812 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST [June 1, 1901. 
A peculiar feature of the distribution of the 
alfi.aloida is that they never occur iii ihe sieve-iubeB, 
which are associated Tfilh the couveya.nc(5 of the 
albumiuoua products of the plant. 
The second part of the investigation deals with 
the method of formation of the alkaloid. Since 
the leaves of plants ate mainly concerned in the 
production of starch end albumen, which herve for 
their nutrition, it was highly probable that here 
also alkaloids were produced, but the evidence 
already existing strongly negatived this view. Thus, 
Howard (Quinologij of the East Indian Pliintaiions, 
1869, p. 14), found that leaves of Cinchona succirubra 
contained only 'll per cent, of total alkaloid ; while 
Broughton, in i 1870, found percentages varying from 
■0041 to '019. In a speoiraen of leaves examined by 
De Vry in 1896, a larger amount was found, viz., 
•1G2 per cent., but this was amorphous alkaloid only. 
As pointed out by Dr. Lotsy, however, a mere 
estimation of the amount of alkaloid continued in 
the leaves gives no reliable answer to this question, 
because it is quite ]»ossible that the alkaloid as soon 
as. formed is transported towards the stem ; conse- 
quently the author adopted a somewhat different 
procedure, of which the following short account may 
be given, A leaf of the tree under investigation 
was selected and cut into two, longitudinally, and 
on one side of the midrib, while still attached to 
the tree. The smaller halt so removed was examined 
micro chemioally for its content of alkaloid, while 
the portion still on the tree was allowed to remain 
daring a dfvy or night, as might be necessary for 
tha piirticular experiment then being carried out, 
■when it also was removed and its content of alkaloid 
determined in the same manner. 
A large number of observations carried out in this 
way shov/ed that, under normal climatic conditions, 
a leaf accumulated alkaloid during the day and 
emptied itself during the night by allowing the 
alkaloid to be transported towards the stem. It was 
also observed, however, that this normal removal 
of the alkaloid from the leaves does not occur uoder 
adverse conditions, such as are found in extremely 
cold or foggy weather. These climatic influeuces 
also have considerable effect on the amount of 
alkaloid formed during the day. That the alkaloids 
are transported from the leaves to the stem of the 
plant was clearly proved by keeping cut leaves 
both in the light and in the dark, when it was found 
that the amount of alkaloid remained uncha iged, even 
after a month. It was also found that empty cut 
leaves were capable of producinf; alkaloid when 
placed in stimulating liquids such ..a dilute solution 
of ammonia. The author conclnd ;^ the report of 
the results of his long-continued investigations with 
some interesting remarks on the probable methods 
of synthesis employed by the plant in the formation 
of the cinchona alkaloids, but these are too technical 
for reproduction in the present abstract. Attention 
may, however, be drawn to the bearing which these 
reanits ou(iht to have upon cinchona cultivation. 
In the first place it should be noted that, since 
the useful alkaloids are formed in the leaves of the 
plant, then in the selection of varieties for cultivation 
care should be taken to obtain those having a good 
foliage, both with regard to quantity and size of 
leaves formed. The author states that this plan has 
been generally adopted in recent years in the 
Java cinchona plantations, with excellent resalts. 
Further, it should follow that any method of culti- 
vation which tends to increase the hypodermal 
tissue in the plant should yield hark contaiuing an 
increased amount of alkaloid -i, and so one would 
expect better yields from pollarding than from ordinary 
growth. 
^ 
FilUIT TREES FOR CEILON, 
A circular from A. J. Pearson, Colombo, dated 
March 2'Jth, says that it is proposed to make an impor- 
tation for B. W, monsoon planting, of first-class named 
varieties of fruit trees considered to be suitable for 
■ruif.ivation in Ceylon. The trees will be mostly three 
yeir= c'd an'! are guaranteed to be true to name and 
description. Oranges and Lemons are put down at 
Kv;'50 each. Pi;..,ches, Nectarines, Apricots, Figs, 
Plums, and Olives are R2'00 each, while Grape vines 
are R] 00 each. The only ones suitable for Jaffna are 
Oriiuges, L.imona, and Grape vines. Years ago some 
figs were introduced into Jaffna, but, if we have been 
rightly informed, they did not thrive well. They 
might be given another trial, however, and they might 
prove more of a success. Of the grapes the "Muscat 
of Alexandria " is specially recommended for trial. A 
few ye irs ago there was some talk about introducing 
several new varieties of grape, including the " Black 
Hamburg " and other dark kinds, but we have heard 
nothing about it since. 
The Lemon advertised is " The Lisbon lemon." It 
is said that there are several trees of this in the 
island, three and four years of age, which are bearing 
heavily. Whether the Lemon would grow in the Jaffna 
soil and climate can only be known by giving it a 
trial. 
A dozen varieties of Oranges are given, the Wash- 
ington Navel being mo^^t highly recommended. We 
doubt whether it would thrive in Jaffna. The Medi- 
terranean varieties are much more likely to be suc- 
cessful. Whether the Chinese and Japanese Manda- 
rin oranges could be raised here or not is a question. 
We hope some of our rich farmers will try a few 
varieties. Orders should be sent in at once. Delivery 
is promised in June, and with ca^e the trees ought to 
get a good start before the north-east monsoon seta 
in. — The Morning Star, 
THE EUCALYPTUS. 
In an interesting article in the Scie/itl^c American, 
Mr. Nicholas Pike makes some useful observations 
on the nature and uses of the eucilyptus, which ap- 
pear worthy of notice. After remarkint; on the great 
progress made in medicine and surgery during the 
past half-century, Mr. Pike says that in most diseases 
fever acts a prominent part, and statistics go to 
prove that in more than halt the cases malaria is 
found to be the actual existing cause ; perhaps imbibed 
from sewers, foul odours and gases, marshes, etc, 
Surely, then, any remedy that could purify our sur- 
roundings should be heartily welcomed. 
In the trees of the eucalyptus family a relief may 
be found for the malaria so prevalent in some parts 
of the world. Australia is the principal home of the 
eucalyptus, where it forms 90 per cent, of the forest 
trees. All have gummy secretions, and from the 
varied tints of the foliage go by the local names of 
blue, red, or white gum trees. From the peculiar 
bark of many they are also called " stringy bark 
trees." 
Nearly all the eucalypti grow very tall, some of 
them rivalling the giant Sequoia Wellingtonia in 
heiuht. An English maturalist measured one 400 feet 
h'gh, and four men on horseback could stand in a 
cavity of the trunk. One of the E. Amygdalina th&t 
had fallen in a mountain gorge was 420 feet iong, 
with circumference in proportion, and some in the 
Yarra district are over 500 feet. 
There are more than one hundred species of eucaly- 
ptus, but Mr. Pike only mentions a few of the most 
useful and important. Veiy many have long attracted 
notice from their valuable properties, and they 
ought to be better known Their flowers are apet- 
aleous, but have masses of stamens like the 
myrtle. The bud hss an operculate calyx, formed by 
several jointeJ leaves, united throughout, and sepa- 
rating at the articulation in the shape ot a lid, which 
flies off when the flower expand?. 
The E. oleosa or piperita has the smell and qualities 
of the famous oajeputi {Melaleuca miner), so well- 
known in India for the cure of rheumatic affections. 
The wood ia extensively used for fuel and the bark for 
