40 
by the possible demand for the product and the probable extent of its 
cultivation. 
At the present time enquiry is again being made respecting 
Ipecacuanha, and considering the consumption and consequent 
demand for the drug, the limited sources of supply, its slow reproduc- 
tion and cultivation, there does appear a prospect for further 
development. In most instances, however, enquiry is based on the 
suitability of the plant for a Catch-crop, and the object of this note 
is to indicate its inadaptability for cultivation under such conditions. 
Cephaelis Ipecacuanha is a dwarf, half shrubby, shade loving 
plant indigenous to many parts of Brazil, and sparsely in New 
Granada and probably Bolivia. It was first introduced to Europe 
about 1830 and to India 30-40 years later. Ipecacuanha is prepared 
from the dried roots of the plant which are exported from Brazil, 
Cartagena, Selangor and Johore, and India ( an analysis showing the * 
relative value of the commercial drug from the first three countries 
mentioned k published in the Agricultural Bulletin p. 364, Vol. 8.) 
Its cultivation — owing to its special requirements — is still limited 
while the demand for the drug is increasing. 
Bentley and Trimen describe the process of collection in Brazil 
as follows: — The roots of the Ipecacuanha plant are collected more 
or less all the year round, but less during the rainy season from the 
difficulty then experienced in drying them properly. The collectors 
are called Poayeros from the Brazilian name Poaya by which this 
plant is known. A Poayero collects the roots by grasping in one 
hand as many stems as he is able, and with the other he pushes a 
pointed stick obliquely with a see-saw motion in the ground beneath 
the plants, by which he is able to pull up a lump of earth with the 
inclosed roots in an almost unbroken state. The earth is then shaken 
from the roots which are placed in a bag brought for that purpose, 
and the same process is repeated with other plants. When the 
f*oayera pulls up the roots, he breaks them at certain points, and 
from these broken parts of the roots which are left in the soil, young 
plants are subsequently produced, and thus the total destruction of 
the plant is avoided.” 
In the East the plant is reproduced by root cuttings (so far as I 
know it does not seed locally, but where well matured plants are 
available old enough to flower, seeds could be produced by artificial 
fertilization) but such cuttings are not easy to establish, and if the 
root is subdivided into numerous cuttings due protection to prevent 
loss from excessive damp is necessary. On virgin soils, or where 
there is a depth of vegetable humus and the situation is moist and 
shady, the plant grows well when establishe 1 but the properties of 
the root deteriorate with continued cultivation. Such deterioration 
might be minimised, if nit avoi led, by mulching with leaf-soil and 
burnt-earth, especially burnt-humus, as the lime contained in burnt- 
earth and applied in thi* form, alth >ugh the proportion is small, is 
easy of absorption. Careful cultivation is necessary as the alkaloid 
cr active principal of the drug, only amounts to about I per cent, of 
the loot. 
