337 
There can be no cloubt of the ease with which Coca can be grown 
anywhere in the peninsula. It belongs however to that class of cul- 
tures like Patchouli, and citronella grass in which the demand is 
limited and the possible supply vast. Such plants however often pay 
very well, from the fact that there are very few planters of them, the 
ordinary planter being deterred by the speedy fall in price of the pro- 
duct when there is a large quantity thrown on the market, 
H.N. R. 
Imperial Institute , South Kensington, London, S. IF. 
Report on Erythroxylon Coca leaves from Perak, by Professor 
Wvndham R. Dunstan, M.A., F.R.S., Director. 
The sample of coca leaves which is the subject of this report 
was forwarded for examination to the Imperial Institute by the 
Director of Museums, Federated Malay States, with letter No. D. M. 
56-1907 dated the 15th April 1907. The leaves were procured from 
the Kamuumg Estate, Perak, where about half an acre has been 
planted with Erythroxylon Coca. 
Description of sample. 
The sample consisted of about 15 11). of brownish-green leaves, 
which varied in length from 1 to 2 inches ; they were brittle and 
very much broken. The leaves resembled those of Erythroxylon C oca, 
Lam., var. sprucectnum, as cultivated in Java, but were rather brow ner 
than a good sample of the latter. 
Results of Examination, 
Chemical examination of the leaves gave the following results : 
Moisture at 100 C. ... ... 9.19 per cent. 
Ash ... ... 6-95 ,, ,, 
Total alkaloids ... ... 0.64 ,, ,, 
The percentage of alkaloids present is quite equal to the average 
amount found in commercial supplies of coca leaves from other 
sources. 
Commercial valuation. 
A sample of the leaves was submitted for valuation to a firm of 
manufacturing chemists who reported that the colour was not parti- 
cularly good, and that at present similar leaves containing 0.6 per cent 
of total alkaloids would fetch 7|d. to 8d. per lb., on the London market. 
The firm stated that they had recently made a considerable 
puchase of Java leaves of the same alkaloidal strength, but of superior 
colour at the above mentioned price. 
Conclusions and Recommendations. 
These coca leaves from Perak were not very well prepared, being 
much broken and discoloured. To obtain the best price the leaves 
vJ 
