144  Cinchona  Culture  for  the  Pacific  Coast,  {'''^'A^';^^^"' 
vence  which  is  collected  on  the  surface  of  the  pits.  It  is  treated  with 
caustic  soda  and  with  hot  water,  in  order  to  remove  the  fatty  acids,  and 
then  enters  commerce  as  lubricating  machine-oil.  It  is  greatly  valued 
for  oiling  machinery,  and  also  for  wool. 
CINCHONA  CULTURE  FOR  THE  PACIFIC  COAST. 
Mr.  Willis  Weaver,  of  Bogota,  South  America,  has  written  a  long 
letter  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  advocating  the  introduction  of 
the  cinchona  tree  in  California. 
After  reviewing  the  conditions  under  which  the  cinchona  tree  thrives 
naturally  in  South  America,  and,  under  cultivation,  in  India,  Mr, 
Weaver  says:  "The  cinchona  seems  to  seek  a  dry  soil,  but  a  climate 
affording  plenty  of  rain  in  certain  parts  of  the  year.  The  coasts  of 
Northern  California  and  Oregon  would  fulfill  the  conditions  as  to 
moisture;  the  slopes  of  the  mountains  would  probably  furnish  hilly 
ground  very  similar  to  that  occupied  by  the  tree  in  its  native  habitat  j 
while  I  believe  that  the  temperature  would  admit  of  its  cultivation  even 
north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  It  is  also  uncertaii.  as  to  how 
far  any  undue  dryness  of  the  atmosphere  may  be  overcome  by  irriga- 
tion. The  surprising  results  already  attained  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
trees  prepare  us  to  expect  further  advances,  and  this  may  be  one  of 
them  as  naturally  as  anything  else. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  barks  produced  under  cultivation  are  much 
superior  to  the  natural  bark,  as  the  process  of  mossing  the  tree  causes 
a  remarkable  development  of  the  alkaloids  in  which  their  virtue  con- 
sists; also,  that  the  cultivated  trees  are  not  destroyed.  A  strip  is  taken 
off  reaching  the  length  of  the  trunk  and  one-third  its  circumference* 
The  wound  is  then  dressed  wilh  straw  matting,  and  kept  wet  until  the 
bark  forms  anew.  The  next  year  another  strip  is  taken,  and  so  on^ 
indefinitely.  I  am  told  that  the  harvest  begins  when  the  tree  is  five 
years  old,  but  am  not  in  a  position  to  verify  the  statement. 
"I  have  calculated  roughly,  according  to  the  prices  of  land  snd  labor 
here,  that  a  plantation  of  a  hundred  acres  might  be  put  in  at  less  than 
$1,000  an  acre,  covering  all  outlay,  or  say  $1,500  to  cover  interest  and 
all  contingencies." 
A  yield  of  $8,000  an  acre  has  been  reported  from  Indian  plantations. 
Mr.  Weaver  is  convinced  that  with  a  wise  choice  of  sites  and  judi- 
cious treatment,  together  with  a  careful  selection  of  the  proper  varie- 
