1. Ceylon.—

The cultivation of Cinchona in Ceylon has had, during the past year, to struggle with serious difficulty owing to unfavourable weather. Mr. Morris writes (February 14th, 1878):—

"At Hakgalla the Cinchona plantation has suffered very severely from the unusually wet season. Nearly all the large trees, 20 or 30 feet high, and about 12 years old, are dying; the stock plants and about 300,000 cuttings have been killed. We hope to recover ourselves in time, and by opening fresh nurseries, there is every possibility of being able to meet the demand for plants. The private plantations have suffered very severely. Great care is required in selecting the aspect, soil, and exposure to which the plants are likely to be subjected. If these are carefully considered and we have moderate seasons the plantations are in a fair way to succeed. On the other hand, if we have many seasons of continuous wet weather like the last the plants will suffer very seriously.

It is satisfactory, however, to find that the bark of the trees which were cut down by the planters on showing signs of bad health "sold in the London market at prices little, if anything, below those obtained for the finest unbroken strips, peeled from perfectly healthy" trees. Most of such trees are sending up shoots again.

It is possible that it may be necessary in Ceylon to modify the practice of Cinchona cultivation. It is now stated there "that returns can be obtained from a Cinchona plantation at almost as early a date after planting as from coffee or tea. For the longevity of the trees a climate distinguished by moderate wind and rain and open and deep soil may be necessary." From more recent accounts Cinchona planting seems to have recovered entirely from the temporary discourage- page 10 ment of the early part of last year, and to now bid fair to add enormously to the wealth and prosperity of the island.

2. Introduction of Columbian Barks into India.—

The Indian Government sent Mr. R. Cross to New Grenada for the purpose of bringing to England, for eventual transmission to India, plants of the species of Cinchona, yielding the "Soft Columbian" and "Hard Carthagena" barks of commerce. He arrived in this country in March of last year with five wardian cases containing 400 plants of the former and 200 of the latter. The Hard Carthagena included as many as six different kinds. The barks of all were, however, very carefully analysed by Mr. Howard, the well known quinologist. With regard to the Soft Columbian known as "Calisaya of Santa Fé," Mr. Howard reported that the bark analysed, and which was taken from the rejected cane-like shoots brought home by Mr. Cross, "was of the very best description, and such as indicates the probability of a much larger production of alkaloid in the bark of more mature and developed" trees." This bark yielded 6.24 per cent, of alkaloids, of which 3.25 per cent, was quinine and 1.90 was cinchonidine. Mr. Howard considers that "if the young plants can be safely conveyed to India and established there it may not improbably prove second to none."

Of the "Hard Carthagena" bark plants the only one which Mr. Howard considered worthy of attention was the kind from Coralis Inza, in the Magdalena Valley. This yielded 4.75 per cent, of alkaloids, of which 1.88 was quinine and 1.18 was cinchonidine. "If a free grower, as I think would be the case, it might be well worth naturalising in India. The bark has met with a ready sale in commerce."

The plants were placed under Mr, Cross's charge at Kew, where every facility was afforded him for establishing and propagating them. On the 16th of October of last year he reported as follows to the Under Secretary of State:—

"On arrival in this country in March the plants of the 'Calisaya of Santa Fé,' carried all the way from the banks of the Caqueta River, were thought to be in a weak state. I am glad to state that, although the collection is now somewhat reduced, there are in all 40 plants more or less growing and rooting, and which I am convinced will soon become good established plants.

"The majority are from cuttings, but there are some also from original imported root pieces growing also, although these in general seemed unwilling to take root freely. The dry weather of summer was not so favourable for the development of growth, but the chief cause was the diminished vitality of the root pieces which were carried overland so great a distance. When it is considered that these were dug up and brought from the damp forest, whence rise one of the most important tributaries of the Amazon, across the eastern Cordillera down to Popayan, where in order to check the growth they were alternately covered up and exposed for nearly three months, then carried down to the hot Cauca Valley to the Pacific, after which there was a month of sea voyage, I think the result will be deemed rather remarkable."

"Of the other sort from the Magdalena valley (which caused the delay of the three months referred to) there are only 12 growing plants, but some of these are good."

At the close of the winter Mr. Cross reported that the collection of Santa Fé plants was reduced to 15 page 11 plants, and that of Hard Carthagena to 10. He considered, however, that the fate of both sorts was still quite safe.

3. Jamaica.—

Further information confirms the prospect of success in the cultivation of Cinchona in Jamaica (see Kew Report for 1877, p. 15).

Mr. Thomson reports (August 13th, 1878,) that in the parish of Manchester the growth of Cinchona is an accomplished success. "The average height of the group of trees which I examined is over 25 feet, the largest specimen, however, measured 35 feet, with its trunk near the ground 2 feet in circumference; this latter size is about equal to our best specimens at the Government plantation, now nine years old. The trees in question are finely developed and very healthy, and are growing in an ordinary coffee field. These trees are growing at the remarkably low elevation of 2,000 feet. A few hundred pounds of bark taken from some of the same batch of trees was stripped and sent to England last year; this bark realised 2s. 1d. per lb., a very satisfactory price considering the age of the trees (seven years) and particularly the low elevation at which they were grown. . . . . . . Thousands of acres in this beautiful parish, with an altitude of about 3,000 feet, present conditions more especially adapted to plant."

A parcel of bark of Cinchona succirubra from Jamaica sold in London in September of last year fetched 2s. 10d. per lb., being a higher price than was reached by either East Indian or Ceylon bark sold at the same time.

Mr. Nock, who is in charge of the Cinchona plantation at Gordon Town, informs me while this Report is in preparation, that "having cut down 100 trees of C. succirubra about 10 years old, the yield of bark amounted to 1,391 lbs. of trunk bark, and 269 lbs. of branch bark, making a total of 1,660 lbs. of green bark. I expect this to lose three-quarters in drying, which will bring it down to 415 lbs., which at 2s. 6d. per lb. will realise over 50l. As the trees are planted 303 to the acre, an acre is worth at 10 years over 150l., which proves Cinchona cultivation in Jamaica to be a profitable undertaking. The average height of the 100 trees was 22 feet, not including 3 feet of the young wood at top. The average circumference close to the ground being 18 inches, and at 5 feet above the ground 13 inches. The tallest tree was 35 feet, with a circumference close to the ground of 30 inches. The smallest was 11 feet high, circumference 13 inches." The Government has authorised the extension of this plantation by 100 acres.