroot 
is almost wholly limited to St. Vincent and Natal, 
and the product of Natal bad almost disappeared 
nearly the very moment when the Jamaica Exhibition 
produced its tffects on the exhibits of the colony of 
St. Vincent, it may be aajnmed tbat the St. Vincent 
arrowroot fiuda itself, all of a sudden in a position 
of commercial good luck, with the knowledge that 
arrowroot-production cannot be increased on the 
smallest scale inside of at Icaft (ii months, and on 
a 6c»le (for want of plants) likely to affect prices 
for a much longer time ; 8 5 that there is a goad 
early foture for those who have arrowroal estates." — 
tlivinist and Druggist, 
