''^'"jir'isss'^™  }        Cultivation  of  Cinchona  in  Bolivia.  39 
and  well  irrigated.  When  the  plants  are  about  six  inches  in  height 
and  have  a  few  leaves — from  five  to  six  (which  is  about  five  months) 
— they  are  transplanted ;  holes  of  some  eight  to  ten  inches  deep  are 
dug  about  six  feet  apart,  in  which  they  are  planted.  The  plant  is 
covered  partly  over  with  twigs  and  other  light  stuff,  grass  and  leaves, 
to  keep  off  the  sun  for  about  three  months.  When  the  plant  is  strong 
and  healthy,  the  undergrf>wth  of  other  plants  is  cleaned  out  and  great 
care  is  taken.  This  attention  continues  for  about  two  years,  and  then 
the  plants  that  are  left  are  considered  sound.  About  25  per  cent,  of 
all  the  plants  decay  or  rot  in  this  time.  Afterwards  the  undergrowth 
is  cleared  out  once  a  year,  and  when  the  tree  is  six  years  old  it  is  pro- 
ductive, grows  to  about  fourteen  feet  in  height,  and  has  a  diameter  of 
about  six  inches,  up  to  six  or  seven  feet.  Where  the  bark  is  of  the 
most  productive  kind,  the  trunk  grows  straight  and  slender,  and  has 
the  form  of  an  orange  tree.  When  a  tree  is  left  standing  for  ten  or 
twelve  years,  it  is  over  a  foot  in  diameter,  the  bark  is  thicker  and 
heavier,  but  not  so  productive  in  quinia.  The  bark  is  ready  to  cut 
when  the  tree  is  about  six  years  old.  An  incision  is  made  around  the 
trunk  of  the  tree  a  few  inches  from  the  ground,  another  incision  some 
twenty-four  inches  above  around  the  tree,  and  then  two  incisions  oppo- 
site, lengthwise.  The  bark  is  pulled  off  in  two  pieces.  Two  cuts, 
and  sometimes  three,  are  got  off  each  tree,  twenty-two  to  twenty-four 
inches  in  length,  and  seven  to  eight  inches  in  width.  When  removed 
it  curls  up  like  the  cinnamon  bark.  After  the  tree  is  stripped  it  is  cut 
down,  leaving  a  trunk  about  twelve  inches  above  the  ground,  and  from 
the  base,  where  the  bark  has  been  left,  there  spring  out  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  shoots  or  sprouts ;  these  are  left  growing  until  they  are  a 
little  higher  than  the  stump,  then  they  are  thinned  out,  leaving  two  or 
three;  they  grow  fast  and  in  five  years  give  good  bark. 
The  trees  produce  on  an  average  about  four  and  a  half  pounds  of 
bark,  and  are  stripped,  in  the  southern  hemisphere,  late  in  the  spring, 
October  to  January.  The  bark  is  placed  in  paved  yards,  and  is  gene- 
rally cured  in  four  days,  but  if  rain  sets  in,  at  times  it  takes  nearly 
three  weeks. 
The  principal  enemy  in  the  insect  line  is  a  large  black  ant,  which  is 
very  destructive.  There  are  various  classes  of  the  quina  tree,  calysaya, 
green  and  purple.  The  greater  part  of  the  quina  passes  through  this 
city  baled  and  sent  to  Tacne  and  Mollendo.  Cinchona  is  the  common 
name  for  all  quina. 
