$08 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUllIST. 
[Jan. 2, lb99. 
and also to the apparently large amount of alu- 
mina su;^'gofttive of a soinewliat stiff soil. Mr. 
Th')iiison, however, states tlint tlie soil is veiy 
pO;Ous and is not injuriously afTected by heavy 
rain. It is fairly rich in phosphoric acid though 
tin (i<<ures for potash are low. In nitrogf^n, how- 
ever, this specimen is very r;cli, the liKures being 
much above what is usually founil in soils of 
averaj^e fertility, and a nitiogeii is a very im- 
portant constituent ot tlie allcaliods it appears 
essential tliat soils suitable for cinchona should 
be rich in nitrogenous vegetable matter. 
Let us now see how the composition of this soil 
compaies with that of the Indian ciuciiona soils, 
Ham)(les of which were kindly supplied the writer 
in 1882 liy the JVIadras (Jovernmeut authorities : — 
No. 1. — Neddivattani, formerly forest land, now 
planted with succirnbras, which are growing very 
well, average annual rainiall duiing live years 
from 1877 to 1882 was 92-41 inches. 
No. 2. — Neddivattani, foi merly grass laud now 
planted with succirubias and condamineas, the 
former growing very badly and the latter fairly 
well. 
No. .3. — Dodabett;', rich surface soil, elevation 
7)200 feet, average rainfall tluring hve years from 
1877 to 1882 was r)]'70 inches, growing Couhi- 
miiieas and iioiiig well. 
No. 4. — Dodabctla, poor gravelly soil elevation 
and rainfall same a? No. .3 ^^rowiiig Condamineas. 
A^\LYS:S OF CINCHONA SOIL. 
From the Central Cocdiliera of the Columbian Andes 
in the District of Chaparral. 
SENT BY jnt. n. THOMSON, 188C', 
Composition of the oir-ciried sample. 
Water (lost at 212° F) . . 4-823 
* Combined Water and OfS!aiiio Matter 18-687 
O.iides of Iron . . . . 5-7.52 
Alumina .. .. 15--10G 
Lime .. ., . -253 
Magnesia .. .. •214 
Potash .. .. -086 
Soda .. .. -091 
Phosplioric Acid .. .. '15 
Sulphuric Acid .. .. "055 
Carbonic Acid . . . . "473 
Chloiiiie • .. .. -lis 
Ins-3hible Siliceous Matters, Sand, etc. 53-937 
1 00000 
* Containing Nitrogen . . -364 
REGISTER OF EAINFAI.L AT THE CINCHONA PLAN- 
TATIONS, CHAPARllAL. 
REPUBLIC OF COLUMBIA. 
January 
February 
March 
April 
May 
.Tuna 
July 
August 
September 
October 
November 
December 
From the above returns, it will be seen that 
the rainfall is heavy and pretty evenly distri- 
buted throughout the year ; though March, April, 
and May, appear to be the months of greatest 
rain. October, however, seems to be a damp 
mouth and in 1885 experienced the record down- 
fall of 20-67 inches. 
1883 
3884 
1885 
1886 
6-88 
5-10 
8-62 
3 25 
7.23 
,Vll 
15-05 
12-60 
6-88 
12 28 
18-97 
15-90 
15-25 
11-47 
9-17 
6-S9 
2-98 
2-08 
2-30 
4-68 
505 
8-47 
lO-.'iS 
12-25 
20-67 
9-33 
6-30 
5-84 
4 85 
5-73 
13-32 
97-09 
117-22 
Evidently cinchona thrives best in a compara- 
tively damp hot clim.ate with only occasional thort 
intervals of really diy weather. 
INOIAN CINCHONA, SOILS. 
Compo-sition of the air-drieJ Sajuples. 
Ncddivatfam. Dodabetta. 
1 2 3 
Water (lost at 212° F) I SSO 3 704 3 650 1-580 
•Combiried ^Vate^ and 
Organic Mat er 18 580 18 420 16-9.50 8-080 
Oxidtsoi Iioa 7 080 9 800 8-510 26 870 
Alumina 10-340 10 380 6 96cl 7 3'JO 
Lime -291 -100 -4141 -078 
Magnesia -241 -as'l -274 -077 
Potash -216 115 -216 031 
Soda -164 096 073 040 
Phosphoric Acid -268 108 -217 -211 
Sulphuric Acid trBce trace -058 trace 
Carbonic Acid 140 -210 -220 -100 
Nitric Acid -(09 -006 -Ou? -004 
Chlorine "002 -002 -004 003 
loFoluble Siliceous 
Matters, Sand, etc. .52-105 56-749 62 372 55 476 
100 000 100-000 100 OIK) ICO OOO 
•ContainiBg Nitrogen -485 -299 -496 -107 
On com|)aring the analytical results witli the 
remarks of the auihuritios, who forwarded the 
sam|des, it will be ob.'-erved that Ihe soils wliicli 
yielded the best growth were those which con- 
tained the most natural moisture (retained in the 
air-diied condition) the most organic matter ana 
the most nitrogen. 
It will also be noticeil that (he best soiIk 
namely, No. I, from Neddivattani plantations and 
No. .S fiom Dod.-ibetta plantations, are botii of 
them much richer in lime, potash and plmsphoric 
acid the important mineral constituents. In 
other words, the analyses are a reliable guide in 
estimating the probable future crop results. 
It is important as well as interesting to notice 
that the alumina varies very co;isiderably, being 
highest in No. 1 and least in No. 4. Tlie figures 
for oxide of iron on the contrary being highest 
in the poorest soil No. 4, of which in fact it forms 
just one-fourth or 26 870 per cent and consequently 
is unusually ferruginous in character. 
There are undoul)tedly many Ceylon soils that 
are equally rich in nitrogen, but the average 
plantation soil does not contain as much as these 
Indian soils do. While as regards potash and 
phos))horic acid, which are most important mineral 
constituents, there is also a corresponding deti- 
ciency, the amount of lime being about the s.ime. 
The sncce.'s which has attemled the Indian 
Government cinchona plantations, is generally 
recognised; therefore it is fair to assume that the 
analytical results have been fully borne out in 
the respective yield of valuable alkaloids. 
In making therefore any future experiments in 
Ceylon it would obviously be desirable to |)roceed 
with caution and to select a favourable situation 
in a locality having a rainfall of 90 to 110 
inches per annum and a soil rich in nitrogenous 
organic matter and capable of retaining moisture 
during periods of occasional drought. 
Uusually it will be found tbat richness in 
nitrogen is also associated Mith richness in the 
important mineral constituents, except of course 
in the case of peaty soils, which though rich in 
nitrogen and vegetable matter, are sadly deficient 
in potash, lime and phosphoric acid. 
JOHN HUGHES, F.LC, 
Analytical Laboratory, 79 Mark Lane, 
London, E.C-, Dec. 1. 
