6 QUINOLOGY OF THE EAST INDIAN PLANTATIONS. 
been felt, and it is only by avoiding errors in the choice of species, and by carefully selecting the best 
situations and modes of culture, that individual planters in other parts of the world will see their efforts 
crowned with remunerative results. 
It was at first a somewhat doubtful and anxious inquiry whether the product in alkaloids might not be 
deteriorated or altered by the change of climate to which these plants were to be subjected. . It was with 
no small satisfaction, therefore, that in June, 1S63, I first succeeded in obtaining from bark of the second 
year’s growth in India the same alkaloids, and in equal quantity, as from bark grown in South America. 
Since then, it has been shown that the Oinchonae, when cultivated, not only yield their normal proportion 
of alkaloid, but that, in some species at least, this is susceptible of a large increase.* 
First Importations from India. 
Another stage has now been reached, since the first importation of Quinine-producing bark from the 
East Indies, as a commercial article, took place in August of 1S67. This first consignment was the product 
of six hundred small trees of C. succirubra (Red Bark), grown at Ootacamund, and on the Denison estate, 
and cut down and sent into the market by way of experiment. It was all contained in three large chests ; 
thus showing that the plantation was far too young to afford, when thus treated, any adequate return to the 
cultivators. Moreover the chests, numbered respectively 1, 2, and 3, were by no means of equal value ; 
although it so happened, that when exposed to public sale they brought nearly the same price per pound, — 
a circumstance tending to mislead the grower. The contents of No. 1 consisted in the bark of the stem ; 
No. 2, of the large branches ; and No. 3, of the small twigs ; and these last were so poor in the yield of 
alkaloid that, when added to No. 2, the whole produce of the latter two chests would not have more than 
equalled that of the No. 1, containing the fine stem-bark. This was really fine, although the proper red colour 
of the bark itself was not yet developed. It consisted in pieces sometimes two feet in length, doubly curled 
inwards upon themselves, being not more than one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness. The diameter of the 
trees, for the time of growth, must have been large. The external appearance was long-wrinkled, with 
some slight cross cracks and protuberances, and in places traces of commencing lichens. Dr. De Vry 
informs me that No. 1 of 6. succirubra, from Sir \Y. Denison’s plantation, gave him 6'8 alkaloids, containing 
2 - 85 Quinine. The rest was Cinchonidine, with a small quantity of Cinchonine. One of his former 
pupils obtained from this bark, by repeated decoctions with water, thirty-eight per cent, of extract, whilst 
American bark very seldom produces more than twenty-five per cent. 
This first importation was attended with a curious result, which, having some possible bearing on the 
future, it may be well here to notice. It appeared that the bark, when submitted as usual to the 
examination and chemical analysis of those proposing to become purchasers, was differently estimated in 
England, Erance, and Germany. In England and Erance the variation of estimate does not demand 
notice, — depending in part on the mode in which the averages were taken ; but in Germany a different 
result followed,— the agent for one manufacturer declaring that it contained no Quinine, but altogether 
another substance. I have shown that this species is particularly difficult to analyse ; and it is quite probable 
that this chemist obtained all the product as Ennovate of Quinine, which would account for the statement. 
At all events it is important to let this incorrectness be known, since otherwise the notion may be propagated 
again so as to disquiet the minds of the cultivators. This effect, however, might not be injurious, if it 
operated as a check to over-production, which the map of the district published by Mr. Markham suggests 
(from the number of the plantations) as the chief danger to be now dreaded.f 
Nothing can be more satisfactory than the luxuriance of the young trees in some situations. This is 
* &ee in Appendix, 1* irst Report on the Bark and Leaves of C. succirubra grown in India, by -J. E. H., to the Under- 
Secretary of State for India. 
t Attempts at culture of tlie Cinchona) have also been made, with more or less success, in Jamaica, in the Island of La 
