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A 


1^  n i> 

MANU A L 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


GEORGE  KING,  M.B.,  E.L.S., 

c 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  THE  ROYAL  BOTANICAL  GARDEN,  CALCUTTA, 
AND  OF  CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  BENGAL. 


CALCUTTA: 

OFFICE  OF  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING. 

1876. 


CALCUTTA 


PRINTED  BY  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING, 
8,  HASTINGS  STREET. 


<2lM  ^ b » 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. — Preliminary 

II. — Collection  of  Cinchona  seeds  in  'South  America 

)f  III. — Introduction  into  India 

)(  IV. — Cultivation  of  the  Cinchona  tree 

„ Y. — Chemistry  of  the  Bark  crop  .... 

s)  YI. — Mode  of  harvesting  the  Bark  crop 

VII. — On  the  local  manufacture  of  a Cinchona  febrifuge. 


APPENDIX  A. — List  of  the  chief  modern  works  relating  to  Cinchona 

,,  B. — Statement  shewing  the  quantities  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine,  Cin- 

chonine, Cinchonidine,  and  Quinidine  supplied  to  the  Indian 
Government  from  1867  to  1873,  with  the  cost  of  the  same  . 

„ C. — Stock  of  trees  in  the  Nilgiri  Cinchona  plantations 

„ D. — Expenditure  on  ditto  ......... 

„ E. — Stock  of  trees  in  the  Sikkim  Cinchona  plantations 

„ F.— Expenditure  and  revenue  of  ditto  ...  . . . 

„ G. — Particulars  of  some  of  the  sales  of  Cinchona  bark  held  in 

London  during  1875  and  part  of  1876 

„ H. — Meteorology  of  the  Nilgiri  plantations 

„ I 4 J. — Meteorology  of  the  Sikkim  plantations  . . . . . 

„ K.  — Meteorology  of  the  Langdale  Estate,  Dimbula  District,  Ceylon. 

„ L. — Table  of  planting  distances  

„ M. — Deports  on  the  action  of  the  mixed  Cinchona  Alkaloid  issued 

by  the  Sikkim  Quinologist 


tagr. 

1 

7 

12 

27 

36 

42 

50 

57 

£8 

61 

64 

65 

66 

66 

71 

74 

76 

77 

77 


. 


' . 


. 

CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PRELIMINARY. 

Of  the  date  and  manner  of  the  first  discovery  of  the  curative  effects  of  Cin-  Discovery  ot 
chona  Bark  in  malarious  fevers  we  know  nothing.  And  we  are  almost  equally  ^tuianotc 
ignorant  who  the  discoverers  were,  some  writers  claiming  that  merit  for  the  bIUF1*11 
aborigines  of  South  America,  while  others  assert,  and  with  apparently  greater 
accuracy,  that  not  only  did  the  Indians  know  nothing  of  the  virtues  of  the 
bark  until  these  were  pointed  out  by  their  conquerors  the  Spaniards,  but  that 
they  still  refuse  to  use  bark  as  a febrifuge.  The  introduction  of  this  medicine 
to  Europe  is  associated  with  the  Countess  of  Chinchon,  wife  of  a Spanish  Vice- 
roy of  Peru,  who,  having  been  cured  by  its  use  of  an  attack  of  fever  contracted 
while  in  that  country,  brought  a quantity  of  the  bark  to  Europe  on  her  return 
from  South  America,  about  the  year  1639.  Jesuit  missionaries  appear  also 
to  have  taken  an  active  part  in  its  introduction.  Hence  the  early  names 
given  to  the  medicine  were  Peruvian  or  Jesuit’s  Bark  and  Countess’s  Powder. 

Nothing,  however,  was  known  to  science  of  the  tree  producing  this  bark  until  cinchona 
1739,  when  La  Condamine  and  Jussieu,  members  of  a French  exploring  known  to 
expedition  then  in  South  America,  obtained  plants  with  the  intention  of  send- facienct 
ing  them  to  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  at  Paris  : but  the  whole  collection  unfor- 
tunately perished  in  a storm  at  sea  near  the  mouth  of  the  River  Amazon.  The 
first  living  Cinchonas  ever  seen  in  Europe  were  some  Calisaya  plants  raised 
at  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  from  seeds  collected  by  Dr.  Weddell,  during  his  first 
journey  to  Bolivia  in  1846.  In  1742  Linngeus  established  the  botanical  genus 
Cinchona,  a term  which  continues  to  be  employed  by  the  majority  of  Botanists, 
although  some  writers  prefer  the  name  Chinchona,  as  more  accurately  per- 
petuating that  of  the  noble  lady  who  introduced  this  invaluable  remedy  to 
Europe.1 

The  number  of  species  belonging  to  tbe  genus  Cinchona  is  reduced  by  The  various 
Messrs.  Hooker  and  Bentham  in  their  Genera  Plantarum  to  thirty-six.  Many  cinchona 
of  these  species  are  much  given  to  variation  or  sporting,  and  a good  many 
varieties,  originating  in  this  way,  have  been  elevated  to  the  rank  of  true  species 
and  described  as  such,  much  to  the  confusion  of  all  interested  in  them.  It 
would  be  entirely  out  of  place  to  introduce  here  a botanical  disqui- 
sition on  the  perplexing  nomenclature  of  the  plants  belonging  to  this  genus, 
and  especially  so  as  only  about  a dozen  of  the  species  yield  bark  of  medicinal 
value,  and  of  these  but  six  are  cultivated  in  India. 

The  following  table  copied  from  the  Pharmacographia  of  Messrs.  Eluckiger 


1 Mr.  C.  R.  Markham,  c.b.,  f.k.s.,  whose  name  is  so  intimately  associated  with  the  introduction  of  Cinchona 

into  India,  is  a warm  supporter  of  the  spelling  Chinchona.  Mr.  Markham  has  just  published  a biography  of  the  Countess 
of  Chinchon. 


2 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA, 


Their  native 
countries. 


and  Hanbury  shews  at  a glance  the  names  of  the  principal  species,  together 
with  their  native  countries  and  products  : — 

Conspectus  of  the  Principal  Species  of  Cinchona. 


Species  (excluding  sub-species  and  varieties) 

Where  figured. 

Native 

Where 

according  to  Weddell. 

country. 

cultivated. 

I.— -Stirps  Cinchonas  officinalis — 

1 Cinchona  officinalis,  Hook  ... 

Bot.  Mag.  5364 

Ecuador  (Loxa) 

India,  Ceylon, 

Java. 

2 

ft 

macrocalyx,  Pav.  ... 

Howard  N.Q... 

Peru 

3 

lucumcefolia,  Pav.  ... 

Ditto. 

Ecuador,  Peru 

4 

lanceolata,  E.  et  P.  (?) 

Ditto. 

Peru 

5 

lancifolia,  Mutis  ... 

Karst,  tab.  11, 

New  Granada 

India 

12. 

6 

if 

amygdalifolia,  Wedd. 

Wedd.  tab.  6 ... 

Peru,  Bolivia... 

II.— Stirps  Cinchonas  rugosae — 

7 Cinchona  Pitayensis,  Wedd. ... 

Karst,  tab.  22, 

New  Granada 

India 

(C.  TriancB.) 

(Popuyan). 

8 

rugosa,  Pav. 

Howard N.  Q.... 

Peru 

9 

if 

Mutisii,  Lamb. 

Ditto. 

Ecuador 

10 

hirsuta,  B.  et  P.  ... 
Carabayensis,  Wedd. 

Wedd.  tab.  21 

Peru 

11 

Wedd.  tab.  19 

Peru,  Bolivia 

12 

» 

Pahudiana,  How.  .. 

Howard  N.  Q.... 

Peru 

India,  Java  ... 

13 

asperifolia,  Wedd.... 

Wedd.  tab.  20 

Bolivia 

14 

umbellulifera,  Pav... 

Howard  N.  Q. . . . 

Peru 

15 

glandulifera,  R.  et  P. 

Ditto.  ... 

Peru 

16 

ft 

Humboldtiana,  Lamb 

Ditto. 

Peru 

III. — Stirps  Cinchonae  micranthae — 

17  Cinchona  australis,  Wedd.  ... 

Wedd.  tab.  8 ... 

South  Bolivia 

18 

ft 

scrobiculata,  H.  et  B. 

Ditto. 

Peru 

19 

ft 

Peruviana,  How.  ... 

Howard  N.Q.... 

Peru 

India  ") 

20 

nitida,  E.  et  P. 

Peru 

India  )- 

21 

1) 

mierantha,  R.  et  P. 

Ditto. 

Peru 

India  J 

IV. — Stirps  Cinchonae  Calisayae — 

22  Cinchona  CaUsaya,  Wedd.  ... 

Wedd.  tab.  9 ... 

Peru,  Bolivia 

India,  Ceylon, 

Java,  Jamai- 
ca, Mexico. 

23 

tf 

elliptica,  Wedd.  ... 

Peru  (Cara- 

baya). 

V.— Stirps  Cinchonae  ovatae— 

24  Cinchona  purpurea,  B.  etP. ... 

Howard  N.Q.... 

Peru  (Huama- 

lies). 

25 

rufinervis,  Wedd.  ... 

Ditto. 

Peru,  Bolivia... 

26 

tt 

succirubra,  Pav.  ... 

Ditto. 

Ecuador 

India,  Ceylon, 

Java,  Jamai- 
ca 

27 

ovata,  R.  et  P. 

Ditto. 

Peru,  Bolivia  .. 

India(?),Java  (?) 

28 

cordifolia,  Mutis  ... 

Karst,  tab.  8 ... 

New  Granada, 

Peru. 

29 

Tucujensis,  Karst.  ... 

Karst,  tab.  9 ... 

Venezuela 

30 

pubescens,  Vahl.  ... 

Wedd.  tab.  16 

Ecuador,  Peru, 

Bolivia, 

31 

” 

pupurascens,  Wedd. 

Wedd.  tab.  18 

Bolivia 

Product. 


Loxa  or  Crown  Bark,  Pale  Bark. 

Ashy  Crown  Bark.  The  sub-species 
C.  Palton  affords  an  important 
sort  called  Palton  Park,  much  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  quinine. 

Carthagena  Bark,  confounded  with 
Palton  Bark,  but  is  not  so  good. 

Columbian  Bark.  Imported  in  im- 
mense quantities  for  manufacture 
of  quinine.  The  soft  Columbian 
Bark  is  produced  by  Howard’s 
var.  oblongu. 

A poor  bark,  not  now  imported. 


Pitayc  bark.  Very  valuable;  usedbv 
makers  of  quinine ; it  is  the  chief 
source  of  quinidine. 

Bark  unknown,  probably  valueless. 

Bark  not  in  commerce,  contains 
only  aricine. 

Bark  not  collected. 

A poor  bark,  yet  of  handsome  ap- 
pearance ; propagation  of  tree 
discontinued. 

Bark  not  collected. 

Bark  not  known  as  a distinct  sort 
Ditto  ditto 

halse  Loxa  bark;  Jaen  bark.  A 
very  bad  bark. 


An  inferior  bark,  mixed  with 
CaUsaya. 

Bark  formerly  known  as  Red  Cusco 
Bark  or  Santa  Ana  Bark. 

3rey  Bark,  Huanuco  or  Lima  Bark 
Chiefly  consumed  on  the  Con- 
tinent. 


CaUsaya  Bark,  Bolivian  Bark,  Yellow 
Bark.  The  tree  exists  under 
many  varieties;  bark  also  very 
variable. 

Carabaya  Bark.  Bark  scarcely  now 
imported.  C.  cuneura , Miq.  (flower 
and  fruit  unknown),  may  perhaps 
be  this  specie3. 


Huamalies  Bark.  Not  now  im- 
ported. 

Bark,  a kind  of  light  CaUsaya. 

Bed  Bark.  Largely  cultivated  in 
British  India. 

Inferior  brown  and  grey  barks. 

Columbian  Bark  (in  part).  Tree 
exists  under  many  varieties ; 
bark  of  some  used  in  manufac- 
ture of  quinine. 

Maracaibo  Bark. 

Arica  Bark  (Cusco  Bark  from  var. 
P dirtier iana).  Some  of  the  varie- 
ties contain  aricine.  C.  caloptera 
Miq.,  is  probably  a variety  of 
this  species. 

Bark  unknown  in  commerce. 


The  trees  producing  the  medicinal  barks  are  all  natives  of  tropical  South 
America,  where  they  are  found  in  the  dense  forests  of  the  mountainous  regions 
of  the  western  part  of  that  Continent  at  a height  of  from  2,500  to  9,000  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  in  an  equable,  hut  comparatively  cool,  climate. 
The  Cinchona-producing  region  forms  a crescentic  zone  which  follows  the 
contour  of  the  coast-line,  hut  nowhere  actually  touches  it,  beginning  at  10° 
N.  and  extending  to  20°  S.  latitude.  This  crescentic  belt  is  nowhere  much 
above  a hundred  miles  in  width,  but  its  length  (following  its  curve)  is  more 
than  two  thousand.  During  its  course  it  passes  through  the  territories  of 
Venezuela,  1 New  Granada,  Ecuador,  Peru  and  Bolivia.  The  Government  of 
each  of  these  countries  has  for  years  derived  more  or  less  revenue  from  the 


1 Bark  from  Venezuela  has  recently  been  introduced  to  the  German  market.  Though  poor  in  Quinine,  it  is 
suitable  for  pharmaceutical  purposes. 


PRELIMINARY. 


3 


duty  levied  on  bark  collected  within  its  limits  and  exported  therefrom ; but  none 
of  them,  except  the  last  mentioned,  has  ever  shewn  any  interest  in  the  bark 
trade  beyond  taxing  it.  Moreover,  the  more  active  interference  shewn  in 
Bolivia  has  been  quite  as  disastrous  as  the  lazy  insouciance  of  the  more  northern 
States.  These  Governments  proved,  however,  one  and  all,  exceedingly  jealous 
of  any  attempt  to  procure  for  more  civilized  countries  seeds  or  seedlings  of  the 
invaluable  trees  which  they  had  done  so  little  to  conserve. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  each  of  the  medicinal  species  is  to  be  found 
growing  throughout  the  whole  length  of  the  zone  just  described  : on  the  con- 
trary the  distribution  of  the  various  species  is  very  local,  not  only  as  regards 
latitude,  but  as  regards  elevation  above  the  sea.  The  species  found  in  the 
region  between  10°  N.  and  the  equator  (the  barks  of  New  Granada)  were 
described  by  Mutis  in  the  last  century  and  more  recently  by  Karsten  in  his 
Flora  Colombia. 1 Mutis’s  notes  remained  in  manuscript  until  1867,  when 
Mr.  Clements  Markham  succeeded  in  unearthing  and  printing  them,  and  both  his 
notes  and  drawings  have  still  more  recently  been  published  at  Paris  by 
M.  Triana  in  his  Nouvelles  Etudes  sur  les  Quinquinas.  The  Cinchonas  of  the 
region  between  the  line  and  14°  S.  (the  barks  of  Ecuador  and  Northern  Peru) 
were  first  examined  by  Ruiz  and  Pavon,  and  a magnificent  work  founded  on 
Pavon’s  specimens  was  published  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard  in  1862  ; while  those 
indigenous  in  the  region  from  the  fourteenth  parallel  of  south  latitude  to  the 
extremity  of  the  zone  in  20°  south  were  described  by  M.  Weddell  in  his  splendid 
monograph  published  at  Paris  in  1849. 

The  commercial  Cinchona  barks  may  be  arranged  as  follows  : — 

I.  — Barks  used  in  Pharmacy.  s 

(1.)  Pale  Cinchona  Bark,  Loxa  Bark  or  Crown  Bark — chiefly  the  produce  of  Cinchona  offi- 
cinalis and  imported  from  New  Granada  and  Ecuador.  This  bark  is  found  only  in  the  form  of 
quills  (i.  e.,  curled  pieces  derived  from  small  stems  or  branches).  The  pieces  have  a blackish 
brown  or  dark  greyish  external  surface,  variously  blotched  with  silver  grey,  and  often  beset 
with  large  and  beautiful  lichens.  The  surface  of  some  of  the  quills  is  longitudinally  wrinkled 
and  moderately  smooth,  but  in  the  majority  it  is  distinctly  marked  with  transverse  cracks  and  is 
rough  and  harsh  to  the  touch.  The  inner  side  is  closely  striated  and  of  a bright  yellowish 
brown.  This  bark  breaks  easily  with  a fracture  which  exhibits  very  short  fibres  in  the  inner 
side.  It  has  a well-marked  odour  sui  generis  and  an  astringent  bitter  taste. 

(2.)  Bed  Cinchona  Bark — the  produce  of  Cinchona  succirubra  and  imported  from  Ecuador. 
This  bark  occurs  either  in  large  flat  channelled  pieces  sometimes  as  much  as  half  an  inch 
in  thickness,  coated  with  their  suberous  envelope,  which  is  rugged  and  warty.  Its  outermost 
layer  in  the  young  bark  has  a silvery  appearance.  The  inner  surface  is  close  and  fibrous  and 
of  a brick-red  hue.  The  bark  breaks  with  a short  fibrous  fracture. 

(3.)  Yellow  Cinchona  Bark. — This  is  the  produce  of  Cinchona  calisaya  and  is  imported  from 
Southern  Peru  and  Bolivia.  This  bark  is  found  in  flat  pieces  and  in  quills. 

Var.  A : Flat  Calisaya  Bark  is  in  irregular  pieces  a foot  or  more  in  length  by  3 to  4 inches 
wide,  but  usually  smaller,  and  Ajths  to  y%ths  of  an  inch  in  thickness : devoid  of  suberous  layer 
consisting  almost  solely  of  liber,  of  uniform  texture,  compact  and  ponderous.  Its  colour  is  a 
rusty  orange-brown,  with  darker  stains  on  the  outer  suiface.  * * * The  inner  side  has  a 
wavy,  close,  fibrous  texture.  The  bark  breaks  transversely  with  a fibrous  fracture : the  fibres 
of  the  broken  ends  are  very  short,  easily  detached,  and  with  a lens  are  seen  to  be,  many  of 
them,  faintly  yellowish  and  translucent. 

Var.  B : Quill  Calisaya  is  found  in  tubes  fths  to  1-|-  inch  thick,  often  rolled  up  at  both  edges, 
thus  forming  double  quills.  They  are  always  coated  with  a thick  rugged,  corky  layer,  marked 
with  deep  longitudinal  and  transverse  cracks,  the  edges  of  which  are  somewhat  elevated.  This 
suberous  coat  is  silvery  white  or  greyish,  is  easily  detached,  leaving  its  impression  on  the 
cinnamon-brown  middle  layer.  The  inner  side  is  dark  brown  and  finely  fibrous  The  transverse 
fracture  is  fibrous  hut  very  short.  The  same  bark  also  occurs  in  quills  of  very  small  size  and 
is  then  not  distinguishable  from  Loxa  bark. 

II.  — Barks  not  used  in  Pharmacy. 

These  barks  are  exclusively  used  for  making  quinine.  They  are  not  used  by  druggists 
for  the  preparation  of  tinctures,  decoctions,  &c.  In  the  market  they  are  known  as  Columbian, 
Carthagena  or  Coqueta  Bark  and  are  produced  by  Cinchona  lancifolia  and  C.  Pitayensis.  They 
are  imported  from  New  Granada.  In  appearance  they  vary  much,  hut  are  generally  orange- 
brown  in  colour.  The  Pitayo  barks  are  usually  imported  in  short  flattish  fragments  or  broken 
quills  of  brownish,  rather  than  orange,  colour,  mostly  covered  with  a dullish  grey  or  internally 
reddish  cork.  The  Pitayo  barks  are  collected  in  the  S.  W.  districts  of  Columbia. 


1 For  a list  of  modern  works  relating  to  Cincliona  see  Appendix  A. 

2 For  more  complete  details  see  the  Pharmacographia  (London,  Macmillans,  1874)  of  Professor  Fluckiger  and  the 
late  lamented  Mr.  Daniel  Hanbury,  a learned  and  elaborate  work  just  published,  and  from  which  the  following  informa- 
tion concerning  the  commercial  Cinchona  barks  has  been  condensed. 


The  Cincho- 
na Barks  of 
Commerce. 


4 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Chemical  The  most  important  and  at  the  same  time  peculiar  constituents  of  Cin- 

°f cimchona  chona  barks  are  the  alkaloids  enumerated  in  the  following  table  1 : — 

Barks.  ~ 

Alkaloid.  Chemical  composition . 


Cinchonine 


C20  H2t  N2  O 


Cinehonidine  (Quinidine  of  many  writers) 
Quinine 


same  formula. 
C20  Hct  N*  O2 


Quinidine  (Conquinine  of  Hesse) 
Quinamine 


same  formula. 
C20  Hs6  N2  O2 


There  are  other  alkaloids,  but  they  have  no  medicinal  value  so  far  as  is  yet 
known.  These  alkaloids  exist  in  the  bark  in  combination  with  certain  organic 
acids  called  Kinic,  Cincho-tannic  and  Quinovic.  Of  the  alkaloids  above  mentioned 
the  most  valued  is  undoubtedly  Quinine.  Although  Cinchona  barks  have  been 
employed  in  Europe  as  febrifuges  for  the  past  two  centuries,  it  was  not  until 
the  year  1820  that  any  of  the  several  active  principles  to  which  they  owe  their 
efficacy  was  obtained  in  a separate  form.  The  first  to  he  so  separated  were 
loids irst ' Quinine  and  Cinchonine.2  Quinidine 3 4 was  discovered  in  1833  and  Cinchoni- 
separated.  dine  * not  until  1847-  Quinamine  was  discovered  so  recently  as  1872  by  Hesse 
in  bark  of  C.  snccirnbra  grown  in  Sikkim. 

Soon  after  the  discovery  of  Quinine,  the  sulphate  of  that  alkaloid  began  to 
be  used  by  the  faculty  as  a medicine  in  cases  where  some  preparation  of  “ bark  ” 
was  required,  and  gradually  the  new  salt  drove  out  of  fashion  to  a very  large 
extent  the  powder,  tinctures  and  decoctions  of  bark  which  formerly  enjoyed 
such  reputation  in  medical  practice.  Until  the  discovery  of  Quinidine  and 
Cinehonidine,  commercial  Sulphate  of  Quinine  consisted  really  of  a mixture  of 
the  sulphates  of  all  the  Cinchona  alkaloids,  the  outward  appearance  of  these 
being  alike.  With  the  separation  of  the  new  alkaloids,  chemical  tests  for 
their  recognition  began  to  be  inserted  in  the  various  Pharmacopoeias  and  pure 
Quinine  began  to  he  insisted  on  in  medical  practice.  The  other  alkaloids  fell 
therefore  into  unmerited  neglect,  and  they  are  still  excluded  from  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia.  Their  admission  to  the  category  of  officinal  remedies  can, 
however,  only  he  a matter  of  time,  as  their  excellence  as  febrifuges,  as  will 
be  subsequently  related,  has  now  been  thoroughly  established  by  the  trials 
given  to  them  by  officers  of  the  medical  services  of  the  three  Indian  Presi- 
dencies. Cinchona  bark  still  continues  to  he  rated  by  the  European  Quinine- 
makers  in  proportion  to  the  percentage  of  Quinine  it  contains : the  other 
alkaloids  being  counted  for  little  or  nothing  as  marketable  products.  These 
unsaleable  alkaloids  have  accordingly  been  accumulating  in  the  hands  of 
makers  in  Europe,  and  are  or  were  recently  purchaseable  at  a comparatively 
low  price.5 6  Regarding  the  proportion  of  these  alkaloids  in  Cinchona  hark,  the 
learned  authors  of  the  Pharmacographia 6 write  as  follows  : — 

Proportion  of  “This  is  liable  to  very  great  variation.  We  know  from  the  experiments  of  Hesse  (1871) 
Cinchonam  that  the  bark  of  C.  pubescens  Yahl.,  is  sometimes  devoid  of  alkaloid.7  Similar  observations 
Bark.  made  near  Bogota  upon  C.  pitayensis  Wedd.,  C.  corymbosa  Karst.,  and  C.  lancifolia  Mutis, 

are  due  to  Karsten.  He  ascertained8  that  barks  of  one  district  were  sometimes  devoid  of 
Quinine,  while  those  of  the  same  species  from  a neighbouring  locality  yielded  3^  to  per 
cent,  of  sulphate  of  quinine. 

Another  striking  example  is  furnished  by  De  Vry9  in  his  examination  of  quills  of 
C.  officinalis  grown  at  Ootacamund,  which  he  found  to  vary  in  percentage  of  alkaloids  from 
11 ’96  (of  which  94  per  cent,  was  Quinine)  down  to  less  than  1 per  cent. 

Among  the  innumerable  published  analyses  of  Cinchona  bark,  there  are  a great  number 
shewing  but  a very  small  percentage  of  the  useful  principles,  of  which  Quinine,  the  most 
valuable  of  all,  is  not  seldom  altogether  wanting.  The  highest  yield,  on  the  other  hand,  hitherto 


1 . Pharmacographia , p.  320. 

2 Discovered  by  Pelletier  and  Caventou. 

3 Discovered  by  Henry  and  Delondre. 

4 Discovered  by  Winckler,  who  named  it  Quinidine. 

5 The  following  may  be  taken  as  approximates  to  the  prices  of  the  Cinchona  alkaloids  at  the  end  of  the  year  1874 : — 

s.  d. 

ulph.  Quinine  per  ounce  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  9 0 

„ Cinehonidine  „ ...  ...  ...  ...  •••  2 6 

„ Cinchonine  „ ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  1 6 

„ Quinidine  „ ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  0 4 

6 Pharmacographia,  page  324. 

7 Berichte  der  Deutsclien  chem.  Gesellsch.,  Berlin,  1871,  p.  818. 

8 Die  med.  Chinarinden  Neu-Granada,’ s,  17,  20,  39. 

9 Pharm.  Journ.,  September  6th,  1873,  181. 


PRELIMINARY. 


observed,  was  obtained  by  Broughton,1  from  a bark  grown  at  Ootacamund.  This  bark  afforded 
not  less  than  13|  per  cent,  of  alkaloids,  among  which  Quinine  was  predominant. 

The  few  facts  just  mentioned  shew  that  it  is  impossible  to  state  even  approximately  any 
constant  percentage  of  alkaloids  in  any  given  bark.  We  may,  however,  say  that  good  Flat 
Calisaya  Bark,  as  offered  in  the  drug  trade  for  pharmaceutical  preparations,  contains  at  least 
5 to  6 per  cent,  of  Quinine. 

As  to  Crown  or  Loxa  Baric,  the  cortex  cinchona  pallida  of  pharmacy,  its  merits  are,  to  say 
the  least,  very  uncertain.  On  its  first  introduction  in  the  17th  century,  when  it  was  taken  from 
the  trunks  and  large  branches  of  full-grown  trees,  it  was  doubtless  an  excellent  medicinal  bark ; 
but  the  same  cannot  be  said  of  much  of  that  now  found  in  commerce,  which  is  to  a large 
extent  collected  from  very  young  wood.2  Some  of  the  Crown  Bark  produced  in  India  is, 
however,  of  extraordinary  excellency,  as  shewn  by  the  recent  experiments  of  De  Vry.3 

As  to  Red  Baric,  the  thick  fiat  sort  contains  only  3 to  4 per  cent,  of  alkaloids,  but  a large 
amount  of  colouring  matter.  The  Quill  Red  Bark  of  the  Indian  plantations  is  a much  better 
drug,  some  of  it  yielding  5 to  10  per  cent,  of  alkaloids,  more  than  a third  of  which  is  Quinine 
and  a fourth  Cinchonidine,  the  remainder  being  Cinchonine  and  Quinidine. 

The  variation  in  the  amount  of  alkaloids  relates  not  merely  to  their  total  percentage,  but 
also  to  the  proportion  which  one  bears  to  another.  Quinine  and  Cinchonine  are  of  the  most 
frequent  occurrence ; Cinchonidine  is  less  usual,  while  Quinidine  is  still  less  frequently  met  with 
and  never  in  large  amount.  The  experiments  performed  in  India4  have  already  shewn  that 
external  influences  contribute  in  an  important  manner  to  the  formation  of  this  or  that  alkaloid ; 
and  it  may  even  be  hoped  that  the  cultivators  of  Cinchona  will  discover  methods  of  promoting 
the  formation  of  Quinine,  and  of  reducing,  if  not  of  excluding,  that  of  the  less  valuable 
alkaloids. 

The  practice  of  the  bark  collectors  in  the  wild  regions  in  which  Cinchonas  Mode  of 
naturally  grow  involved  the  destruction  of  each  tree  felled  for  its  bark,  yet  no  cinchona  of 
measures  were  ever  taken  by  the  owners  of  either  public  or  private  forests  to  Barks' 
secure  supplies  for  the  future  by  conservancy  or  replanting.  Meanwhile  the 
consumption  of  bark  in  Europe  steadily  increased,  and,  as  a natural  result, 
prices  rose,  and  fears  began  to  be  entertained  that  the  supply  would  ultimately  Fears 
fail.  The  British  and  Butch  Governments  being,  by  reason  of  their  tropical  §? FauSre  of 
possessions,  the  largest  consumers  of  Cinchona  barks  and  of  the  alkaloids  pre-  Slipp1^- 
pared  from  them,5  their  attention  began  to  be  seriously  attracted  to  the  increas- 
ing price  and  scarcity  of  the  drug.  So  long  ago  as  1835,  Br.  Forbes  E-oyle,  introduction 
then  Superintendent  of  the  Botanical  Garden  at  Seharunpore,  suggested  to  the  to  India  am 
Indian  Government  that  efforts  should  be  made  to  introduce  Cinchona  on  the  suggebted 
Khasia  and  Nilgiri  Hills.  In  1847,  and  again  in  1853  and  1856,  he  repeated 
his  suggestion.  In  1850  Br.  Grant,  the  Honourable  East  India  Company’s 
Apothecary  General  in  Calcutta,  urged  this  measure,  and  in  1852  Br.  Falconer, 
then  Superintendent  of  the  Calcutta  Botanical  Garden,  recommended  that  an 
intelligent  and  qualified  gardening  collector  should  be  deputed  for  a couple 
of  years  to  the  mountains  of  South  America  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the 
Cinchona  forests  and  of  procuring  an  ample  stock  of  young  plants  and  seeds  of 
all  the  finest  species.  His  proposals  were,  however,  not  approved  of,  and  instead, 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  procure  seeds  through  the  agency  of  Her 
Majesty’s  Consuls  on  the  west  coast  of  South  America.  Three  years  after  Br. 

Falconer’s  suggestion  had  been  made  and  disapproved,  Br.  T.  Thomson  (his 
successor  at  the  Calcutta  Garden)  again  pressed  the  matter,  as  also  did  the  late 
Br.  T.  Anderson.  The  Medical  Board  supported  the  proposals  of  these  officers 
in  an  elaborate  Minute.  It  was  not,  however,  until  1858  that  the  despatch  of 
a special  agent  to  South  America  was  sanctioned  by  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
India.  Mr.  Clements  Markham,  a gentleman  who,  besides  a knowledge  of  Mr.  c.  n. 
Spanish  aud  of  the  Quichua  tongue  6 possessed  a knowledge  of  the  country  and  appointed  to 
people,  volunteered  to  direct  this  arduous  undertaking.  In  the  meantime  a few  collecting 
seeds  of  Cinchona  Calisaya  were  got  by  Br.  Boyle  from  Br.  Weddell,  a surgeon  Expeditlon 
who  had  accompanied  a French  expedition  to  South  America,  and  who  is  the 
author  of  a valuable  monograph  of  the  medicinal  Cinchonas.  These  seeds  were 
sent  to  Calcutta  but  failed  to  germinate.  Plants  were,  however,  raised  from 
some  of  Br.  Weddell’s  seeds  in  the  Botanical  Gardens  of  Kew  and  Edinburgh, 

Blue  Bool: — Hast  Indian  Cinchona  Plant,  1870,  282 ; Year  Book  of  Pharmacy,  1871,  85. 

2 See  Hoivard’s  Analysis  and  Observations,  Pharm.  Journ.,  XIV,  (1855),  61 — 63. 

3 Pharm.  Journ.,  September  6,  1873,  184. 

< Blue  Book,  1S70,  116,  188,  205. 

5 For  a stat-ment  of  the  quantity  of  Quinine  purchased  By  the  Indian  Government  from  the  year  1867  to  1872,  see 
Appendix  B. 

* The  language  of  the  Indians  of  a district  where  some  of  the  finest  species  of  hark  trees  are  indigenous. 

B 


6 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


and  six  seedlings  were  entrusted  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Fortune  (then  on  his  way  to 
China  to  obtain  seeds  and  plants  of  the  tea  hush)  by  whom  they  were  delivered  to 
Dr.  Falconer  at  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Calcutta,  in  1853.  These  were  ultimately 
sent  to  Darjeeling ; but  only  three  of  them  arrived  there  alive,  and  these  three 
also  soon  died. 


COLLECTION  OE  CINCHONA  SEEDS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


7 


CHAPTER  II. 

COLLECTION  OF  CINCHONA  SEEDS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 

In  1852,  the  Minister  for  the  Colonies  of  Holland  proposed  to  the  Govern-  TheDutch 
ment  of  the  Hague  that  a properly  qualified  man  should  he  sent  to  South  Expedition. 
America  to  collect  Cinchona  seeds  and  plants.  Accordingly,  M.  Hasskarl  of 
the  Botanical  Garden  of  Buitenzorg  in  Java  was  despatched  on  this  mission. 

This  gentleman  arrived  in  Peru  during  the  year  1853.  After  prolonged  wan- 
derings and  exposure  in  the  forests  of  Southern  Peru,  M.  Hasskarl  returned 
to  the  coast  with  a quantity  of  plants.  These  were  sufficient  to  fill  twenty 
Wardian  cases,  and,  after  a prosperous  voyage,  they  were  safely  landed  by  him  at 
Batavia  in  December  1854.  M.  Hasskarl  had  not  the  advantage  of  any  local 
knowledge  of  the  wild  regions  where  he  travelled,  neither  had  he  any  acquaint- 
ance with  the  language  of  the  natives.  His  avowed  intention  was  chiefly  to 
find  seeds  of  Calisaya , but  unfortunately  he  entered  the  Cinchona  zone  at  a point 
where  neither  that,  nor  indeed  any  valuable,  species  grows.  He,  however, 
collected  the  seeds  of  the  species  he  found,  imagining  one  of  them  to  he  true 
Calisaya.  A portion  of  these  seeds  he  sent  by  post  to  Holland,  where  some  of 
them  germinated,  and  the  rest  he  despatched  direct  to  Java.  During  his  wan- 
derings, M.  Hasskarl  did  ultimately  penetrate  into  a Calisaya  region  where 
he  remained  for  a short  time,  hut  while  there  he  appears  to  have  trusted  too 
implicitly  to  a native  collector  who  led  him  to  believe  he  was  collecting  the 
real  Calisaya,  while  he  was  in  fact  gathering  a worthless  species.  The  twenty 
cases  landed  in  Java  by  M.  Hasskarl  did  not  contain,  it  is  believed,  one  plant 
of  any  valuable  variety  of  Calisaya.  A single  plant  of  true  Calisaya  raised  from 
some  seeds  brought  to  Paris  by  Dr.  Weddell  had,  however,  been  sent  to  Java 
from  the  Jarclin  des  Plantes,  Paris,  even  prior  to  M.  Hasskarl’s  appointment  as  cinchona 
collector.  The  Dutch  experiment  thus  began  with  one  plant  of  the  best  sort  of  into°javaed 
Cinchona  received  from  Paris,  with  a plentiful  enough  supply  of  doubtful 
species  brought  by  M.  Hasskarl,  and  with  a quantity  of  seeds  of  the  New 
Granada  species  ( lancifolia ,)  which  had  been  sent  by  Dr.  Karsten.  This  rather 
unfortunate  beginning  was  followed  by  errors  in  cultivation,  among  which  may 
he  specially  mentioned  the  method  of  sowing  single  seeds  in  separate  bamboo 
pots,  of  planting  out  the  seedlings,  not  in  clear  open  ground,  but  under  the 
shade  and  drip  of  the  gigantic  trees  of  the  virgin  forests  of  the  mountains  of 
Java,  and  finally  of  mistaking  the  worthless  species  brought  by  M.  Hasskarl 
from  Peru  (and  subsequently  named  Pahudiana ) for  a valuable  Quinine  .pro- 
ducing sort.  At  the  end  of  the  year  1860,  the  stock  in  the  Java  plantations 
consisted  of  nearly  a million  plants  of  Cinchona  Pahudiana,  with  only  about 
7,000  of  Calisaya.  Having  discovered  the  worthlessness  of  Pahudiana,  the 
Dutch,  in  1862,  abandoned  its  cultivation.  They  also  gave  up  (in  1864)  the 
plan  of  planting  out  under  forest  shade.  They  have  in  recent  years  repeatedly 
got  supplies  of  seed  and  plants  of  the  best  medicinal  sorts  from  India  and 
Ceylon,  and  their  success  of  late  has  been  great.  According  to  the  latest  re- 
turn (31st  March  1875)  there  are  in  the  Java  plantations  about  two  millions  of 
Cinchonas  of  various  ages.  At  least  half  of  these  are  of  undoubtedly  valuable 
species,  and  amongst  them  are  a hundred  thousand  of  a variety  of  Calisaya, 
samples  of  the  bark  of  some  trees  of  which  are  said  to  have  yielded  on 
analysis  the  astonishing  amount  of  from  10  to  13^  per  cent  of  crystalline 
Sulphate  of  Quinine.' 

The  introduction  of  the  medicinal  Cinchonas  into  British  India  began  British^Ex- 
under  more  favourable  circumstances.  Mr.  Markham,  having  volunteered  to  ta°ecc°sUect 
direct  the  collection  of  seeds  and  seedlings  in  the  Cinchona  forests,  organised 
a three-fold  expedition,  the  sections  of  which  began  their  explorations  simul- 
taneously early  in  1860.  Mr.  Markham  himself  undertook  to  collect  seeds  of  M^Mark- 
the  Calisaya  or  Yellow  Bark  Tree  (the  most  valuable  of  all  the  Cinchonas)  in  southern 
the  forests  of  Bolivia  and  Southern  Peru,  where  alone  it  is  to  be  found.  He 
arranged  that  Mr.  Pritchett  should  explore  the  Grey  Hark  forests  of  Huanaco 
and  Humalies  in  Central  Peru,  and  that  Messrs.  Spruce  and  Cross  should 
collect  the  seeds  of  the  Red  Bark  tree  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  Chimborazo  in 

1 This  wonderful  variety  of  Calisaya  having  been  originally  raised  from  seeds  collected  by  Mr.  Ledger,  has  been 
called  by  the  Dutch  C.  Calisaya,  variety  Ledgeriana. 


8 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


the  territory  of  Ecuador.  Mr.  Markham  has  narrated  his  adventures  in  an 
interesting  volume1,  in  which  he  has  besides  collected  much  valuable  informa- 
tion concerning  the  inhabitants  and  flora  of  the  regions  he  traversed.  Landing 
at  Islay  in  March  1860,  Mr.  Markham,  accompanied  by  Mr.  ”W  eir  (a  practical 
gardener)  proceeded  inland  in  a north-easterly  direction,  crossed  the  two 
chains  into  which  the  Andes  are  there  divided,  and,  after  considerable  hardship, 
arrived  in  one  of  the  series  of  long  valleys  which  stretch  along  the  western 
slopes  of  the  Snowy  Range  of  Caravaya  and  descend  to  the  great  plain  of 
Western  Brazil.  Mr.  Markham  penetrated  this  valley  (called  Tambopata) 
to  a point  beyond  that  reached  by  the  distinguished  French  traveller 
M.  Weddell,  and  by  the  Dutch  Agent  M.  Hasskarl,  and,  notwithstanding  that 
his  proceedings  were  prematurely  cut  short  by  a failure  in  his  food  supplies, 
he  was  successful  in  collecting  497  plants  of  Cinchona  Calisaya  and  32  of  the 
binno!1  Ha" less  valuable  species,  ovata  and  micrantha.  The  Calisayas  were  found  chiefly 
c.  Caiisuya,  jpH^bit  a belt  0f  forest  extending  from  5,000  to  5,400  feet  above  the  sea, 

while  micrantha  was  found  in  a belt  below,  and  the  higher  regions  were  occu- 
pied by  C.  ovata.  The  vegetation  and  soil  of  the  region  are  thus  described  by 
Mr.  Markham3 : 

This  region  is  covered,  with  few  exceptions,  from  the  banks  of  the  river  to  the  summits 
of  the  mountain  peaks,  by  a dense  tropical  forest.  The  formation  is  everywhere,  as  I have 
before  said,  an  unfossiliferous,  micaceous,  slightly  ferruginous,  metamorphic  clay-slate,  with 
veins  of  quartz,  and  the  streams  all  contain  more  or  less  gold-dust.  "When  exposed  to  the 
weather,  this  clay-slate  quickly  turns  to  a sticky  yellow  mud,  and  lower  down  it  is  very  brittle, 
and  easily  breaks  off  in  thin  layers.  The  soil  formed  by  the  disintegration  of  the  rock,  mixed 
with  decayed  vegetable  matter,  is  a heavy  yellowish  brown  loam,  but  there  is  very  little  of  it 
on  the  rocky  sides  of  the  ravine,  and  no  depth  of  soil  except  on  the  few  level  spaces  and  gentle 
slopes  near  the  banks  of  the  river. 

The  finest  trees  were  found  in  clear  open  spaces  where  they  eu joyed  plenty 
of  light  and  air. 

The  half-caste  collector  who  accompanied  Mr.  Markham,  distinguished 
three  distinct  varieties  of  true  Calisaya  which  he  named  fina  (=  C.  Calisaya 
vera),  morada  (=(7.  Boliviano),  and  verde.  There  is,  besides  these,  the  shrubby 
form  which  has  a wider  distribution  and  which  is  known  locally  as  ychu  and 
botanically  as  Cinchona  Calisaya,  variety  Josephiana.  The  climate  of  this 
its  cumate.  Tambopata  valley  (which  lies  in  the  very  centre  of  the  Calisaya  region)  is 
wet  and  disagreeable.  An  intelligent  settler  gave  Mr.  Markham  the  following 
account  of  the  seasons  as  regards  rainfall3 : — 

January. — Incessant  rain,  with  damp  beat  day  and  night.  Sun  never  seen.  Fruits  ripen. 

February. — Incessant  rain  and  very  hot.  Sun  never  seen.  A coca  harvest. 

March. — Less  rain,  hot  days  and  nights,  little  sun.  Bananas  yield  most  during  the  rainy 
season. 

April. — Less  rain,  hot,  humid  nights,  and  little  sun  in  the  day-time. 

May. — A showery  month,  but  little  heavy  rain.  This  is  the  month  for  planting  coca  and 
sugar-cane,  and  what  is  called  the  miclica,  or  small  sowing  of  maize,  as  well  as  yucas,  aracachas, 
camotes,  and  other  edible  roots.  Coffee  harvest  begins. 

June. — A dry  hot  mouth.  Much  sun  and  little  rain.  Coca  harvest  early  in  the  month. 
Oranges  and  paccays  ripen.  Cool  nights,  but  a fierce  heat  during  the  day. 

July. — The  hottest  aud  driest  month,  but  t^ith  cool  nights.  Very  few  showers.  Time 
for  sowing  gourds,  pumpkins  and  water  melons. 

August. — Generally  dry.  Trees  begin  to  bud.  A month  for  planting. 

September. — Rains  begin.  Time  for  blossoming  of  many  trees.  Coca  harvest. 

October. — Rains  increasing.  Maize  harvest,  and  time  for  the  “ sembra  grande”  or  great 
sowing  of  maize. 

November. — Heavy  rains.  A coca  harvest. 

Lecember. — Heavy  rains.  Pumpkins  ripen. 

Mr.  Markham’s  observations  * of  the  temperature  of  the  Caravaya  region 
extended  over  only  the  first  fourteen  days  of  May.  They  show  a mean  tem- 
perature of  69£°  Fahr.  and  a mean  dew  point  of  61|-°.  The  highest  temperature 
he  observed  was  75°  and  the  lowest  56°  Fahr.  The  mean  minimum  temperature 
at  night  he  found  to  be  62f°  Fahr.  and  the  mean  variation  in  24  hours  10^°  Fahr. 
^tpcaiTsayae  The  tree  Calisayas  run  up  to  a height  of  from  30  to  60  feet,  and  their 
trees-  stems  have  a girth  equal  to  the  body  of  a man,  sometimes  to  that  of  two  men. 

The  shrubby  variety  runs  from  6^  to  12  feet  in  height.  Both  varieties  flower 
in  April  and  May  ; their  blossoms  are  white,  fringed,  and  very  fragrant. 

1 Travels  in  Peru  and  India , by  Clements  R.  Markham,  C.B.,  F.K.8.,  &c.,  London,  John  Murray,  1862. 

2 Markham’ s Travels  in  Peru  and  India,  page  267. 

3 Ditto  Ditto  pages  245  and  246. 

4 Ditto  Ditto  page  268. 


COLLECTION  OF  CINCHONA  SEEDS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


9 


On  his  return  journey,  Mr.  Markham  found  the  jealousy  of  the  people  ifeMark- 
aroused  by  rumours  which  had  got  abroad  as  to  the  nature  of  his  to  the  Coast, 
mission.  To  return  along  the  road  he  came  by  would  have  insured  the  destruc- 
tion of  his  plants  and  possibly  mischief  to  himself,  so  he  had  to  resort  to  the 
stratagem  of  sending  Mr.  Weir  back  hv  the  old  route,  and  of  himself  proceeding 
with  the  plants  in  a straight  line  towards  the  coast  through  an  unknown  coun- 
try and  without  a guide.  After  much  hardship,  he  arrived  in  ten  days  at  the 
town  of  Yilque  with  his  plants  in  good  order.  A few  more  marches  brought 
him  to  the  port  of  Islay.  Here,  however,  further  difficulties  awaited.  The 
Custom  House  authorities,  having  discovered  what  the  plant  cases  contained, 
would  not  allow  them  to  be  shipped  without  an  order  from  the  Minister  of 
Finance,  which  Mr.  Markham  had  himself  to  go  to  Lima  to  procure.  This 
caused  a delay  of  three  weeks.  On  the  24th  June  the  cases  were  at  last 
embarked  on  board  a steamer  bound  for  Panama,  but  not  before  a scheme  had 
been  set  on  foot  by  some  patriotic  Bolivian  to  kill  the  plants  by  pouring 
hot  water  on  them  through  holes  to  he  bored  in  the  cases.  Her  Majesty’s 
steamer  Vixen,  was  at  this  moment  lying  idle  at  Callao,  and  could  have  taken 
the  plants  straight  to  Madras  with  every  chance  of  saving  them  all  alive. 

Instead  of  this  simple  route  being  adopted,  Mr.  Markham  was  compelled  by  his 
orders  to  take  his  plants  to  India  via  Panama,  England,  the  Mediterranean  and 
the  Bed  Sea,  and  thus  to  expose  them  to  transhipments  and  alterations  of 
temperature  which  ultimately  killed  them  all. 

About  the  timeMr.  Markham  was  exploring  the  Yellow-Bark  Forests  of^^Prit- 
Southern  Peru,  Mr.  Pritchett  was  collecting  seeds  and  plants  of  the  species  ^°ti°|ition 
producing  Grey  Bark  in  the  forests  near  Huanaco  in  the  northern  part  of  the  pe™orthem 
same  territory,  and  was  successful  in  bringing  to  Lima  in  the  month  of  August 
a collection  of  seeds  and  half  a mule-load  of  young  plants  of  the  three  species, 
micrantlia , Veruviana  and  nitida.  The  two  former  are  large  trees  with  trunks 
often  70  feet  in  height  and  30  inches  in  diameter.  They  grow  at  a height 
of  from  4,000  to  7,000  feet  above  the  sea,  while  nitida  grows  at  a greater  eleva- 
tion and  is  a smaller  tree. 

The  task  of  collecting  seeds  and  plants  of  the  Bed  Bark  had  been  undertaken  Messrs, 
by  Mr.  Spruce,  a distinguished  traveller  and  botanist  who  had  been  wandering  c?ossC,eRend 
in  South  America  for  some  years  prior  to  Mr.  Markham’s  mission.  Six  months  dition.  P 
before  Mr.  Markham  sailed  from  England,  Mr.  Spruce  left  his  temporary  home 
at  Ambato  in  the  Quitenian  Andes  to  make  a preliminary  exploration  of  the 
forests  where  Bed  Bark  trees  were  still  to  be  found  and  to  ascertain  at  what 
season  the  seeds  ripen.  Having  fixed  on  Limon  as  the  most  suitable  head- 
quarters, he  purchased  from  the  owners  of  the  forests  (which  in  that  region  are 
private  property)  the  right  to  collect  seeds  and  plants.  He  further  made  an 
arrangement  to  accompany  Hr.  Taylor  of  Biobamba  to  Loxa,  a town  in  the 
south  of  the  Ecuador  territory,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  seeds  of  the  Pale 
or  Crown  Bark.  This  latter  arrangement  was,  however,  frustrated  by  the  pro- 
longed and  severe  illness  of  Mr.  Spruce.  In  July  1860,  or  nearly  a year  after 
his  first  start,  Mr.  Spruce  was  joinew  at  Limon  by  Mr.  Cross,  who  had  been 
sent  out  from  England  by  Mr.  Markham  with  Wardian  cases  to  receive  the 
plants  that  he  and  Mr.  Spruce  might  succeed  in  collecting.  Mr.  Spruce  having 
already  thoroughly  familiarised  himself  with  the  Bed  Bark  forests,  the  work  of 
collection  was  begun  as  soon  as  Mr.  Cross  arrived.  Mr.  Cross  established  a 
nursery  at  Limon,  and  there  put  in  a number  of  cuttings  of  the  Bed  Bark  tree. 

He  attended  to  these  while  Mr.  Spruce  searched  for  seeds.  After  spending 
about  five  months  at  Limon,  Mr.  Cross  conveyed  his  rooted  cuttings  to  the 
port  of  Guayaquil,  and — thanks  to  his  skill  and  excellent  management — ulti- 
mately succeeded  in  taking  them  safely  to  India  by  the  same  route  (but  at  a 
more  favourable  season)  as  Messrs.  Markham  and  Pritchett’s  collections. 

Mr.  Spruce’s  collections  of  seeds  were  sent  to  India  by  post. 

Mr.  Spruce  describes  the  Bed  Bark  forests  as  nearly  exhausted.  He  met  Natural 
with  only  a few  trees  which  had  not  been  touched  by  bark-collectors  ; all  the  cinchona0 
others  which  he  saw  consisted  of  shoots  from  the  stumps  of  trees  that  had  been 
felled.  The  Bed  Bark  tree  is  naturally  very  handsome  and  attains  a height  of 
50  feet.  The  climate  of  the  country  it  inhabits  is  not  so  humid  as  that  of 
the  Caravaya  and  Huanaco  forests  where  the  Yellow  and  Grey  Barks  are  found, 
and  there  is  a distinct  dry  season  extending  from  June  to  December.  The  follow- 


10 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


ing  table,  1 2 compiled  by  Mr.  Spruce,  and  founded  on  nearly  a year’s  observation, 
gives  some  idea  of  the  temperature  : — 


Mean  minimum 

Mean  maximum 

Mean  temperature  at  6*  p.m., 

H ig-hest  temperature  observed 

Lowest 

Entire  range 

Mean  daily  variation 


...  611°  Fht. 

- W » 

...  67f  „ 

80i  ,,  on  July  27th. 

...  57  „ 11th. 

...  23£  „ 

...  10*  „ 


Connection  of  After  depositing  liis  Red  Bark  plants  in  the  Nilgiris  early  in  1861,  Mr.  Cross 

crown  returned  to  South  America  and  was  commissioned  to  procure  seeds  of  the  Pale 
Barks  in  the  forests  near  Loxa.  These  barks  have  a peculiar  interest  as  being 
the  first  known  in  Europe.  It  was  by  the  use  of  one  of  them  that  the 
Countess  of  Chinchon  was  cured,  and  it  was  on  the  flowers  of  one  of  the  trees 
producing  them  that  Linnaeus  founded  his  genus  Cinchona.  Mr.  Cross  started 
from  Guayaquil  in  September  1861,  and,  after  much  hardship  and  exposure  in 
the  mountains  near  Loxa,  he  succeeded  in  returning  to  tbat  port,  after  little 
more  than  two  months’  absence,  with  one  hundred  thousand  seeds  of  Cinchona 
Chahuarguera  and  a smaller  parcel  of  Cinchona  crispa,  both  varieties  of  the 
Linnaean  species  officinalis.  These  seeds  he  forwarded  to  India  by  way  of 
Southampton. 

Habitats  of  On  arriving  in  South  America,  Mr.  Cross  found  that,  owing  to  the  long 

Barkrown  continued  export  of  the  Pale  Barks  of  the  Loxa  country,  but  few  trees  remained 
in  accessible  places.  In  steep  ravines  and  rocky  gorges  he  succeeded,  however, 
in  finding  a,  few  mature  trees.  The  soil  of  the  region  he  describes  as  funda- 
mentally composed  of  decomposed  micaceous  schist  and  gneiss,  but  wherever 
Cinchona  trees  occurred,  he  found  this  to  be  covered  by  a layer  of  vegetable 
mould.  Cinchona  officinalis  is  a slender  tree  from  20  to  30  feet  high,  with  a trunk 
from  8 to  10  inches  in  diameter  at  the  base.  Most  of  the  plants  he  met  with 
had  been  cut,  but  numerous  shoots  had  grown  from  their  stools.  According  to 
Mr.  Cross’s  account,  the  climate  is  disagreeably  moist.  The  rainy  season  begins 
in  January  and  continues  until  May.  June,  July  and  August  are  windy,  with 
occasional  heavy  rain  : the  remainder  of  the  year  is  fine,  but  showery.  The 
temperature  ranges  from  31°  to  70°  Eht.,  seldom  falls  below  40°  and  but 
rarely  rises  above  65°. 

Collection  ot  Through  a misunderstanding,  a fine  collection  of  Pitayo  bark  seeds  made 

pitayo°  by  Mr.  Cross  in  1863,  was  detained  in  South  America  until  the  vitality  of  most 
of  the  seeds  had  been  impaired.  These  seeds,  when  ultimately  sent  to  India, 
entirely  failed  to  germinate.  The  valuable  species  yielding  the  Carthagena 
barks  ( Cinchona  lancifolia  and  Cinchona  Pitayensis)  were  therefore  the  last  to 
be  introduced  into  India.  It  was  not  indeed  until  1868,  that  the  same  intrepid 
and  skilful  collector  who  had  brought  the  Crown  Bark  seeds,  was  commissioned 
to  undertake  his  third  Cinchona  expedition  and  to  proceed  to  New  Granada  to 
collect  seeds  of  these  two  sorts.  Landing  at  the  port  of  Buenaventura  in  the 
end  of  May  of  that  year,  Mr.  Cross  proceeded  up  the  river  Dagua  as  far  as  the 
village  of  Las  Juntas,  crossed  the  Western  Cordillera  and  made  his  way  up  to 
Cauca  village  and  thence  to  Pitayo,  a hamlet  standing  nearly  9,000  feet  above 
the  sea  level  in  latitude  2°  30'  N.  Here  he  collected  a quantity  of  good  seed. 
He  found  the  trees  growing,  at  elevations  of  from  7,300  to  9,800  feet,  on  slopes 
more  or  less  steep,  the  surface  soil  of  which  was  nearly  pure  vegetable  mould 
but  very  mealy  and  dry.  The  subsoil  he  found  to  be  a yellow  porous  clay,  in 
general  loose  and  friable.  Only  a few  Cinchona  trees  remained,  and  these  were 
mostly  small  and  mutilated.  Mr.  Cross’s  collections  of  seeds,  numbering  in  all 
fifty-five  packets,  were  despatched  by  post  and  reached  the  Nilgiris  during  the 
end  of  the  year  1868.  Mr.  Cross’s  account  of  the  climate  of  the  Pitayo  region 
shews  it  to  be  very  damp,  rain  and  mist  being  common  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  year.  He  says,  “ As*  for  New  Granada,  particularly  the  States  of  Cauca, 
(in  which  Pitayo  is  situated)  and  Panama,  no  dry  or  summer  weather  need 
be  relied  on  or  looked  for  at  any  time  during  the  whole  year.  The  cold  climate 
of  Ecuador  is  in  general  healthy,  even  where  there  is  much  rain  with  damp 


1 Markham’s  Travels  in  Peru,  and  India,  page  321. 

2 Report  on  the  Collections  of  Seeds  and  Plants  of  the  Cinchonas  of  Pitayo,  by  Robert  Cross,  Lon  Ion,  1S71, 
page  31. 


COLLECTION  OF  CINCHONA  SEEDS  IN  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


11 


and  fogs,  whereas  on  the  mountain  slopes  bordering  on  the  Cauca  Valley,  the 
inhabitants  are  often  trpmbling  with  ague  at  an  elevation  of  7,500  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea.”  Mr.  Cross  gives  no  detailed  meteorological  observations 
in  bis  report.  His  general  account  of  the  temperature  of  the  Pitayo  Quinine 
region  is  that  “ it  ranges  from  45°  to  75°  Pahr.,  but  the  general  variable 
temperature  of  the  Pinon  is  from  45°  to  60°  Falir.”  He  adds,  “ The  climate 
indicated  for  Pitayo  Bark  is  exactly  the  same  as  that  required  for  the  Crown 
Barks.”  During  October  Mr.  Cross  collected  270  plants.  These  were,  after 
considerable  trouble  and  hardship,  landed  at  tiie  coast  in  February  1869.  There 
they  were  shipped,  and  a month  later  they  were  safely  deposited  at  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew.  In  October  following  they  were  sent  by  overland  route  to  India, 
and  ultimately  found  a home — half  on  Nilgiris  and  half  in  the  Sikkim  Himalaya. 
Mr.  Cross  states  that  the  Quinine  trees  of  Pitayo  are  being  rapidly  extirpated. 
Writing  in  1871,  he  says,  “At  present  it  is  not  possible  to  examine  a developed 
healthy  tree,  as  those  from  which  I collected  seeds  were  mere  bushes,  the 
natural  habit  of  the  plants  having  been  much  injured  from  barking  or  ill- 
treatment.” 


12 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


CHAPTER  III. 

INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


Introduction 
on  the 
Nilgiris. 


It  had  been  previously  settled  that  the  Cinchona  experiment  in  India 
should  be  begun  in  the  Nilgiri  Hills,  and  on  the  recommendation  of  Dr. 
Cleghorn,  then  Conservator  of  Forests  for  Madras,  and  of  Mr.  Mclvor,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Government  Garden  at  Ootacamund,  a patch  of  forest-land 
fifty  acres  in  extent,  situated  behind  the  Government  garden,  was  accordingly 
taken  up  and  prepared  for  the  first  Cinchona  experiment.  Mr.  Markham’s 
consignment  of  Calisaya  plants  having  reached  England  in  a promising  state, 
continued  in  that  condition  until  they  reached  Alexandria.  The  passage 
through  the  Red  Sea  in  the  month  of  September  and  a week’s  unavoidable 
detention  at  Bombay,  however,  proved  too  great  a trial  for  them,  and  on  their 
arrival  in  the  Nilgiris  in  October  they  were  all  in  a dying  state.  Some  cuttings 
were  nevertheless  madefrom  them,  hut  not  one  of  these  struck  root.  Mr.  Pritchett’s 
plants  of  Grey  Bark  were  quite  as  unfortunate,  for  they  reached  India  either 
dead  or  dying.  Mr.  Cross’s  plants  of  succirubra  raised  from  cuttings  at  Limon, 
together  with  six  calisyas  which  had  been  raised  at  Kew  in  1862,  were  the 
only  living  Cinchona  plants  collected  by  Mr.  Markham’s  triple  expedition  that 
reached  India  in  good  condition.  Mr.  Cross  deposited  his  plants  in  Mr. 
Mclvor’s  hands  at  Ootacamund  on  9th  April  1861  in  excellent  order.  The 
supplies  of  seeds  procured  hv  the  three  expeditions  were  more  fortunate  than 
the  plants.  These  were  sent  in  the  first  instance  to  the  Royal  Garden  at  Kew 
where  some  were  retained  and  sown.  A few  of  the  plants  brought  from  South 
America  were  also  retained  at  Kew,  so  that  a sort  of  reserve  depot  was  formed 
there  in  case  of  failure  in  India.  For  the  successful  introduction  of  Cinchona 
into  India  and  other  British  possessions,  Government  are  largely  indebted  for 
advice,  as  well  as  for  more  active  assistance,  to  Sir  William  and  Dr.  Joseph 
Hooker,  the  illustrious  botanists,  father  and  son,  with  whose  names  the  fame  of 
the  great  national  institution  at  Kew  has  for  half  a century  been  identified. 

The  seeds  not  retained  at  Kew  were  sent  to  India : those  of  the  Grey  Barks 
arrived  in  the  Nilgiris  in  January  1861  and  those  of  the  Red  Barks  two  months 
later.  In  the  month  of  December  1861  Dr.  Anderson  delivered  over  to  Mr. 
Mclvor  at  Ootacamund  the  plants  he  had  brought  from  Java,1^.,  fifty  Calisaya , 
four  lancifolia  and  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  Pahudiana.  On  the  4th  March 
1862,  Mr.  Cross’s  collection  of  Pale  or  Crown  Bark  seeds  from  Loxa  arrived  and 
the  introduction  of  Cinchona  to  India  became  thus  an  accomplished  fact. 

Mr.  Mark-  It  had  been  determined  to  take  advantage  of  Mr.  Markham’s  experience 

to  India  to  of  the  localities  which  form  the  natural  home  of  the  Cinchona  by  deputing  him  to 
tor  cinchona,  choose  suitable  sites  for  its  cultivation  in  India.  Mr.  Markham  accordingly 
arrived  at  Calicut  in  October  1860  (bringing  his  Calisaya  plants  with  him)  and 
for  the  next  few  months  he  was  engaged  in  exploring  the  various  hill  ranges  of 
Southern  India  with  this  object  in  view.  The  site  selected  by  Dr.  Cleghorn 
and  Mr.  Mclvor  at  Ootacamund  was  approved  of  by  Mr.  Markham  as  resem- 
bling in  its  physical  features  and  vegetation  the  natural  habitats  of  Calisaya 
in  the  Caravaya  Forests.  Planting  in  this  site  was  greatly  extended  in  subse- 
quent years,  and  this  tract  of  Cinchona  is  now  known  as  the  Dodabetta  planta- 
tion. Mr.  Markham  examined  the  Nilgiri,  Coorg  and  Pulney  hills,  as  also  the 
Wynaad  districts  in  the  Madras  Presidency  and  the  Maliableshwar  Hills  in 
Bombay.  He  did  not  visit  any  part  either  of  the  Himalayas  or  of  the  Khasias, 
although  both  ranges  had  been  suggested  for  Cinchona  by  Royle,  Falconer 
and  others.  Mr.  Markham’s  opinion  was  that  the  Nilgiris  offered  decidedly  the 
most  suitable  home  for  Cinchona,  and  on  that  range  three  sites  were  accordingly 
selected.  The  Dodabetta  site  was  retained  for  the  species  affecting  higher  ele- 
vations and  a cooler  temperature,  while  for  the  more  tropical  species  a lower 
site  was  chosen  at  a place  called  Neddiwattum,  situated  on  the  northern  slope 
of  the  Nilgiris  and  on  the  cart-road  from  Ootacamund  to  the  Malabar  Coast. 
Next  to  the  Nilgiris  Mr.  Markham  considered  Coorg  the  most  favourable 


1 A reference  to  Dr.  Anderson’s  -visit  to  Java  will  be  found  at  page  18  of  this  Report. 


INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


13 


The 

Dodabetta 
Site  on  the 
Nilgiris. 


district  for  Cinchona,  and  a spot  near  Mercara  on  the  road  to  Mangalore  was 
accordingly  chosen  for  a plantation  should  it  be  found  advisable  to  extend 
Government  operations  beyond  the  Nilgiris.  The  Pulneys  were  considered  to 
afford  a less  suitable  soil  and  climate,  while  the  Mahableshwar  climate,  with  its 
six  months  of  incessant  rain  alternating  with  six  of  parching  drought,  was  con- 
sidered too  extreme  to  offer  much  chance  of  success ; the  Mahableshwar  soil 
was  moreover  found  to  be  poor.  The  Anamallavs,  Shervaroys  and  the  hills  near 
Courtallum  were  all  considered  too  low.  Of  localities  beyond  Madras,  Mr. 

Markham  regarded  Ceylon  as  the  most  promising,  and  after  that  island  he 
believed  Penang,  the  higher  parts  of  Tenasserim  and  the  Khasia  hills  likely  to 
offer  the  most  suitable  sites  for  plantations. 

The  Dodabetta  site  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Markham1 2 : — 

It  is  a shola,  or  wooded  ravine,  at  the  back  of  the  range  of  hills  which  rises  behind  the 
Government  gardens,  and  which  entirely  protects  it  from  the  west  winds;  whilst  another  high 
ridge  completely  screens  it  from  the  east.  It  is  7,450  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  from 
its  sheltered  position  warmer  by  several  degrees  than  Ootacamund.  Like  the  thickets  where 
the  Cinchona  grow  on  the  pajonales  of  Caravaya  in  Peru,  it  is  surrounded  by  steep  grassy  slopes,  vegetation 
with  a vegetation  analogous  to  that  of  the  Caravayan  pajonales.  Thus,  the  tree  Rhododendron  and  ciimate. 
takes  the  place  of  the  purple  Melastoma,  a large  white  lily  that  of  the  liliaceous  sayri-sayri, 
while  the  Gaultheria , Lycopodia,  and  Gallia  appear  to  be  almost  identical  in  the  two  regions. 

The  vegetation  of  the  interior  of  the  ravine  also  resembles  that  of  the  pajonales  of  Sandia  to 
some  extent.  It  contains  Osbeckias,  Holly,  Cinnamon,  Michelias,  Faccininm,  8fc.,  with  an 
undergrowth  of  Lobelia,  Acanthus,  and  ferns,  and  species  of  Cinchonaceous  shrubs.  The 
temperature  appears  to  be  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  pajonales  above  the  valley  of  Sandia 
in  Peru,  and  the  spot  receives  a moderate  supply  of  rain  and  mist  during  both  monsoons.  It 
is  true  that  this  wooded  ravine  is  more  elevated,  by  nearly  1,500  feet,  than  any  point  in 
Caravaya  where  I found  the  Cinchona  growing;  but  Ootacamund  is  more  than  two  degrees 
nearer  the  Equator,  and  the  temperature  of  the  two  places  appears  to  be  nearly  the  same.  It 
is  no  small  advantage,  too,  that  the  ravine  is  so  near  the  Government  gardens,  and  that  the 
Cinchona  plantation  will  thus  have  the  benefit  of  Mr.  MclvoPs  constant  supervision. 

With  regard  to  Neddiwattum  Mr.  Markham  writes* The 

Neddiwat- 

The  conditions  most  favourable  for  the  production  of  Quinine  in  the  bark  of  Cinchona  turn  Site. ^ 
plants  are  those  of  continuous  vegetation,  with  a mean  temperature  of  from  60°  to  70° 
of  Fahr.,  varying  according  to  the  species,  an  almost  constant  supply  of  moisture,  and  an 
elevation  of  from  5,000  to  8,000  feet.  In  every  part  of  the  Western  Ghats  the  vegetation  is 
subjected,  during  the  last  three  months  in  the  year,  to  an  amount  of  dryness  which  is  never 
known  in  the  forests  in  South  America,  but  I have  seen  no  locality  in  India  which  more  nearly 
meets  the  requirements  of  a Cinchona  plantation  than  that  which  we  selected  on  this  occasion. 

It  is,  or  was,  within  the  Wynaad  district,  * * * * 

but  it  is  in  fact  a portion  of  the  northern  slope  of  the  Nilgiri  Hills.  The  site  is  close  to 
the  travellers*  bungalow  at  Neddiwattum,  near  the  crest  of  the  Ghat,  on  the  road  leading 
from  Ootacamund  to  Manantoddy.  The  forest  covers  a declivitous  slope,  at  an  elevation  of 
about  5,000  feet,  and  extends  to  the  verge  of  the  steep  descent  into  the  table-land  of  Wynaad. 

There  is  a good  supply  of  water  in  the  forest,  and  the  soil  is  rich,  its  base  being  a mixture  of 
syenite  and  laterite,  curiously  combined  in  strata.  In  this  forest,  amongst  other  plants,  I and 
found  the  Hymenodictyon  excelsum  (called  by  Roxburgh  Cinchona  excelsa , but  excluded  from  the  veeetation- 
list  of  Cinchona  by  Weddell),  an  Andromeda,  wild  yam,  cinnamon,  pepper,  coffee,  wild  ginger, 
an  Osbeckia  with  purple  flowers,  and  numerous  ferns  and  orchids.  Moss  in  great  quantities 
was  hanging  from  the  branches  and  trunks  of  the  trees,  a sure  sign  of  great  moisture.  The 
jungle  is  within  the  narrow  limits  of  the  region  which  receives  both  the  monsoons.  Though 
protected,  to  some  extent,  from  the  south-west,  it  receives  a full  share  of  the  monsoon,  during 
the  summer,  and  is  also  refreshed  by  the  north-east  monsoon  coming  across  Mysore  from  October 
to  December.  During  the  remaining  months  it  is  not  without  mists  and  heavy  dews  at 


night, 


In  the  end  of  tlie  year  1862  a third  plantation  was  opened  out  near  The  pykara 
Pycara  waterfall  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Nilgiris,  and  about  a year  later  (in  Slte‘ 

1863)  a fourth  plantation  was  begun  at  a place  called  Mailkoondah  on  the  Maiikoondah 
Koondah  Range,  adjoining  the  Nilgiris.  The  sanction  of  the  Secretary  of  State  Site> 
was  also  about  this  time  given  to  the  proposal  to  plant  out  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  Cinchona  annually  for  ten  years.  This  was,  however, 
subsequently  modified  and  twelve  hundred  acres  were  set  down  as  the 
limit  to  which  Government  planting  should  be  extended.  The  Koondalis  are 


1 Parliamentary  Return. — East  India  (Cincliona  Plant J,  ordered  by  tlie  House  of  Commons  to  be  printed,  20th 
March  1863,  page  132. 

2 Parliamentary  Return. — East  India  (Cincliona  Plant),  ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  printed,  20th 
March  1863,  page  142. 


D 


14 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Vegetation 
of  the 
Koondahs. 


Mr.  Melvor’ 
Mode  of 
Treatment 
of  Cinchona 
Plants. 


The  J ava 
Mode  of 
treatment. 


described  by  Mr.  Markham  as  the  finest  hills  he  had  visited  in  India.  He 
says  :l — 

The  forests  cover  their  sides  and  crests,  which  bear  more  resemblance  to  the  superb 
montanas  alias  of  some  parts  of  the  Eastern  Andes  than  to  the  scrubby  sholas  of  the  Nilgiris. 
The  soil  is  of  extraordinary  depth  and  fertility,  both  in  the  forest  and  grass  land,  and  there  are 
abundant  supplies  of  water.  * * * rphe  ]an(j  reserved  by  Government  is,  I am  fully 

convinced,  the  best  site  for  a Cinchona  plantation  that  has  yet  been  selected,  superior  either  to 
Dodabetta  or  Neddiwattum.  The  land  is  well  protected  from  severe  gales. 

These  advantages  were,  however,  found  to  be  counterbalanced  by  the 
distance  of  Mailkoondah  from  the  station  of  Ootacamund  and  by  its  inacces- 
sibility— no  sufficient  road  having  ever  been  made  to  it.  The  difficulties  of 
getting  and  retaining  labour  sufficient  to  cultivate  the  plantation  and  of  effec- 
tive supervision,  were  consequently  found  to  be  considerable.  During  1872  it  was, 
therefore,  determined  to  abandon  this  plantation  (an  attempttosellithavingfailed) 
and  to  leave  the  seventy-five  acres  of  Cinchona  trees  which  had  been  put  out  there 
to  hold  their  own,  as  far  as  they  can,  against  the  indigenous  vegetation,  without 
help,  and  thus  to  form  “a  wild  Cinchona  wood.1’  The  expenditure  onMailkoonhah 
up  to  the  date  of  its  abandonment  had  been  Rs.  43,776. 

Under  Mr.  Mclvor’s  skilful  management,  the  three  plantations  of  Dodabetta, 
Neddiwattum  and  Pykara  continued  steadily  to  prosper,  and  Mr.  Markham,  who 
re-visited  the  Nilgiris  in  1865-66,  considered  the  success  that  had  been  “attained 
in  the  short  space  of  five  years  as  quite  astonishing.” 
s Mr.  Mclvor’s  treatment2  of  the  plants  he  had  received  was  precisely  that 
to  which  any  experienced  and  skilful  gardener  would  have  submitted  them. 
Little  was  known  accurately  of  the  exact  conditions  as  to  temperature  and 
humidity  which  were  likely  to  suit  them  best.  Instead,  therefore,  of  treating 
the  living  cinchona  plants  entrusted  to  him  in  the  open  air,  Mr.  Me  Ivor  at 
once  put  them  under  the  protection  of  glass,  thus  affording  them  an  artificial 
climate  which  he  could  modify  as  to  moisture  and  temperature  in  whatever 
way  might  appear  desirable  for  their  welfare. 

The  seeds  were,  with  equal  judgment,  sown  in  boxes  filled  with 
carefully  prepared,  free,  light,  soil.  As  soon  as  the  living  Cinchonas 
which  had  been  brought  from  South  America  had  sufficiently  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  their  long  journey,  and  the  plants  raised  by  him  from  the  South 
American  seeds  had  become  large  enough,  Mr.  Melvor  began  to  propagate 
from  them,  at  first  by  layers  and  afterwards  by  cuttings.  The  operation  of 
layering  so  commonly  employed  in  horticulture  need  not  be  described  at  length 
here.  A peculiarity  in  Mr.  Mclvor’s  treatment  was  that,  in  order  to  absorb 
the  moisture  flowing  from  the  wound,  he  put  a small  piece  of  dry  brick  under 
the  cut  when  pegging  the  branch  down  into  the  soil.  Propagation  by  cuttings 
and  by  leaf- buds  was  also  pushed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible.  All  these 
operations  were  conducted  with  bottom  heat,  that  is  to  say,  in  soil  brought  to  a 
comparatively  high  temperature  by  artificial  means.  When  sufficiently  large 
plants  had  been  obtained,  Mr.  Melvor,  after  accustoming  them  to  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  open  air,  planted  out  a number  under  different  conditions,  especially 
as  to  shade,  with  the  view  of  discovering  the  best  system  of  cultivation.  It 
was  found  at  the  end  of  six  months  that  plants  which  had  been  put  out  in  the 
open  without  any  shade,  either  artificial  or  natural,  much  surpassed  in  size  and 
health  others  which  had  been  planted  out  at  the  same  time  under  the  shade  of 
forest  trees.  Mr.  Melvor,  therefore,  decided  to  adopt  the  plan  of  planting  in 
open  cleared  ground,  instead  of  scattering  his  plants  here  and  there,  each  in  its 
own  small  clearing,  in  a virgin  forest. 

Several  well-meant  endeavours  were  at  this  time  made  by  gentle- 
men who  had  visited  the  Dutch  plantations  in  Java,  to  induce  Government 
to  sanction  the  adoption  of  the  Dutch  mode  of  cultivation  in  the  Nilgiris 
in  preference  to  that  practised  and  advocated  by  Mr.  Melvor.  The  Java 
plan  of  sowing  seeds  was  as  follows.  Each  seed  was  sown  separately  in  a 
bamboo  pot  filled  with  rich  soil.  These  pots  consisted  of  joints  of  bamboo, 
the  transverse  partition  of  the  joint  serving  as  a bottom.  These  were  arranged 


1 Parliamentary  Return. — East  India  (Cinchona  Plant),  ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  printed,  18th 
June  1866,  page  221. 

2 Mr.  Melvor  has  himself  described  it  in  his  notes  on  Cinchona  cultivation,  a little  book  published  originally 
in  1863,  and  of  which  a second  and  enlarged  edition  aj>penred  in  1S65. 


IXTRODTJ CTION  INTO  INDIA. 


15 


in  the  open  air  on  long  raised  mounds  of  earth  without  any  protection  from 
rain.  Prior  to  being  sown,  the  seeds  were  steeped  in  water  for  twenty-four 
hours  and,  until  they  germinated,  the  soil  in  each  pot  was  kept  sufficiently  moist 
by  an  occasional  squeeze  of  a wet  sponge.  Such  seeds  as  germinated  yielded 
in  about  a year  or  eighteen  months  plants  about  a foot  in  height,  and  these 
were  planted  out  in  the  forest  in  the  sites  they  were  intended  permanently  to 
occupy.  These  sites  were  well-dug  circles  of  about  six  feet  in  diameter  “ from 
the  neighbourhood  of  which  brushwood  and  overhanging  trees  had  been  cleared 
away,  so  as  to  admit  the  light  perpendicularly  while  the  side  lights  were  some- 
what excluded.”  The  distance  of  these  well-dug  circles  from  each  other  was 
considerable,  so  that  scattered  over  each  acre  of  virgin  forest  there  were  only  a 
few  Cinchona  plants.  This  wras  the  system  which  it  w7as  proposed  to  substitute 
for  the  workmanlike  plan  adopted  by  Mr.  Mclvor.  Fortunately,  however, 

Mr.  Mclvor  was  allowed  to  follow  the  method  of  his  own  choosing — a method 
which  was  approved  by  the  gentlemen  who  had  seen  Cinchona  in  its  native 
forests,  viz.  Messrs.  Weddell,  Markham,  Cross  and  Weir.  Forty  acres  were, 
however,  planted  out  in  the  Dutch  mode ; but  of  these,  thirty  were  soon  after 
cleared  of  their  shade  trees  and  converted  into  open  plantations,  leaving  ten 
acres  as  a sufficient  illustration  of  the  disadvantages  of  the  "Java  method.  A 
few  years  later,  the  Dutch  authorities  themselves  adopted  the  English  practice 
and  abandoned  their  own.  Mr.  Mclvor  was  put  in  entire  charge  of  the  cul- 
tivation in  the  Nilgiris,  and  such  was  his  success  in  propagation  that  on  the 
30th  April  1862  (a  little  more  than  eighteen  months  after  the  beginning 
of  the  experiment)  he  was  able  to  report  the  following  stock  of  plants  at 
Ootacamund,  exclusive  of  two  hundred  and  four  that  had  been  sent  to 
Bengal : — 

Red  Barks  ( C . succirubra ) ...  ...  ...  14,450 

Yellow  Barks  ( C . Calisaya ) ...  ...  ...  237 

Crown  or  Pale  (C.  officinalis)  and  its  three  varieties  ) g 

Condaminea,  Bonjolandia , crista,  f J 

Pale  Bark  ( C. . lancifolia ) ...  ...  ...  1 

Grey  Barks  ( C . nitida,  micrantha,  Peruviana ) ...  8,276 

The  worthless  species  from  Java  ( C . Pakudiana)  ...  425 

Total  ...  31,495 

Four  months  later,  these  numbers  had  been  more  than  doubled.  As  has 
been  stated,  seeds  or  plants  of  all  the  valuable  species  of  Cinchonas  found  in 
South  America  had  been  supplied  to  Mr.  Mclvor  chiefly  through  the  India 
office  and  by  the  excellent  arrangements  of  Mr.  Markham.  At  the  first  start 
of  the  experiment  on  the  Nilgiris  the  supply  of  Calisaya  wras  very  small.  This  oi 

was,  however,  amply  compensated  in  1865  by  the  oSer  of  Mr.  Money  to  ex-  the  Nilgiris. 
change  no  less  than  thirteen  pounds  of  seeds  of  the  finest  Bolivian  varieties  of 
this  species  which  had  been  collected  by  Mr.  Ledger,  for  a quantity  of  the 
Bed  Bark  seed,  which  had  by  that  time  begun  to  be  freely  produced  on  the 
Nilgiri  plantation.  These  thirteen  pounds,  on  Mr.  Mclvor’s  lowest  calculation  of 
twenty  thousand  seeds  to  the  ounce,  should  have  yielded  four  millions  of 
plants.  Only  sixty  thousand  plants  were  however  raised,  but  these  proved 
to  be  of  three  most  excellent  sorts,  A plant  of  a very  fine  variety  of  Yellow 
Bark  was  also  presented  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard  in  1867,  and  some  supplies  of 
seeds  were  likewise  contributed  by  Mr.  Markham.  The  cultivation  of  Calisaya 
has  never,  however,  been  very  successful  on  the  Nilgiris.  In  Mr.  Mclvor’s 
words,  “The  habit  of  this  species  on  the  Nilgiris  is  less  vigorous  than  the  Bed 
or  Crown  Barks,  the  stems  scarcely  increasing  more  than  half  as  much  as  these 
species  in  thickness  during  the  same  period  of  growth,  and  consequently  as  a 
bark-producing  tree  it  is  less  valuable.”  Mr.  Mclvor  also  complains  of  the 
thinness  of  the  bark.  Mr.  Broughton’s  report  on  the  Nilgiri-grown  Calisaya 
bark  is,  however,  favourable.  He  found  in  1870  that  bark  from  comparatively 
young  plants  yielded  about  4|  per  cent  of  medicinal  alkaloids,  of  which  nearly 
half  was  Quinine  Sulphate.  He  accordingly  recommended  the  extended  culti- 
vation of  this  species.  This  recommendation  has,  however,  not  hitherto  been 
acted  on.  The  cultivation  of  C.  succirubra  on  the  Nilgiris  since  Mr.  Cross 
landed  his  collection  of  living  plants  there  has  been  a steady  success.  The 
species  is  one  very  little  liable  to  variation  and  it  is  the  hardiest  and  most  easily 


16 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


propagated  of  all  the  medical  Cinchonas.  Mr.  Cross’  original  collections  of  seed 
of  the  Pale  Barks  had  germinated  so  well  at  Ootacamund  that  little  was  left 
to  he  done  subsequently  in  the  way  of  adding  new  varieties  of  this  sort.  Mr. 
Howard,  however,  sent  a plant  of  uritusinga  to  Mr.  Mclvor,  from  which  a 
stock  of  that  variety  was  ultimately  obtained.  Of  the  fifty-five  packets 
of  seed  of  Pitayo  Barks  sent  from  New  Granada  hv  Mr.  Cross,  forty-seven 
packets  arrived  at  Ootacamund  during  the  years  1868  and  1869,  but  they 
yielded  in  all  only  eiglity-six  plants.  This  result  is  attributable  to  their 
mouldy  condition  on  arrival.  Mr.  Cross’s  consignment  of  living  plants  of 
Cinchona  Fitayensis , after  having  been  nurtured  at  Kew  for  more  than  six 
months,  was  taken  to  India  under  the  charge  of  Dr.  B.  Simpson,  of  the  Bengal 
medical  service,  and  deposited  by  him,  half  on  the  Nilgiris  and  half  in  Sikkim. 
The  Nilgiri  consignment  reached  Ootacamund  in  the  end  of  1869.  The  plants 
have  since  been  slightly  increased  in  number. 
giscoveiT  °f  During  the  year  1868,  the  attention  of  Mr.  Broughton  was  first  attracted 
mirabms  or  by  a few  plants  in  the  Pale  Bark  plantation  at  Dodahetta  which  differed  from 
their  neighbours  by  having  narrower  leaves.  On  analysis,  the  bark  of  this 
variety  was  found  to  yield  the  unprecedented  amount  of  from  7 to 
10  per  cent,  of  'crystalline  quinine , the  total  alkaloid  in  the  bark  being 
more  than  11  per  cent.  Provisionally  christened  Cinchona  mirabilis  from 
this  circumstance,  the  specific  name  of  this  variety  has  been  changed  into 
angustifolia. 

ofira  w11  The  limit  of  twelve  hundred  acres  fixed  for  the  Nilgiri  plantations 

discontinued  having  been  reached  during  the  official  year  1869-70,  propagation  and  planting 
in  1869-70.  on  the  scale  hitherto  followed  became  no  longer  necessary,  and  the  establish- 
ments on  all  three  plantations  were  considerably  reduced.  Any  extension 
which  has  since  taken  place,  has  been  entirely  of  the  new  and  valuable  sorts 
more  recently  received,  viz.,  Calisaya,  Fitayensis  and  the  wonderfully  rich 
angustifolia  discovered  by  Mr.  Broughton  at  Dodahetta.  Prom  an  early  period 
in  their  history  and  until  1869,  the  Nilgiri  plantations  were  largely  worked  by 
convict  labour,  and  jails  were  erected  at  Neddiwattum  and  Dodahetta  for  the  ac- 
comodation of  the  prisoners.  This  arrangement  appears  to  have  worked  satis- 
factorily. Since  the  end  of  the  official  year  1868-69,  the  labour  has  been  of  the 
ordinary  sort.  The  distribution  of  Cinchona  seeds  and  plants  to  private  persons 
has  all  along  been  a prominent  feature  in  the  operations  of  these  plantations. 
At  first,  so  high  a price  as1  four  annas  was  charged  for  each  plant ; this  was  sub- 
sequently reduced  to  one  anna,  and  more  recently  to  two  pies.  Por  public  pur- 
poses plants  have  of  late  been  given  gratuitously.  The  total  number  of  plants 
distributed  up  to  31st  January  1875  is  235,  717.  The  Red  Bark  trees  began  to 
yield  seed  in  1866,  and  the  other  species  followed  soon  after.  Up  to  the  date 
just  quoted,  thirty  pounds  of  Cinchona  seed  of  sorts  had  been  distributed  gratui- 
tously. With  the  view  of  recouping  Government  for  the  past  expenditure  on 
Cinchona  and  of  reducing  the  annual  outlay  for  the  future,  it  was  decided  early 
in  1871  to  sell  the  Pykara  and  Mailkoonda  plantations.  As  already  mentioned, 
no  one  would  buy  the  latter,  and  it  was  consequently  abandoned.  An  offer  to 
lease  Pykara  was  however  made,  but  being  considered  unsatisfactory,  was 
declined,  and  the  plantation  is  still  worked  by  Government, 
ftockon  the  At  the  end  of  the  official  year  1873-71,  the  total  number  of  trees  in 
hiigiris.  permanent  plantations  in  the  Nilgiris  stood  as  follows2 : — 


• 

Acreage. 

Surface. 

Base. 

Total  of  plants  of  all  sorts  on  Neddiwattum 

...  471, 710 

455 

371-24 

„ „ „ Dodahetta 

...  345,980 

378 

28725 

„ „ „ Pykara 

...  304,484 

336 

243  00 

Mailkoonda  (abandoned)  ... 

1,125,204 

65,254 

1,169 

75 

901-49 

40-28 

Total 

...  1,190,458 

1,244 

(941-77 

1 The  equivalents  of  these  sums  in  English  money  are  respectively  sixpence,  three  half-pence  and  a farthing. 

2 For  minuter  details  see  Appendix  C. 


INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


17 


I 


This  gives  an  average  of  about  1,042  trees  per  acre  for  Neddiwattum,  915 
per  acre  for  Dodabetta,  and  906  per  acre  for  Pykara.  The  trees  are  not,  however, 
equidistant  in  all  parts  of  these  plantations,  for  some  of  the  older  trees  stand 
12  x 12  feet  apart  and  a small  number  so  close  as  3 x 3 feet. 

The  cost  of  these  plantations  to  the  same  date  has  been  as  follows1 2 : — 


General  charges — Us. 

For  Direction,  Offices,  and  Propagation  ...  ...  ...  1,61,172 

Special  charges — 

Expenditure  at  Neddiwattum  ...  ...  ...  ...  2,36,239 

Dodabetta  ...  ...  ...  ...  •••  1,52,318 

Pykara  ...  ...  ...  •••  •••  81,501 


6,03,059 

At  Mailkoonda  (abandoned)  ...  ...  ...  43,776 


Total  to  31st  March  1873  ...  6,75,026 


This  gives  an  average,  excluding  Mailkoonda  entirely,  of  about  Rs.  542  per 
surface  acre,  and  8 annas  9 pies  (or  one  shilling  and  a penny)  a tree.  It  is 
important  to  note  that  for  years  convict  labour  was  largely  used  on  the  planta- 
tion. On  the  other  hand,  the  revenue  received  from  the  plantation  since  its 
commencement  to  the  end  of  the  official  year  1868-69  has  been  as  follows0 : — 


Its. 

Sale  of  plants  in  1863-64  ...  ...  ...  ...  t..  ...  5,100 

„ „ 1864-65  4,809 

„ „ 1866-67  2,450 

,,  „ 1868-69  1,680 

Cinchona  cultivation  in  the  Bengal  presidency  began  under  less  favour-  introduction 
able  circumstances  than  in  Madras.  No  plants  were  sent  hither  from  South 
America,  nor  was  the  experience  of  Mr.  Markham  available  in  the  selection  of 
the  most  hopeful  localities  in  the  Himalayas  or  Khasias.  Prom  its  commence- 
ment, and  until  his  departure  from  India  in  1869,  the  superintendence  of  the  Cin- 
chona experiment  in  Bengal  was  under  the  direction  of  I)r.  Thomas  Anderson, 
Superintendent  of  the  Royal  Botanical  Garden,  Calcutta.  Exposure  in  the 
feverish  regions  of  the  outer  Himalaya,  together  with  almost  daily  subjection, 
for  weeks  on  end,  to  the  sudden  changes  of  temperature  incident  on  passing  from 
the  cold  climate  of  Darjeeling,  where  he  lived,  to  the  hot  steamy  valleys 
of  the  Cinchona  reserve,  then  a houseless  waste,  laid  the  seeds  of  disease  of  the 
liver  which  caused  the  premature  death  during  1870  of  this  able  and  zealous 
servant  of  Government.  Subsequently  to  1869  it  has  been  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  Anderson’s  successors.  Since  1866,  the  Sikkim  plantations  have  been 
under  tbe  executive  charge  of  Mr.  J.  Gammie,  the  resident  manager,  and  to 
him  their  success  has  been  largely  due.  The  first  Cinchona  seeds  received 
by  Dr.  Anderson  were  some  sent  by  Sir  W.  J.  Hooker  to  the  Botanical  Gardens, 

Calcutta,  in  1861.  In  December  of  that  year  these  had  produced  thirty- 
one  plants.  During  the  same  year  the  Government  of  Bengal  and  the 
Supreme  Government  of  India  had  taken  up  the  matter  in  earnest,  and  ac- 
cordingly, in  the  month  of  September,  Dr.  Anderson  was  sent  to  Java  with  Dr.  Ander. 
the  double  object  of  familiarising  himself  with  the  Dutch  mode  of  cultivation  t2YaVaent 
and  of  conveying  to  India  the  plants  which  the  Governor  of  that  colony  had 
generously  offered  to  the  Government  of  India.  Dr.  Anderson  returned  from 
Java  in  November,  bringing  with  him  412  living  Cinchona  plants  and  a 
quantity  of  seeds  of  C.  Pahudiana.  Shortly  after  his  return  from  Java,  Dr. 

Anderson  proceeded  to  Ootacamund,  and  there  made  over  to  Mr.  Mclvor 
fifty  of  the  Calisaya,  two  hundred  and  eight-four  of  the  Pahudiana  and 
four  of  the  lancifolia  plants  which  he  had  brought  from  Java.  In  return 
he  took  to  Calcutta  from  Ootacamund  one  hundred  and  ninety-three 
plants  of  succirubra  and  of  the  species  yielding  Grey  Bark.  Some  of  the  Java 
plants  died  in  Calcutta,  and  on  the  19th  January  1862  the  total  stock  of  plants 


1 See  Appendix  D for  fuller  details.  This  is  exclusive  of  all  charges  connected  with  Mr.  Broughton.  His  pay  as 
Quinologist  and  the  expenditure  on  his  analytical  laboratory  and  factory  have  been  quite  distinct  from  the  plantation 
accounts.  The  Sikkim  charges  given  in  Appendix  F include,  on  the  other  hand,  not  only  the  cost  of  plantation  hut  also 
that  of  the  Quinologist’s  laboratory  and  factory  as  well. 

2 Accountant-General’s  letter  dated  19th  January  1870. 


E 


18 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA.. 


nursery. 


in  the  Botanical  Gardens  there  from  all  sources  consisted  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty-nine  plants.  Dr.  Anderson  recommended  that  these  should  be 
sent  to  Sikkim,  that  being  the  part  of  the  Himalaya  which  offered,  in 
his  opinion,  the  greatest  hope  of  success.  Government  sanctioned  this  pro- 
posal, and  in  March  of  the  same  year  Dr.  Anderson  proceeded  to  Darjeeling, 
accompanied  by  a gardener  in  charge  of  the  plants  (two  hundred  and 
forty-nine  in  number).  The  conduct  of  the  Sikkim  experiment  in  its  earlier 
stages  was  influenced  by  the  error  of  over-estimating  the  amount  of  coolness 
and  moisture  required  for  Cinchonas.  The  accounts  of  the  explorers  of  Cin- 
chona forests  (founded  of  course  on  imperfect  experience)  on  the  whole  rather 
countenanced  the  notion  that  all  the  species  except  Calisaya  thrive  best  in 
regions  where,  in  the  scanty  intervals  between  the  showers,  there  is  more 
mist  than  sunshine.  A wearied  collector  who  had  spent  the  day  in  climb- 
ing rugged  hill-sides  under  a hot  sun  in  search  of  Cinchona  trees,  shivering 
at  night  in  an  open  shanty  high  on  the  Andes,  was  naturally  inclined  to  consider 
as  extremely  cold  a night  temperature  which  a thermometer  shewed  to  have 
been  only  about  40°  Eht.,  and  such  impressions  formed  a large  part  of  the  infor- 
mation which  the  introducers  of  Cinchona  into  India  had  to  guide  them  in  choos- 
ing sites  for  plantations.  With  the  view  of  finding  for  them  as  wet,  chilly  and  dis- 
The  sinchui  agreeable  a climate  as  possible,  Dr.  Anderson  chose  a spot  near  the  summit  of 
Sinchul,  a mountain  of  the  outer  range  of  the  Sikkim  Himalaya  which  rises  to  an 
elevation  above  the  sea  of  nearly  9,000  feet  and  thus  intercepts  a large  share  of 
the  clouds  passing  northwards  from  the  plains.  A conservatory  was  quickly  ex- 
temporised there  by  adapting  an  empty  house  to  the  purpose,  and  a propagating 
pit  was  soon  built,  in  which  the  plants,  now  reduced  in  number  to  211,  were 
placed  on  the  first  day  of  June  1862.  Under  the  care  of  Mr.  Jafirey,  these 
Avere  rapidly  increased  during  the  succeeding  five  months.  The  winter  climate 
of  Sinchul  proved,  however,  by  far  too  severe  for  Cinchonas.  Most  of  the  land 
in  the  Darjeeling  district  having  been  previously  taken  up  by  private  specu- 
lators for  Tea  cultivation,  it  was  difficult  for  Dr.  Anderson  to  find  any  suitable 
locality  for  a Cinchona  plantation.  After  much  search,  however,  he  succeeded  in 
The  Lebong  hiring  for  a nursery,  a house  and  garden  at  Lebong,  a warm,  well-sheltered  spur 
below  Darjeeling,  and  6,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  Sinchul  stock, 
amounting  to  2,484  plants  (chiefly  JPahudiana,  but  including  30  Pale  Barks 
derived  from  Ceylon  seeds  and  also  some  succirubra  and  Calisaya) , was  accordingly 
removed  there  on  1st  April  1863.  These  were  supplemented  by  97  succirubras, 
21  Calisayas,  94  officinalis  and  115  Grey  Barks  received  from  Madras  about  the 
same  time.  Por  the  formation  of  a permanent  plantation,  Dr.  Anderson 
had  to  be  content  with  land  in  the  then  densely  forest-clad  and  little-known  valley 
of  the  Rungbee,  twelve  miles  distant  from  Darjeeling  and  at  that  time  uncon- 
nected with  that  station  by  any  road.  Dr.  Anderson’s  early  difficulties  are  well 
described  in  his  own  words  : — 

“ I laboured,”  he  writes  iu  1863,  “ under  the  disadvantage  last  year 1 of  being  quite  ignorant 
of  the  nature  of  the  country  of  British  Sikkim  beyond  what  I could  learn  from  the  accounts  of 
Dr.  Hooker,  as  well  as  from  the  collections  of  dry  plants  from  Sikkim  which  exist  in  the  Calcutta 
herbarium.  I had  formed  very  inadequate  ideas  of  the  difficulty  of  reaching  Darjeeling,  of  the 
condition  of  the  roads  leading  to  it,  and  of  the  resources  of  the  station  as  regards  labour,  especi- 
ally such  skilled  labour  as  I required,  such  as  native  gardeners,  carpenters,  and  masons.  I 
also  supposed  that  no  difficulty  would  be  experienced  in  obtaining  abundance  of  land,  the  property 
of  Government,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Darjeeling,  that  glass  for  the  conservatory,  and  flower- 
pots, &c.,  could  be  procured  in  Darjeeling.  Some  idea,  however,  will  be  obtained  of  the  diffi- 
culties with  which  the  experiment  had  to  contend  when  I state  that  no  suitable  Government 
land  could  be  got  nearer  than  twelve  miles  from  the  station,  and  that,  to  reach  this  spot,  an 
almost  impenetrable  forest  had  to  be  passed  through,  requiring  every  step  to  be  cleared  by  Lepchas 
with  their  long  knives.  On  leaving  Calcutta,  I had  hoped  that  the  permanent  propagating 
houses,  the  gardener's  house,  and  huts  for  the  coolies,  would  have  been  finished  iu  three  months"; 
instead  of  which,  it  soon  appeared  that  until  a bridle  path,  eight  miles  long,  could  be 
finished,  the  buildings  could  not  even  be  commenced,  and  that,  instead  of  three  mouths  being 
required  to  complete  them,  two  years  was  the  shortest  time  in  which  they  could  be  ready. 
No  temporary  buildings  could  be  obtained  either,  except  barracks  on  the  windy  and  cold  crest 
of  Sinchul,  8,600  feet  above  the  sea.  Before  these  could  be  converted  into  a conservatory, 
glass  had  to  be  procured  from  Calcutta,  400  miles  distant.  The  manufactory  of  flowerpots 
was  also  unknown  at  Darjeeling,  and  so  even  they  had  to  be  obtained  from  Calcutta.  Then, 
no  labour  of  any  kind  could  be  got  to  supply  the  place  of  the  two  Bengalee  gardeners,  who 

1 Parliamentary  Return, — East  India  ( Cinchona  Plant), — ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  printed 
8th  June  1866,  page  298. 


Eungbee 

plantation 

begun. 


Early 

difficulties. 


INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


19 


insisted  on  returning  to  Calcutta  within  three  months  of  their  arrival  at  Darjeeling ; and  the 
European  gardener  had  therefore  to  perform  all  the  operations  of  the  simplest  kind  with  his 
own  hand,  and  this  is  still  the  case.  Such  an  apparently  easily  procurable  substance  as  white 
river  sand  could  not  be  got  in  Sikkim,  not  that  none  existed  there,  but  that,  during  the  rains, 
che  courses  of  the  rivers  were  so  full  of  water  that  the  beds  of  sand  were  all  concealed.  Ac- 
cordingly, a maund  of  sand  was  sent  for  from  the  Botanic  Gardens  in  Calcutta.  No  pack- 
ages of  any  kind  ever  reached  Darjeeling  from  Calcutta  in  less  than  six  weeks,  the  usual 
time  occupied  in  the  transit  being  two  months.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  commencement 
of  Cinchona  cultivation  in  Sikkim  entailed  a great  many  preliminary  operations  before  the 
propagation  of  plants  could  be  attempted;  and  it  is  only  now  \Vith  tools,  flowerpots,  bell 
glasses,  and  hand-frames  received  from  Calcutta,  and  a determination  to  be  contented  with  such 
means  as  are  procurable  in  Darjeeling,  that  the  success  I have  been  able  to  report  has  been 
obtained.” 

It  was  found  necessary  to  continue  the  nursery  at  Lebong  until 
April  1S65  and  to  open  another  at  Rungyroon,  a spot  half-way  between  Dar- 
jeeling and  the  future  plantation  at  Rungbee,  the  Rungyroon  location  being 
especially  adapted  for  a distribution  nursery.  Ground  was  broken  in  the 
Rungbee  Valley,  in  June  1864,  at  a spot  4,410  feet  above  the  sea  level,  on  the 
south-eastern  slope  of  a long  spur  running  out  from  the  main  ridge  of  Sinchul. 
The  elevation  of  the  lower  part  of  this  spur  is  about  1,300  feet.  Below  4,000 
feet,  the  land  in  the  valley  had  been  previously  cleared  for  native  cultivation  of 
Indian  corn  and  millet.  Higher  up,  the  spur  was  (and  still  remains)  covered 
with  a virgin  forest  of  tall  trees,  the  stems  of  which  are  clothed  with  moss, 
ferns,  epiphytal  orchids,  aroids  and  Begonias.  The  undergrowth  consists  of 
ferns,  Acanthacece  and  other  shrubs,  especially  prominent  among  the  latter 
being  several  species  of  shade-loving  Cinchonacece.  In  the  wetter  places  are 
patches  of  wild  plantain,  and  here  and  there  occur  impenetrable  cane-brakes. 
The  first  and  only  piece  of  planting  done  during  the  year  1864  was  a patch 
containing  the  following : — 


Cinchona 

succirubra  ... 

• • • Ml  ... 

100  plants. 

>> 

officinalis  ... 

• . • ...  ••• 

... 

100  ,, 

;; 

micrantha  ... 

• • • 

50  .„ 

}) 

Calisaya  . . . 

...  ... 

... 

2 „ 

)) 

Pahudiana... 

... 

271  „ 

Total  Plants 

523 

At  this  time  the  out-door  plantations  on  the  Nilgiris  contained  165,351 
plants.  Two  hundred  seeds  of  C.  Calisaya  of  Weddell’s  stock  were  received 
from  Java  during  this  year,  but  of  these  only  nine  germinated.  Some  seed  of 
C.  Bitayensis,  received  from  South  America  through  Mr.  Markham,  entirely 
failed.  On  the  abandonment  of  the  nursery  at  Lehong  all  the  stock  of  plants 
was  removed  to  Rungbee,  which  henceforth  became  the  headquarters  of  the 
cultivation,  and  four  fresh  spots  were  opened  there  at  various  elevations  with  the 
view  of  discovering  a suitable  home  for  each  species.  One  plantation  was  formed 
at  5,321  feet  above  the  sea ; others  at  5,000,  3,332  and  2,556  feet  respectively,  and 
towards  the  end  of  the  year  1865  a small  plantation  was  formed  as  an  experi- 
ment in  the  Teesta  Valley,  in  an  open  Sal  forest,  at  an  elevation  of  only  1,000 
feet  above  the  sea  and  in  a locality  of  which  the  climate  differs  considerably 
from  that  of  any  part  of  the  Rungbee  Valley.  During  the  official  year  1865-66 
nearly  6,000  plants  were  put  out  in  permanent  plantation,  and  the  total 
stock  of  all  sorts  and  ages  amounted  at  the  end  of  that  year  to  178,741. 
At  the  same  date  the  Nilgiri  plantations  contained  about  a million  and  a half 
plants  of  all  ages,  of  which  40,000  were  in  permanent  plantations. 

Propagation  by  cuttings  of  C.  succirubra  and  C.  officinalis  went  on 
vigorously  during  succeeding  years.  It  gradually,  however,  -became  apparent  that 
officinalis  does  not  thrive  in  Sikkim,  and,  after  about  four  hundred  thousand 
plants  had  been  put  out,  all  further  planting  of  this  species  was  discontinued, 
and  not  only  so,  but  three-fourths  of  the  area  covered  by  it  were  replanted 
with  succirubra.  Only  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  plants  of  offici- 
nalis are  therefore  now  returned.  Of  C.  succirubra  there  were  on  1st  April 
1875,  two  millions  three  hundred  and  ninety  thousand  trees.  The  propagation 
of  this  species  is  now  thoroughly  understood  and  can  be  carried  on  with  ease  to 
any  extent  that  may* be  considered  desirable.  The  best  of  all  the  medicinal 
Cinchonas — namely,  Calisaya  or  Yellow  Bark — promises  to  do  well  in  Sikkim,  and 


Species 
cultivated 
at  itungbee. 


20 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


there  were  in  the  plantation  on  1st  April  1875,  351,500  trees  of  that  species, 
besides  young  plants  in  the  nurseries.  The  great  preponderance  of  succirubra 
trees  in  the  plantation  is  not  due  to  a preference  for  that  species  over  Calisaya,  but 
to  the  fact  that  the  Red  Bark  tree  is  hardier,  much  more  easily  propagated  and 
has  a much  wider  range,  as  regards  conditions  of  growth,  than  Calisaya.  Owing 
to  the  backwardness  of  Calisaya  to  yield  seed,  propagation  by  artificial  methods 
had  to  be  relied  on  until  1871.  During  that  year  the  Calisaya  trees  for  the 
first  time  seeded  freely ; it  was  therefore  hoped  that  rapid  extension  of  this 
species  by  seedlings  could  then  be  begun.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Wood,  the 
recently-appointed  Quinologist,  had  analysed  the  bark  of  the  numerous  varieties  1 
of  this  species  which  occur  on  the  plantation,  and  had  pointed  out  that  whereas 
certain  of  these  varieties  yield  a bark  containing  as  much  as  per  cent,  of 
total  alkaloid  of  which  nearly  the  whole  is  Quinine,  others  yield  so  little  as  1| 
per  cent,  of  total  alkaloid.  The  best  varieties  (yielding  from  5|-  to  per  cent, 
of  total  alkaloid)  are  all  characterised  by  narrow  leaves  (in  one  of  them  these 
are  purple  below),  perfectly  white  flowers  and  small  seed  vessels.  The  bad 
varieties,  on  the  other  hand,  have  large  broad  leaves,  purplish  flowers  and  large 
seed  vessels. 

Although  seed  was  saved  from  the  fine  varieties  only,  so  large  a proportion 
of  the  resulting  seedlings  shewed  such  a marked  resemblance  to  the  bad  varieties 
that  it  was  resolved  to  plant  out  none  of  them,  and  to  trust  to  propagation  by 
cuttings  for  any  further  extensions  which  may  be  decided  upon.  Of  other 
species  originally  introduced  into  Sikkim,  one — namely,  C.  Pahudiana — proved 
worthless,  and  its  cultivation  has  long  since  been  entirely  abandoned.  The  Grey 
Barks  ( C.  micrantha , C.  Peruviana,  C.  nitida)  being  poor  in  Quinine,  the  cultiva- 
tion of  these  species  is  now  no  longer  carried  on.  C.  Pitayensis  is  closely  allied 
in  nature  to  officinalis  and  apparently  will  not  succeed  in  Sikkim.  One  import- 
ant species  is  now  receiving  special  attention.  This  was  referred  to  in  the 
earlier  reports  on  the  Sikkim  plantation  as  a hybrid.  The  first  plant  of  this 
appeared  amongst  a set  of  seedlings  raised  from  seed  got  some  years  ago  from 
Dr.  Thwaites,  E.R.S.,  Director  of  the  Royal  Botanical  Gardens,  Ceylon.  It  is 
possible  that  this  may  turn  out  to  be  a distinct  species  and  not  a hybrid.  Ana- 
lysis of  its  bark  shews  it  to  contain  much  Quinine.  Since  the  discovery  of  this 
fact  every  effort  has  been  made  to  propagate  this  variety.  Experience,  more- 
over, proves  that  it  grows  well  in  Sikkim  and  at  a higher  level  than  Calisaya. 
Of  this  variety  21,000  plants  were  in  permanent  cultivation  on  1st  April 
1875.  Like  Calisaya,  this  variety  does  not  come  true  to  seed,  a large  majority 
of  its  seedlings  closely  resembling  C.  officinalis  in  appearance.  < It  must  there- 
fore be  propagated  by  cuttings  in  the  manner  to  be  described  hereafter.  A 
form  similar  to  this  sprung  up  accidentally  in  some  of  the  Nilgiri  plantations, 
but  does  not  appear  to  have  been  propagated  to  any  extent  on  those  belonging 
to  Government. 

The  details  of  the  Sikkim  plantations,  as  they  stood  on  the  1st  April  1875, 
will  be  found  in  Appendix  E of  this  Report.  The  total  expenditure  on  the 
Sikkim  plantations  to  the  date  just  mentioned,  including  all  quinological 
charges,  has  been  Rs.  6,46,243.  The  total  revenue  to  the  same  date  amounts  to 
Rs.  7,958, 2 but  the  plantation  has  not  as  yet  begun  to  be  worked  for  revenue. 

A Cinchona  plantation  was  begun  by  a private  company  in  Sikkim  almost 
simultaneously  with  that  belonging  to  Government.  Batches  of  Cinchona 
were  also  planted  in  several  tea  gardens  in  the  district,  but  the  cultivation  has 
not  commended  itself  to  private  enterprise  to  the  same  extent  in  Sikkim  as  in 
the  Nilgiris. 


1 Mr.  Wood’s  analysis  of  six  varieties  of  Sikkim  Calisaya  is  contained  in  the  following  table,  extracted 
from  his  report  to  the  Government  of  Bengal,  dated  5th  August  1874.  The  variety  marked  No-  1 in  the  table  may  be 
taken  as  a fair  example  of  the  bad  varieties,  which  number  about  half  a dozen. 


Cinchona  Calisaya  varieties. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Total  alkaloid  ...  ...  ...  ... 

1-6 

6-1 

5-57 

71 

5-75 

7'4 

Alkaloid  sol.  in  Ether 

0'82 

5-9 

5-21 

693 

5-75 

7-4 

Cryst.  Sulphate  of  Quinine 

None. 

453 

4-6 

6-92 

534 

62 

2 See  Appendix  F. 


INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


21 


Encouraged  by  its  success  on  the  Nilgiris,  Cinchona  cultivation  was 
warmly  taken  up  by  European  residents  in  the  other  high  lands  and  hill 
ranges  of  the  Madras  presidency.  The  coffee  planters  of  Wynaad  put  outInthe 
a good  many  Red  Bark  trees  on  their  estates.  These  are  found  to  grow  well : wynaad 
their  bark,  however,  in  common  with  that  grown  at  low  elevations  elsewhere,  is 
comparatively  poor  in  alkaloid,  and  the  results  on  the  whole  are  not  very 
encouraging. 

In  South  Canara  a small  plantation  was  formed  in  1869  at  a place  called  ^ smith. 
Nagooli  above  the  Koloor  Chat  and  at  an  elevation  of  2,500  feet  above  the 
sea,  but  the  experiment  there  was  pronounced  by  the  Madras  Government 
as  unlikely  to  be  productive  of  useful  results,  and  has  therefore  been  practi- 
cally abandoned. 

On  the  Mahendra  Mountain  in  the  Ganjam  district,  the  opening  of  a small  inGanjam 
plantation  was  sanctioned  by  the  Madras  Government  early  in  1871. 

Under  the  Eorest  Department  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  Cin-  ^,haeMully 
chona  on  the  Nulla  Mully  hills,  but  the  first  hot  weather  killed  all  the  plants  huis. 

(Red  Barks),  and,  a similar  fate  overtaking  a second  supply  planted  in  1867, 
the  experiment  was  abandoned.  As  the  highest  peak  of  the  Nulla  Mullys 
rises  to  only  3,300  feet  and  the  whole  range  is  exposed  to  hot  winds  for  two 
or  three  months  of  the  year,  the  result  is  scarcely  to  be  wondered  at. 

The  following  account  of  Cinchona  cultivation  in  Coorg  has  been  fur-  in  coorg. 
nished  by  order  of  the  Chief  Commissioner : — 

“ With  the  object  of  introducing  the  experimental  cultivation  of  Cinchona  into  Coorg, 
a piece  of  ground  about  an  acre  in  extent  was  taken  up  in  1863  by  the  district  officer,  and 
placed  under  the  charge  of  the  Revd.  Mr.  Richter,  the  Principal  of  the  Central  School. 

In  1872  the  ground  was  enlarged  by  adding  to  it  a neglected  coffee  garden  of  about  seven 
acres  in  extent,  and,  besides  the  cultivation  of  the  Cinchona  plant,  an  effort  was  made  to  in- 
troduce and  acclimatise  fruit  and  other  useful  trees. 

“The  number  of  Cinchona  trees  within  the  limits  of  the  original  plantation  is  now  about 
412,  of  which  323  are  from  three  to  ten  years  old.  Their  condition  is  stated  to  be  satis- 
factory, though  there  have  been  several  casualties  from  dry  rot. 

“ From  the  nursery  attached  to  the  garden  some  of  the  coffee  planters  and  ryots  of  the 
district  have  obtained  seedlings,  and  the  cultivation  has,  it  is  stated,  become  somewhat  extended. 

“ In  1870  some  of  the  bark  from  the  Government  trees  was  sent  to  Mr.  Broughton,  the 

Quinologist,  for  analysis.  His  re- 
port shews  the  results  marginally 
noted.  The  bark  Mr.  Broughton 
pronounced  of  good  appearance  and 
apparently  in  a well-prepared  state. 

“ The  cost  of  establishment  was  for  the  first  ten  years  at  the  rate  of  only  Rs.  6 per  men- 
sem, but  when  the  plantation  was  enlarged  the  expenditure  increased,  and  from  September 
1873  to  July  1874,  Rs.  235  were  spent  in  clearing  the  old  jungle,  cutting  a new  road,  and 
forming  a nursery,  as  well  as  effecting  other  improvements.  Mr.  Richter's  own  labours 
are  gratuitous. 

“ The  Mysore  Government  is  not  fully  satisfied  that  the  maintenance  of  this  garden  is 
justified  by  the  results  that  have  been  obtained,  and  the  Superintendent  of  Coorg  has  been 
directed  to  report  more  fully  on  the  subject." 

The  average  girth  and  height  of  the  trees  in  June  1875  was  as  follows  : — 


Age  of  trees. 

Average  girth. 

Average  height. 

12  years. 

28  inches. 

39  feet. 

10  „ 

21  „ 

30  „ 

6 „ 

13  „ 

17  -„ 

4 „ 

9 „ 

9 „ 

The  Travancore  Government,  by  the  advice  of  the  Resident,  Mr.  Maltby,  in 
opened  in  1862  a plantation  of  Cinchona  at  Peermede,  near  the  station  of  Mary-  Travancore 
ville,  a promising  locality  on  the  Travancore  portion  of  the  Western  Ghats  and 
elevated  about  3,000  feet  above  the  sea.  This  locality  was  visited  in  1865  by 
Mr.  Markham  and  Dr.  Cleghorn,  then  Conservator  of  Eorests  for  Madras,  and 
was  approved  of  as  likely  to  suit  Cinchona.  In  1869  the  plantation  contained 
3,552  trees,  chiefly  Red  Bark,  and  in  1870  these  were  reported  by  the  Resident  at 
the  Travancore  Court  as  “looking  generally  very  well.”  Shortly  after  this,  they 


Total  Alkaloids  ...  

623 

Quinine 

104 

Cinchonine  and  Cinchonidine 

519 

Crystallized  Sulphates  of  Quinine  obtained 

0-63 

„ „ Cinchonidine  ... 

511 

Total  Crystallized  Sulphates  obtained 

5'74 

p 


22 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


In  the 

Pulney  Hills. 


In  the 

Tinnivelly 

Hills. 


On  the 

Shevaroy 

Hills. 


In  British 
Burma. 


were  visited  and  reported  upon  by  Mr.  Mclvor,  whose  verdict  was  that  the  trees 
were  cankered.  The  existence,  however,  of  a certain  amount  of  disease,  of  the 
nature  of  canker,  is  one  of  the  accidents  of  Cinchona  cultivation  in  all  parts  of 
India,  and  its  occurrence  need  not  he  regarded  as  necessarily  proving  the  un- 
suitability of  any  particular  locality  for  Cinchona  cultivation. 

In  the  Pulney  Hills  the  introduction  of  Cinchona  has  received  some  atten- 
tion both  from  Government  officials  and  from  private  parties,  notably  from  the 
Homan  Catholic  Missionaries.  Planting  has  not  been  pursued  on  any  large  scale, 
but  it  has  been  tried  at  several  places.  The  experience  is  that  the  trees  grow 
fairly,  but  that  the  bark  is  not  very  rich  in  alkaloids.  In  October  1872  there  were 
se^en  hundred  healthy  Cinchona  trees  in  the  Mission  House  garden  at  Kodicanal. 

In  the  Tinnivelly  Hills  experimental  plantations  were  made  at  various  ele- 
vations from  about  2,700  to  4,300  feet,  and  under  various  conditions  of  exposure 
and  soil.  Some  trees  were  planted  on  virgin  forest  land  cleared  for  the  purpose, 
others  were  put  in  grass  land.  At  one  of  the  spots  near  Papanassam  (3,000 
feet)  thirty-two  succirnbra  trees  and  ninety-eight  of  officinalis  were  planted  in  Sep- 
tember 1866.  Three  years  later,  thirty  of  the  former  and  seventy  of  the  latter 
were  in  good  condition,  the  tallest  of  them  having  reached  a height  of  13  feet, 
and  the  average  height  of  the  whole  being  8 to  10  feet.  When  it  is  stated  that 
these  trees  had.  neither  been  planted  nor  tended  by  skilled  labour,  but  had  been 
under  the  care  of  wild  liill-men,  this  result  is  very  favourable.  The  portion  of 
the  Tinnivelly  Hills  where  the  plantations  are  situated  being  practically  un- 
inhabited, the  experiment  cannot  be  said  to  have  had  the  amount  of  attention 
that  it  merits. 

On  the  Shevaroy  range  Cinchona  succiruhra  seems  to  thrive.  A hundred 
seedling  Bed  Barks  planted  in  October  1866,  although  damaged  by  fire  and  in- 
jured by  transplantation,  seem  to  have  done  very  well. 

It  was  considered  that  the  higher  parts  of  British  Burma  offered  a suitable 
climate  for  Cinchona,  and  it  was  thought  of  much  importance  to  interest  the 
Karen  population  in  the  cultivation.  The  matter  was  therefore  taken  up  with 
some  vigour  by  the  Porest  Department.  The  following  account  of  the  experi- 
ment in  that  province  has  been  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Bibbentrop,  the  Officiating 
Conservator  of  Porests1 : — 


“ The  first  mention  of  Cinchona  cultivation  in  Burma  is  in  the  annual  forest  report  of  1 865-66, 
where  it  is  stated  that  a few  Cinchona  plants  were  planted  on  the  top  of  the  Bogalay  Hills 
east  of  Tounghoo.  In  the  report  for  1867-68  it  is  noted  that  of  these  plants  only  two  sur- 
vived, and  these  trees  are  still  in  existence  and  doing  well.  In  December  1868,  188  plants  of 
Cinchona  succiruhra  were  planted  out  at  Phunado,  at  an  elevation  of  2,100  feet;  and  of  these 
there  were  surviving,  at  the  close  of  March  1870,  87  plants  in  the  upper  site  and  59  in  the 
lower.  A large  number  of  cuttings  were  obtained  froip  these  plants  and  successfully  propa- 
gated in  new  series.  Two  Karen  lads,  who  had  been  placed  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Mclvor, 
Ootacamund,  in  September  1868,  returned  to  Rangoon  in  November  1869,  having  gone 
through  a course  of  training.  Unfortunately  one  of  these  lads,  Fandee,  died  on  the  2nd  April 
1870.  A spot  called  Thandoungyee  had  been  in  the  meantime  selected  as  the  headquarters 
for  Cinchona  planting,  and  Phunado  was  in  great  part  abandoned,  Thandoungyee  is  situated 
18  miles  north-east  of  Tounghoo,  and  the  hills  on  which  the  present  plantation  is  located  vary 
from  about  3,700  feet  to  4,400  feet  above  the  sea  level.  One  hundred  acres  were  here  made  over 
to  the  Forest  Department  in  March  1870,  but  owing  to  seed  having  failed  to  germinate,  there 
was  nothing  done  till  1871.  In  this  year  the  cuttings  raised  at  Phunado  in  1870  were  re- 
moved to  Thandoungyee  and  planted  out,  and  by  the  end  of  the  planting  season  500  plants 
had  been  put  out  in  the  main  plantation,  while  the  raising  of  seedlings  was  being  carried  on 
in  the  propagation-house.  It  was  in  the  beginning  of  1872  that  Dr.  Adamson  received  charge 
of  the  Sittang  Division,  involving  the  charge  of  the  Cinchona  plantation,  and  at  that  time 
the  establishment  consisted  of  the  trained  assistant  Takai,  2 other  assistants  under  instruction, 
and  from  two  to  four  coolies  as  required.  During  1872  large  numbers  of  seedlings  were  raised 
in  nursery  beds  and  in  the  propagation -house,  but  only  a few  cuttings  were  planted  out  in  the 
main  plantation.  At  the  close  of  the  official  year  1872-73,  there  were  about  500  young  trees 
in  the  main  plantation,  and  18,000  to  20,000  seedlings  and  cuttings  available  for  planting  out 
in  the  rains  of  1873  and  ensuing  years.  In  1873  an  area  of  about  9 acres  was  taken  in  hand, 
felled,  burnt,  and  jdanted  up,  and  altogether  upwards  of  6,000  seedlings  and  cuttings  were  put 
out.  In  1874  a fresh  clearing  of  about  27  acres  was  made  in  the  usual  manner,  and  about 
15,000  seedlings  and  cuttings  planted  out.  In  1875,  a still  more  extensive  clearing  having 
been  made,  23,000  seedlings  and  cuttings  were  transplanted  from  the  nurseiy  beds  to  the  clear- 
ing, while  about  3,200  were  utilised  in  filling  up  blanks  of  the  previous  two  years’  cultivation. 
Such  is  a short  resume  of  of  the  progress  of  Cinchona  planting  in  Burma  during  the  last  five 
years,  the  total  number  of  trees  reported  alive  at  the  end  of  October  1875  being  about  44,000. 


Letter  to  the  Secretary  to  the  Chief  Commissioner,  dated  27th  November  1875. 


INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


23 


“ The  following'  statement  shews  the  proportion  of  the  different  varieties  of  trees  planted  out 
in  different  years  : — 


1873. 

1874. 

1875. 

Cinchona  succirubra 

2,024 

7,490 

18,023 

,,  Calisaya 

198 

50 

640 

„ Condaminea 

2,809 

4,900 

7,806 

5,031 

12,440 

26,469 

“ It  has  been  found  by  experience  that  the  variety  Cinchona  succirubra  succeeds  best  in  the 
Karen  Hills.  The  plants  are  put  out  at  a distance  of  7 by  7 , giving  49  square  feet  per  plant. 
There  are  thus  at  least  50  acres  covered  with  Cinchona  trees,  to  which  has  to  be  added  the  area 
consisting  of  roads,  and  that  covered  by  the  village  and  other  offices.  The  original  area 
marked  off  (100  acres)  has  thus  been  already  fully  occupied. 

“ The  soil  is  a light  red  soil,  the  result  of  decomposition  of  granitic  rock,  with,  however, 
a great  preponderance  of  rather  coarse  quartz  sand.  The  surface  soil  is  only  to  a very  small 
depth,  nowhere  exceeding  a foot,  discoloured  either  by  the  decomposition  of  vegetable  matter 
or  by  the  ashes  of  burnt-down  vegetation.  Huge  rounded  granitic  boulders  are  seen  here,  as 
everywhere,  in  the  Karen  hills,  striking  out  from  the  ground  or  lying  loosely  on  or  along  the 
ridges  or  carried  down  to  the  choung. 

“ The  lowest  and  highest  temperatures  of  the  past  year  were  as  follow : — 

6 A.  M.  2 P.  M.  6 P.  M. 

January  14th  43°  Fht.  73°  55° 

April  19th  70°  „ 84°  76° 

“ The  rainy  season  lasts  from  May  to  October. 

“ I subjoin  a statement  of  the  heights  and  girths  of  15  trees  of  those  planted  out  at  Than- 
doungyee  in  1871,  taken  in  November  1872  and  again  in  October  1874. 


No. 

NOVEMBER  1872. 

OCTOBER  1873. 

Height. 

Gieth. 

Height. 

Gieth. 

Ft. 

In. 

Ft. 

In. 

Ft. 

In. 

Ft. 

In. 

I 

5 

0 

4 

13 

0 

1 

0 

II 

4 

7 

31 

12 

4 

1 

O 

in 

5 

0 

4 

12 

O 

1 

0 

IV 

4 

7 

4 

10 

4 

O 

11 

V 

5 

O 

4 

10 

10 

1 

0 

VI 

5 

0 

4 

11 

11 

0 

11 

VII 

4 

71 

4 

12 

3 

1 

1 

VIII 

4 

10 

31 

13 

4 

1 

1 

IX 

5 

1* 

31 

11 

10 

1 

2 

X 

5 

0 

4 

11 

8 • 

1 

O 

XI 

4 

9 

4 

12 

10 

1 

2 

XII 

4 

9 

4 

13 

1 

1 

2 

XIII 

3 

1H 

31 

13 

2 

1 

O 

XIV 

4 

7 

4 

11 

5 

1 

O 

XV 

1 

5 

1 

31 

13 

7 

1 

1 

“ On  the  31st  October  1875  there  were  in  nursery  beds  10,000  young  seedlings  of  Cinchona, 
succirubra  and  4,700  cuttings  of  Cinchona  Condaminea.  About  3,000  seedlings  were  distri- 
buted at  the  beginning  of  the  rains  of  1875  to  Karens,  who  promised  to  plant  them  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Missionaries  (Reverend  Father  Biffi  and  Reverend  Mr.  Bunker),  and  Mr. 
Adamson  reports  that  he  heard  from  the  Reverend  Father  Biffi  that,  those  he  planted  were 
doing  well.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Cinchona  trees  at  Thandoungyee  have  succeeded 
very  well  as  yet.  Mr.  Kurz,  of  the  Calcutta  Botanical  Garden,  was  of  opinion  that  they 
would  do  so,  but  that  they  would  never  attain  the  size  of  full-grown  trees,  but  always  be 
stunted  and  branched  like  the  surrounding  evergreen  vegetation. 

“Three  specimens  of  bark  were  sent  in  1873  to  the  Government  Quinologist  at  Madras, 
and  the  following  report  on  them  was  received : — 

“ ‘ The  specimens  were  three  in  number  and  were  respectively  labelled,  1$£,  bark  from  upper 
plantation,  Phunado ; 2nd,  bark  from  lower  plantation,  Phunado ; 3rd,  bark  from  one  of  the  two 
trees  at  Bogalay.  Of  the  age  or  part  of  the  trees  producing  these  specimens  I am  ignorant, 
but  imagine  the  age  to  be  about  5 years.  The  bark,  which  was  that  of  Cinchona  succirubra, 
had  a thin  and  bad  appearance,  and  gave  me  the  impression  of  being  grown  at  too  low  an 


24 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


elevation.  Submitted  to  analysis  they  yielded  the  following  percentages  of  alkaloid  in  100  parts 
of  quite  dry  bark  : — 


• 

Upper  planta- 

Lower  planta- 

One  of  the  two 

tion,  Phunado. 

tion,  Phunado. 

trees  at  Bogalay. 

Total  alkaloids 

429 

423 

313 

Quinine  and  Quinicine  ... 

032 

118 

0-98 

Cinchona  and  Oinchonidine 

3 97 

3-05 

215 

Pure  Quinine  Sulphate  obtained  Crystallized 

027 

0-49 

056 

„ Cinchonidine  Sulphate 

175 

105 

073 

“ ‘ The  barks  thus  contain  a satisfactory  amount  of  alkaloid,  but  practically  yield  scarcely 
any  Quinine  Sulphate.  From  this  circumstance  and  their  bad  appearance,  they  give  little 
hope  of  fitness  for  export.  For  local  employment  as  a febrifuge  they  are  quite  suitable. 
This  opinion  is  of  course  based  on  the  assumption  that  the  specimens  are  fair  samples  of  the 
barks  produced  by  the  trees.’ 

“ I doubt,”  continues  Mr.  Ribbentrop,  “ very  much  whether  ah  extension  of  Cinchona 
plantations  in  Burma  well  ever  repay  the  unavoidably  large  outlay,  labour  (and  that  of  a very 
inferior  kind)  being  so  costly  as  compared  with  other  parts  of  India;  moreover  it  has  been 
necessary  for  the  last  two  years  to  supply  the  coolies  employed  at  Thandoungyee  with  their 
staple  food,  rice,  from  Tounghoo,  owing  to  the  famine  that  has,  within  that  period,  existed  in  the 
Karen  country,  and  which  still  continues  with  no  prospect  of  a speedy  termination.  This, 
though  not  adding  to  the  expense  of  the  plantation,  as  the  coolies  repay  all  expenditure  on 
account  of  purchase  and  transport  of  rice  or  paddy,  has  greatly  added  to  the  work  of  the 
divisional  officer,  and  much  difficulty  has  been  experienced  in  procuring  carriage,  especially 
during  the  rains.  Taking  this  into  consideration,  but  bearing  at  the  same  time  in  mind  the 
wishes  of  Government  to  train  Karen  lads  in  the  planting  and  raising  of  Cinchona  with  a view 
to  introduce  the  plant  amongst  the  Karens  and  other  hill  tribes,  I have  ordered  for  the  present 
year  an  extension  of  only  8 acres,  which  will  suffice  for  the  training  of  the  lads,  perhaps  even 
by  more  instruction,  as  Takai  will  have  more  of  his  time  to  give  to  their  education.  At  the 
same  time  a considerable  quantity  of  seedlings  will  be  reared  for  gratuitous  distribution. 

“ I annex  a memorandum  of  expenditure  during  the  past  4 years  which  has  been  wholly  on 
account  of  Thandoungyee,  except  Rs.  480  for  the  pay  of  one  man  at  Phunado.” 


1871- 72 

1872- 73 

1873- 74 

1874- 75 


Rs.  1,834 
„ 2,041 
„ 2,358 
,,  5,158 


In  the  Kha- 
sia  Hills. 


In  the  North' 
West  Pro- 
vinces. 


In  1867  a Cinchona  plantation  was  opened  at  Nunklow  on  the  north- 
west slope  of  the  Khasia  Hills.  This  was  stocked  with  six  hundred  plants  of 
C.  succirubra  and  fifty  of  C.  micrantha  from  the  Sikkim  plantation.  A supply 
of  seed  of  C.  officinalis  from  the  same  source  was  furnished  at  a later  date. 
The  plantation  was  begun  by,  and  remained  under  the  care  of,  Mr.  A.  Biermann 
(one  of  the  Rungbee  staff)  for  three  and  a half  years.  Mr.  Biermann  put  out 
several  patches  on  the  slopes  of  the  Kliasias  at  elevations  varying  from  4,585 
feet  above  the  sea  down  to  the  level  of  the  plain  of  Assam.  On  the  1st 
August  1869  there  was  in  the  various  Khasia  plantations  a total  stock  (includ- 
ing trees  permanently  planted,  seedlings  and  nursery  stock  plants)  of  about 
twenty-seven  thousand  Cinchonas,  chiefly  Red  Barks.  As  the  Sikkim  planta- 
tions were  promising  so  well,  it  was  not  considered  desirable  to  extend  opera- 
tions on  the  Kliasias.  The  European  gardener  was  therefore  withdrawn,  and 
the  plantations  put  in  charge  of  a small  native  establishment  sufficient  to  keep 
them  fairly  free  from  the  heavier  weeds.  Mr.  Biermann’s  opinion  was  that  suc- 
cirubra promised  well  on  these  hills  at  suitable  elevations.  The  trees  grew 
freely  as  low  as  800  feet  and  as  high  as  4,800.  At  levels  above  4,800  feet  they 
failed  from  excessive  cold ; at  lower  levels,  and  especially  on  the  plain  of 
Assam  itself,  they  presented  from  the  first  a sickly  appearance  and  rapidly  died 
out,  thus  confirming  the  conclusion  arrived  at  in  other  places  that  Cinchona 
will  not  answer  on  level  ground. 

Cinchona  cultivation  received  a very  patient  trial  for  several  years  in  the 
North-West  Provinces.  The  experiments  were  carried  out  by  the  staff  of  the 
Botanical  Garden  at  Seharunpore,  and  for  some  time  were  under  the  immediate 
charge  of  a gardener  who  had  been  for  several  years  employed  in  the  Govern- 
ment Cinchona  plantation  in  Sikkim,  and  who  was  therefore  familiar  with  all  the 


INTRODUCTION  INTO  INDIA. 


25 


practical  details  of  propagation  and  cultivation  as  carried  on  there.  Reviewing 
the  various  experiments  which  had  been  made  in  these  provinces,  Dr.  Jame- 
son, Superintendent  of  the  Seharunpore  Garden,  thus  writes 1 : — 

“ For  several  consecutive  yeai’s  Cinchona  cultivation  has  been  carried  on  in  the  Dun  and 
Kohistan  of  the  North-West  Provinces,  or  from  altitudes  of  2,500  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea  up  to  6,500  feet,  and  in  all  localities  it  has  failed.  It  has  been  tried  at  Chandwallah  and 
other  localities  in  the  Dehra  Dun  at  2,500  ; at  Chejuri  in  Garhwal  at  an  altitude  of  4,500  ; 
at  Mussooree,  altitude  6,500  feet.  In  the  Kumaon  Babar,  altitude  2,000;  at  Hawal  Bagh  in 
Kumaon  at  an  altitude  of  4,500;  at  Ayar  Toli  and  Raneekhet,  altitude  6,000;  and  at  Urkulli, 
altitude  6,500  to  7,000  feet.  In  all  these  localities,  barring  the  Babar  of  Kumaon,  the 
plants  progressed  during  the  hot  weather  and  rains.  In  the  cold  weather  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  protect  them  from  the  frost,  and  this  was  done  for  three  years,  and  until  many 
of  the  plants  had  attained  a height  of  from  4|  to  6 feet.  These,  with  many  others,  ranging 
from  2^  to  3 feet,  were  then  left  uncovered  during  the  cold  weather,  and  the  result  was  the 
destruction  of  every  plant  in  all  the  localities  mentioned.  At  Raneekhet,  plants  of  the  Cin- 
chona succirubra  species  from  4 to  5 feet  in  height  were  also  cut  down,  even  though  partially 
protected,  in  a similar  manner  to  those  in  the  Dehra  Dun,  &c.  This,  therefore,  shews  that 
the  plant  is  not  at  all  fitted  for  the  Dun  or  Kohistan  of  the  North-West  Provinces  or  Punjab. 

To  rear  the  plant,  particularly  the  species  Cinchona  succirubra  and  Cinchona  officinalis , there  is 
no  difficulty,  and  at  the  present  moment  there  are  at  Hawal  Bagh  upwards  of  seven  hundred 
plants,  under  glass,  in  a thriving  condition.  But  these  plants  are  of  no  practical  use,  as 
during  the  extensive  trials  which  they  have  received  for  several  consecutive  years  all  have  been 
destroyed  by  the  frost  during  the  cold  season.  To  continue  the  growth  of  the  plant  as  an  ex- 
periment, in  view  to  the  cultivation  for  economic  purposes,  would  be  a mistake,  and  the  time, 
therefore,  has  come  to  close  the  experiment  which  has  been  carried  on  with  the  utmost  care, 
labour,  and  attention,  and  to  declare  that  the  Duns  and  Kohistan  of  the  North-Western  pro- 
vinces and  Punjab  are  not  fitted  for  the  cultivation  of  Cinchona  plants  for  commercial  pur- 
poses.” 

Cinchona  received  an  extended  trial  on  the  plantation  of  Colonel  Nassau-  in  the 
Lees- in  the  Kangra  Valley.  This  gentleman  threw  much  spirit  into  his  efforts  vaaiiegya 
to  introduce  the  plant.  He  provided  himself  from  Java,  Ceylon  and  the  Nil- 
giris  with  seeds  or  seedlings  of  all  the  leading  species,  and  he  imported  from 
Scotland  a trained  gardener  to  superintend  the  cultivation.  He  was  also  sup- 
plied by  Mr.  Markham  with  seeds  of  C.  Pitayensis ,2  a species  which  thrives  at 
high  altitudes  on  the  Andes,  and  which  it  was  hoped  would  thrive  in  the  com- 
paratively severe  winter  climate  of  the  Kangra  Valley.  Colonel  Lees’  planta- 
tion called  New  Quito  is  in  latitude  30°  7'  S"  North  and  at  an  altitude  of  4,500 
feet  above  the  sea.  Experiments  were  made  by  others  in  the  Kangra  Valley, 
and  for  some  time  the  prospects  of  success  appeared  moderately  hopeful. 
Ultimately,  however,  the  majority  of  the  plants  succumbed  to  frost,  and  the 
final  result  is  almost  identical  with  that  obtained  in  the  North-West  Provinces. 

In  the  Bombay  Presidency,  the  Maliableshwar  hills  were  chosen  as  the  in  the 
locality  most  suitable  for  Cinchona.  A site  was  accordingly  selected  in  1 864 warm!?**' 
at  Lingmulla  on  the  hanks  of  the  Yenna  stream.  This  spot  is  described  as 
having  “ a northern  aspect,  protection  from  the  prevailing  winds,  a good  soil  and 
subsoil,  and  the  least  possible  (for  Maliableshwar)  rainfall,  viz.,  about  150 
inches.”  At  the  close  of  the  year  1864  there  were  sixty  young  plants,  and  by 
Eebruary  1866  they  had  been  increased  to  two  hundred  and  seventy  by  layering. 

The  plants  did  not  thrive  well,  and  in  1874  the  Bombay  Government  asked 
Mr.  Mclvor,  of  the  Nilgiri  plantation,  to  visit  and  report  on  their  condition. 

At  the  date  of  Mr.  Mclvor’ s visit  there  were  in  permanent  plantation  at 
Maliableshwar  the  following  trees  3 

Cinchona  succirubra  ...  ...  ...  13,416 

„ Condaminea  ...  ...  491 

Total  ...  13,907 


Mr.  Mclvor  considered  that,  as  regards  soil,  exposure  and  cultivation,  the 
Mahableshwar  plants  could  not  have  been  more  favourably  situated,  hut  in  his 
opinion  the  climate  is  unfavourable,  presenting,  as  it  does,  such  extremes  of 
drought  and  moisture,  and  he  attributed  the  prevalence  of  disease  among  the 


1 Memorandum  on  Cinchona  Cultivation  in  the  Bun  and  Kohistan  of  the  North - West  Provinces,  dated  14th 
August  1873. 

2 Collected  by  Mr.  Cross. 

3 The  above  return  does  not  include  nursery  stock. 

G 


26 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


In  Ceylon. 


In  other 
colonies. 


trees  to  this  cause.  He  recommended  the  immediate  abandonment  of  the 
plantation.  The  Government  did  not,  however,  at  once  act  on  his  advice,  but 
decided  to  keep  it  on  for  another  year  in  order  to  try  whether  a plan  proposed 
by  Mr.  Woodrow  (the  Superintendent  of  the  Botanical  Garden)  would  not 
prove  beneficial.  Mr.  Woodrow  thought  that  a form  of  canker  was  the  cause 
of  the  unhealthiness  of  the  trees  and  that  by  protecting  the  soil  from  sun 
and  rain  by  a covering  of  dead  fern  fronds,  the  roots  of  the  trees  could  be 
defended  from  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  and  of  moisture  and  drought, 
and  that  thus  an  improvement  might  be  effected.  A year’s  trial  of  this  plan 
shewed  no  good  results,  and  the  plantation,  on  which  about  Bs.  64,000  had 
been  spent,  was  finally  abandoned. 

In  Ceylon  the  cultivation  of  Cinchona  was  begun  in  1861,  and  so  long 
ago  as  1861,  Dr.  Thwaites,  F.B.S.,  the  distinguished  Director  of  the  Botanical 
Gardens  at  Peradenia  and  Hakgalla,  was  able  to  report  that  the  “ plants  ex- 
hibited the  most  perfect  health  and  vigour.”  “ The  site  of  the  plantation  at 
Hakgalla,”  writes  Mr.  Markham  (who  visited  it  in  1865),  “ has  been  so  admir- 
ably selected  and  resembles  so  closely  the  native  habitat  of  the  Cinchona  in 
South  America  that  the  healthy  growth  of  the  plants  there  must  have  been 
a certainty  from  the  first.”  The  growth  of  the  two  species  succirubra  and 
officinalis  at  Hakgalla  has  been  excellent,  and  the  ground  under  the  trees  by 
the  sides  of  the  roads  in  the  plantation  and  all  waste  spots  near  it  are  crowded 
with  spontaneous  Cinchona  seedlings — a circumstance  which  clearly  proves 
the  thorough  suitability  of  the  spot  to  the  requirements  of  Cinchona.  From 
this  Hakgalla  plantation  hundreds  of  thousands  of  seedlings  and  many  ounces 
of  seed  have  with  the  greatest  liberality  been  given  away  to  planters  in  the 
colony,  by  whom  Cinchona  cultivation  has  been  taken  up  as  an  adjunct  to 
coffee-planting.  The  recent  progress  has  (as  will  be  seen*  from  the  following 
extract  from  the  Ceylon  Directory  for  1875)  been  most  striking  : — “ The  Direc- 
tor of  the  Boyal  Botanical  Garden  in  his  report  for  1873  mentioned  that  he  had 
applications  during  that  year  for  over  a million  of  Cinchona  plants,  800,000  of 
which  he  was  able  to  supply.  Previously,  it  is  estimated,  half  a million  of 
plants  were  issued.  During  1871  the  Director  reports  that  826,000  additional 
have  been  issued,  and,  counting  the  number  of  plants  obtained  from  private 
nurseries  and  estates,  very  nearly  three  millions  will  thus  be  made  up.”  I am 
informed  .by  Mr.  Fergusson,  the  Editor  of  the  Ceylon  Observer , and  himself  a 
successful  Cinchona  planter,  that  during  1875  about  a million  and  a half 
plants,  raised  in  Government  and  private  nurseries,  were  planted  out,  and  that 
the  acreage  under  Cinchona  from  1872  to  1875  may  be  stated  as  follows : — 


1372 

M. 

500 

acres 

1S73 

...  ... 

...  1,500 

1871 

. . . , , , 

...  2,000 

1875 

... 

...  3,000 

» 

Large  extensions  are  now  been  carried  on,  and  by  the  end  of  1876  the  same 
authority  estimates  that  the  Cinchona  trees  in  Ceylon  will  number  nearly  six 
millions.  The  Ited  Bark  tree  from  its  rapid  growth  and  the  prospect  it  gave  of 
yielding  a quick  return  on  capital  was  at  first  the  favourite  with  planters.  But 
now  that  the  merits  of  the  Pale  Barks  are  becoming  better  understood,  C.  offici- 
nalis is  also  being  largely  planted.  C.  Calisaya  has  as  yet  made  little  way  in 
Ceylon.  Ceylon-grown  bark  has  been  repeatedly  analysed  and  shewn  to  be  rich 
in  alkaloid.  No  attempt  has  been  made,  nor  probably  will  any  be  made,  to 
extract  the  alkaloids  locally ; repeated  consignments  of  bark  have,  however, 
been  sent  to  England  for  sale  and  have  brought  good  prices.1 

The  cultivation  of  Cinchona  has  been  begun  in  Jamaica,  and  in  others  of 
the  West  Indian  British  colonies,  in  the  French  colonies  of  Bourbon  and 
Beunion,  in  St.  Helena,  the  Mauritius  and  elsewhere.  In  all  these  locali- 
ties, succirubra  is  the  species  grown  : it  is,  therefore,  probable  that  the  European 
market  will  soon  be  flooded  with  supplies  of  Bed  Bark,  and  it  is  not  unlikely 
that  the  price  of  that  sort  will  fall  correspondingly. 


See  Appendix  G. 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CINCHONA  TREE. 


27 


CHAPTER  IY. 

THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CINCHONA  TREE. 


With  regard  to  the  climate  suitable  for  Cinchonas,  it  may  he  laid  down  sui“bie  for 
as  a universal  rule  that  none  of  the  medicinal  species  will  stand  frost.  They  prefer  estivation, 
rather  a cool  climate  in  which  the  contrast  between  summer  and  winter,  and 
between  day  and  night  temperatures,  is  not  very  great.  These  conditions  are 
in  some  measure  obtained  in  the  Nilgiris  and  in  Sikkim.  At  Ootacamund, 
about  7,500  feet  above  the  sea,  the  minimum  lowest  temperature  in  the  shade,  ^fremera' 
calculated  on  an  average  of  three  years,  is  about  49°  and  the  maximum  69°  Falir. ; 
and  at  Neddiwattum,  situated  about  2,000  feet  lower,  the  minimum,  calculated 
also  over  three  years,  is  found  to  be  about  54°  Falir.  and  the  maximum  66°  Falir. 

Full  details  will  he  found  in  the  Appendix.1  Observations  taken  in  1866  and 
1867  at  an  elevation  of  3,332  feet  in  the  Rungbee  Valley,  in  Sikkim,  shew  a 
minimum  temperature  of  40°  and  41°  Fa.hr.,  and  a maximum  of  88°  Falir.,  the 
mean  minima  for  the  two  yearsbeing59‘20°  and57'53°,  the  mean  maxima  7l'7°  and 
72'28°  Falir.,  and  the  mean  temperatures  65-6°  and  64‘ 89°  respectively.  Detailed 
statements  of  observations  for  these  years,  made  at  five  stations  in  the  Eungbee 
reserve,  at  different  altitudes,  are  given  in  an  Appendix.2  The  latter  figures 
give  an  idea  of  a climate  fairly  suitable  for  succirubra,  but  rather  cold  for 
Calisayci.  A more  congenial  climate  for  both  species  is  indicated  by  the 
figures  obtained  at  a lower  station  (elevation  above  the  sea  2,556  feet) 
which,  for  the  years  1866  and  1867,  are  as  follow  : — 


Minimum  temperature  ... 
Maximum  ,, 

Mean  minimum  temperature 
,,  maximum  ,, 

,,  temperature 


40°  and  41°  Falir. 
92°  and  94° 

59  3°  and  60-94°  „ 
80-6°  and  81-59°  „ 
70-1° and  71-26°  „ 


In  various  parts  of  Ceylon  a favourable  climate  for  Cinchona  is  obtained, 
as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  extract  from  a most  reliable  local  public- 
ation 3 : — 


“ In  the  Dimbula  district,  for  example,  there  is  a mean  temperature  of  65-8°  Fahr.  with 
nothing  colder  in  the  shade  in  winter  than  44-5°  (12°  above  freezing  point),  and  nothing  hotter 
in  the  shade  in  summer  than  89°,  both  extremes  being  exceptional,  and  the  latter  helping  to 
produce  a maximum  temperature  favourable  to  coffee  cultivation,  equally  so  to  Tea  and  Cinchona 
without  being  injurious  to  human  health.  Dismissing  the  rarely  occurring  extremes,  we  get  a 
mean  maximum  in  the  shade  of  73-2°  Fahr.  against  a mean  minimum  of  58-4°  Fahr.,  result- 
ing, as  we  have  already  noticed,  in  a mean  shade  temperature  of  65"8C  Fahr.  But  * * * 

on  a clear  January  morning,  before  thp  sun  has  dawned,  the  exposed  thermometer  may  indicate 
a cold  of  33°  Fahr.  or  only  one  degx-ee  above  freezing  point;  while  at  noon-day  in  April  (our 
hottest  month)  the  mercury  may,  under  the  full  influence  of  the  sun’s  rays,  rise  to  136°  Fahr. 

But  these,  again,  are  the  extremes  on  the  grass  and  in  the  sun ; the  mean  maximum  of  the 
exposed  thermometer  being  only  103-5°  Fahr.  against  a mean  minimum  of  54-1°  Fahr.” 

In  the  matter  of  moisture,  the  peculiarities  of  the  Cinchonas  were  at  first  Rainfall, 
rather  misunderstood,  their  preference  for  incessant  rain  and  mist  having  been 
exaggerated.  It  is  found,  especially  on  the  Nilgiris,  that  all  the  species,  and 
particularly  the  Red  Barks,  withstand  long  droughts.  All  the  species  assume  a- 
yellowish  tint  during  the  rains  (indicating  an  excessive  supply  of  moisture), 
and  (in  the  Nilgiris)  all  make  their  most  vigorous  growth  during  the  seasons  in 
which  sunshine  and  showers  alternate.  After  a continuance  of  dull  steamy 
days  all  the  species  seem  to  become  tender,  and  a sudden  change  to  bright 
sunny  weather  affects  the  plants  in  a most  marked  way,  causing  their  leaves  to 
flag.  In  Sikkim,  succirubra  makes  its  most  vigorous  growth  during  the  latter 
half  of  the  rains,  but  both  on  the  Nilgiris  and  Himalayas  the  trees  continue  to 
grow  for  two  months  after  the  rains  cease. 

Observations  which  have  been  made  shew  that  (calculated  on  the  returns 
of  five  years)  there  are  at  Ootacamund  no  fewer  than  218  dry  days  in  the  year, 
and  at  Neddiwattum  about  240  dry  days.  The  rainfall  of  the  former  locality 
(on  an  average  of  three  years)  is  about  44  inches  per  annum,  and  that  of 
Neddiwattum  105  inches,  The  amount  of  moisture  in  the  air  is  indicated 

1 See  Appendix  H. 

* See  Appendix  I. 

3 See  a pamphlet  on  the  climate  of  Dimbula  published  at  the  Ceylon  Observer  office,  Colombo,  1875. 


28 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Wind  and 
hail. 


Elevation 
above  the 
sea. 


Soil  and 
drainage. 


by  tlio  returns  for  tbe  year  1868-69,  which  are  given  as  an  Appendix 1 to 
this  report.  The  rainfall  in  Sikkim  is  much  heavier  than  on  the  Nilgiris,  hut  is 
much  affected  by  locality.  At  Bungbee,  altitude  5,000  feet,  during  1872, 
165 '55  inches  of  rain  were  registered,  while  at  Bishap,  3,000  feet  lower  and 
four  miles  distant,  only  120’6  inches  fell.2  The  general  features  of  the  climate 
have  been  thus  described  in  one  of  my  reports  : — 

“ The  climate  of  the  Rungbee  Valley  is  peculiar.  Being  so  completely  shut  in  upon  all  sides, 
it  is  protected  in  a striking  degree  from  wind,  and  up  to  the  higher  limits  of  the  Cinchona 
belt,  the  air  is  rarely  stirred  by  even  the  gentlest  breeze — a state  of  things  in  striking  contrast 
to  that  obtaining  in  the  Nilgiris,  where  in  exposed  places  great  and  permanent  injury  is  done 
to  the  Cinchona  plants  by  the  high  winds.  At  the  lower  levels  frost  is  completely  unknown, 
and  the  climate  is  indeed  sub-tropical,  while  on  the  higher  southern  and  western  slopes  frost, 
and  even  snow,  are  the  order  of  the  day  during  the  cold  season.  Occasionally  heavy  hail- 
storms pass  over  the  valley,  tearing  to  pieces  the  thin  broad  leaves  of  the  Red  Bark  trees. 
The  mischief  thus  done  is,  however,  rapidly  recovered  from.  The  rainfall  is  heavy,  but  not 
equally  so,  in  all  parts  of  the  valley.  The  warm  vapour-laden  air,  passing  up  from  the  plains, 
has  its  moisture  condensed  into  clouds  by  the  cool,  high,  forest-clad  ridges  that  form  the 
northern  and  western  boundary  of  the  valley,  and  for  a great  part  of  the  year  the  higher  part 
of  these  are  enveloped  in  drizzling  fog.  Even  at  the  driest  season  one  is  struck  by  the  amount 
of  mist  which,  condensed  at  the  higher  elevations,  almost  every  evening  creeps  well  down  their 
slopes,  while  the  whole  of  the  opposite  side  and  of  the  lower  part  of  the  valley  continue  quite 
clear.  During  the  monsoon  the  rainfall  on  these  high  southern  ridges  must  be  very  great. 
Some  idea  of  its  extent  may  be  formed  from  the  fact  that  at  a bungalow  standing  in  the  south- 
western corner  of  the  valley,  at  an  elevation  of  ouly  5,000  feet,  and  thus  far  below  the  crest, 
the  rainfall  for  the  year  averages  about  200  inches.  At  lower  levels  in  the  valley  the  raiufall 
is  very  much  less,  and  no  part  of  the  Government  Cinchona  cultivation  is  exposed  to  such  a 
downpour.  For  example,  at  the  Rishap  plantation  hut  (2,000  feet  above  the  sea),  where  a 
rain-gauge  has  been  kept  for  some  years,  the  average  is  shewn  to  be  about  120  inches,  and  as 
the  mouth  of  the  valley  and  the  Teesta  are  approached,  the  climate  becomes  very  much  drier. 
The  northern  side  of  the  valley  being  itself  comparatively  low  and  cleared  of  forest,  and  being 
besides  beyond  the  influence  of  the  high  ranges,  shares  in  the  drier  climate.'’'’ 

Cinchona  appears  to  find  a congenial  home  in  the  uniformly  moist  climate 
of  Ceylon  in  the  districts  of  Dikoya  and  Maskeliya ; for  example,  the  rainfall 
ranges,  as  far  as  the  figures  available  enable  us  to  judge,  from  120  to  145  inches 
for  Dikoya,  and  from  130  to  150  inches  for  Maskeliya.  This  rainfall  is  well 
distributed  over  the  year. 

In  the  adjoining  district  of  Dimbula  the  annual  rainfall  is  about  108  inches, 
and  the  number  of  dry  days  in  the  year  about  145.  In  all  three  the  rain  falls 
uniformly  and  gently,  violent  storms  being  rare.  The  meteorological  returns 
in  the  Appendix  3 (for  which  I am  indebted  to  Mr.  Tergusson,  Editor  of  the 
Ceylon  Observer ) will  give  a good  idea  of  the  climate. 

The  Nilgiri  and  many  of  the  Ceylon  plantations  are  much  exposed  to  continu- 
ous and  high  winds ; those  of  Sikkim  are  on  the  other  hand  but  rarely  subjected  to 
even  a moderate  breeze.  Wind,  when  excessive  and  frequent,  appears  to  do  con- 
siderable and  permanent  damage,  especially  to  succirubra,  the  leaves  of  which 
are  large  and  tender.  Hail,  if  heavy,  strips  a plantation  of  its  leaves,  but  the 
check  to  growth  caused  by  this  is  but  temporary,  as  new  leaves  speedily  appear. 
In  standing  the  violence  of  storms,  says  Mr.  Mclvor,  “ the  Crown  Barks  rank 
first,  the  Bed  second,  the  Grey  third  and  the  Yellow  fourth.” 

As  regards  elevation  above  the  sea  it  is  found  that,  in  the  Nilgiris,  succiru- 
bra  succeeds  best  at  altitudes  of  from  4,500  to  6,000  feet.  An  elevation  of 
7,000  feet  is  found  to  be  too  high,  the  growth  being  too  slow  to  be  profitable. 
Pale  or  Crown  Barks  thrive  in  a zone  above  this,  and  seem  to  succeed  well  even 
up  to  8,500  feet.  Calisctya  on  the  Nilgiris  has  not  been  a success  at  any  ele- 
vation, but  it  does  rather  better,  as  also  do  the  Grey  Barks,  within  the  succirubra 
zone  than  at  higher  elevations.  In  Sikkim,  16  degrees  further  north,  experience 
has  shewn  that  succirubra  and  the  Grey  Barks  thrive  well  from  1,500  to  3,500  feet, 
and  can  be  got  to  grow  both  as  low  as  800  feet  and  as  high  as  5,000  feet ; Calisaya 
thrives  between  1,500  and  3,000  feet ; officinalis  does  not  thrive  at  any  elevation. 

All  the  species  are  most  impatient  of  stagnant  moisture  at  their  roots,  and 
therefore  require  an  open  sub-soil,  a sloping  exposure  and  the  other  conditions 
of  perfect  drainage.  They  cannot  be  got  to  grow  on  flat  land.  Like  most 
other  plants,  they  prefer  a rich  soil,  and  for  this  reason  they  do  better  in 
newly-cleared  forest  than  in  grass  lands  of  the  sort  so  extensive  in  the  Nilgiris. 


1 See  Appendix  H. 


See  Appendix  J. 


3 See  Appendix  K. 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CINCHONA  TEEE. 


29 


The  Crown  or  Pale  Barks,  however,  are  more  tolerant  than  the  others  of  a 
soil  poor  in  vegetable  humus,  and  grow  fairly  well  on  grass  land  as  well  as 
on  “ laterite  soils.”  The  freer  and  more  friable  the  surface  soil  the  better,  hut 
an  open  well-drained  sub-soil  is  above  all  things  indispensable  to  their  successful 
growth.  As  soon  as  the  roots  of  a Cinchona  tree  get  down  into  sub-soil  in 
which  there  is  any  tendency  for  moisture  to  collect,  the  plant  most  certainly 
begins  to  sicken  and  die.  The  basis  of  the  soil  of  the  Nilgiris  is  decomposed 
gneiss ; in  Sikkim  it  is  composed  both  of  gneiss  and  of  decaying  mica  schist. 

In  Sikkim  and  also  in  the  Nilgiris  and  elsewhere  in  India  where  Cinchona  Disease, 
has  been  introduced,  the  plants  are  subject  to  two  forms  of  disease.  Both 
diseases  were  common  on  the  older  parts  of  the  Sikkim  plantations,  and 
attracted  some  attention  during  the  meeting  of  the  Cinchona  Commission  there 
in  1871.  Mr.  Mclvor  apparently  considers  them  more  serious  than  they  have 
turned  out  to  be.  They  are  thus  described  in  my  report  on  the  Sikkim  planta- 
tion for  1871-72 : — 

“ After  very  careful  examination  it  appears  plain  to  me  that  two  distinct  forms  of  disease 
occur  in  the  Sikkim  plantations, — the  one,  a constitutional  malady  affecting  the  whole  plant 
and  usually  fatal;  the  other,  local  and  by  no  means  fatal.  The  former  disease  is  confined  en- 
tirely to  trees  which  have  been  originally  planted  in  damp  situations,  or  in  situations  which 
have  become  damp  subsequently  by  the  oozing  of  drainage  water.  Disease  first  attacks  the 
roots  of  such  trees.  Its  existence  becomes  apparent  by  the  discolouration  of  their  leaves, 
which  ultimately  all  fall  off.  Gradual  shrivelling  of  the  cortical  and  woody  tissues  then  takes 
place  from  the  root  upwards,  and  before  this  process  has  gone  far  the  death  of  the  plant  has 
begun.  This  disease  is  in  fact  apparently  nearly  identical  with  that  known  to  gardeners  in 
England  as  ‘ canker; } it  is  not  in  any  way  infectious  or  contagious,  as  some  appear  to  think. 

It  depends  entirely  on  a local  cause — namely,  excess  of  moisture  in  the  soil ; and  where  that 
does  not  exist,  it  cannot  occur.  In  the  Cinchona  planted  on  the  western  end  of  the  Rungbee 
valley,  patches  of  trees  killed  by  this  disease  are  not  uncommon.  Such  patches  are  invariably 
co-extensive  with  damp,  watery  soil. 

“The  second  form  of  disease  does  not  affect  the  entire  constitution  of  the  plant,  but 
manifests  itself  in  patches  on  the  stem  and  branches.  The  appearance  of  one  of  these  patches 
is  as  if  some  escharotic  had  been  dropped  on  the  bark,  which  is  of  a dark,  unnatural  colour, 
shrivelled,  dry,  and  brittle ; occasionally  these  appearances  extend  to  the  wood,  but  as  a rule 
they  do  not.  In  size  the  patches  vary ; many  are  about  the  size  of  a shilling,  others  are 
much  larger.  They  are  not  numerous  on  one  tree,  and  are  often  confined  to  a single  branch. 

When  small,  no  apparent  affection  of  the  general  health  of  the  plant  occurs,  and  growth  goes 
on  unchecked.  Where,  however,  a large  patch  occurs  on  a small  tree,  involving  the  bark 
pretty  nearly  all  round  the  stem,  death  results.  Death  from  this  disease  is,  however,  as  far 
as  my  observations  go,  not  common ; and  it  is  a well-established  fact  that  a tree  which  has 
been  extensively  affected  will  often,  when  cut  down,  throw  up  from  its  stump  perfectly  healthy 
shoots ; while  in  hundreds  of  trees  at  Rungbee  I have  seen  illustrations  of  recovery,  the  little 
patches  of  diseased  bark  being  thrown  off  and  replaced  by  perfectly  healthy  tissue,  and  the 
plant  apparently  as  robust  as  if  it  never  had  been  attacked.  I had  not  sufficient  leisure  last 
year  during  the  season  at  which  this  affection  is  most  prevalent — namely,  the  rains — to  make 
successive  observations  on  the  state  of  the  diseased  tissues,  and  I am  prepared  with  no  theories 
about  its  cause ; I hope,  however,  to  find  out  something  during  the  approaching  rains.  This 
disease  is  not  confined  like  the  last  to  certain  localities,  but  is  found  on  plants  in  all  parts  of  the 
plantation.  I do  not  think  it  is  to  be  feared  much,  and  I certainly  do  not  concur  in  Mr. 

Mclvoffs  views  concerning  its  dangerous  nature.  In  my  opinion  it  must  be  accepted  as  one  of 
the  drawbacks  attending  the  Ciuchona  experiment.” 

It  is  quite  possible  that,  as  some  observers  are  inclined  to  think,  both 
these  diseases  may  be  essentially  one  in  nature,  the  second  being  a mild  form 
of  the  first  and  caused  by  some  of  the  roots  getting  into  uncongenial  sour  soil 
and  so  becoming  diseased.  On  this  view  recovery  would  be  accounted  for  by 
the  gradual  penetration  of  the  roots  into  more  suitable  soil. 

Cinchona  seeds  ripen  during  the  dry  season  that  follows  the  rains.1  Mode  of 
They  should  be  carefully  gathered  just  as  the  seed  vessels  bSgin  spontaneously  seed.ctmgr 
to  burst.  After  being  gathered  the  latter  should  be  laid  out  in  shallow  boxes 
to  dry  until  the  seeds  fall  out  of  their  own  accord.  Exposure  to  strong  sun- 
light is  unnecessary,  and  the  seeds  probably  dry  best  if  laid  during  the  day  in 
a place  exposed  to  a current  of  air.  At  night  they  should  be  put  under  shelter 
for  protection  from  rain  and  dew.  The  seeds  of  all  the  species  are  oblong, 
flattened  and  very  light.  Mr.  Mclvor  calculates  that  “ an  ouuce  of  clean  seeds 
produces  on  an  average  from  20,000  to  25,000  plants.”  These  seeds  do  not 
retain  their  vitality  long  and  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  possible  after  collection. 

1 In  Sikkim,  succirubra  seed  begins  to  ripen  about  tbe  end  of  the  rainy  season ; Calisaya  seed  does  not  ripen  uutil 
about  January. 


H 


so 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Sowing 

seed. 


Treatment 
of  seed-beds 
and 

seedlings. 


For  transport  to  a distance  they  travel  best  if  packed  in  porous  cloth  and 
sent  by  post.  Wax  cloth  makes  a bad  covering,  as  it  prevents  ventilation. 

“ Cinchona  seeds,”  says  Mr.  Mclvor,  “ germinate  best  at  a temperature  vary- 
ing from  65°  to  70°  Fahr.;  they  will  also  germinate,  though  slowly,  at  a tem- 
perature of  55°  Fahr.  and  will  sustain  a temperature  of  80°Fahr.”  During  the 
cold  season  seeds  should  therefore  be  sown  under  glass,  but  during  the  hot 
weather  and  rains  they  should  be  sown  in  open  beds  which  are  sheltered  merely 
by  thatched  roofs.  In  either  case  the  seeds  must  be  sown  in  fine,  rich, 
thoroughly-decayed  vegetable  mould,  either  pure  or  mixed  with  an  equal  volume 
of  clean  sharp  sand  which  does  not  feel  clayey  or  sticky  when  a little  of 
it  is  taken  up  and  compressed  between  the  fingers.  Mould  can  usually 
be  easily  collected  in  the  forest  and  is  specially  abundant  at  the  base  of  old 
clumps  of  bamboo.  After  being  sifted,  the  soil  so  collected  should  then  be 
spread  in  layers  about  two  or  three  inches  in  depth  and  five  feet  wide,  on 
beds  of  ground  which  have  been  previously  well  cleared.  These  beds  may  be 
of  any  length  that  is  convenient.  They  should  run  east  and  west  and  should 
have  their  open  side  directed  towards  the  north.  They  should  slope  to  one  side 
so  that  no  water  whatever  may  lodge  in  them  at  any  season,  and  should 
be  protected  from  rain  and  sunshine  and  from  all  drip  by  a single  sloping 
thatch,1  the  slope  of  which  should  be  in  the  same  direction  as,  though  of  course 
much  greater  than,  the  slope  of  the  bed.  It  is  convenient  to  have  a path  in 
front  of  each  bed.  The  drainage  of  each  bed  should  be  distinct  from  that  of  its 
neighbour.  In  most  places  where  Cinchona  is  likely  to  be  grown,  perfect 
drainage  can  always  be  secured  by  making  the  beds  on  terraces  on  a hill-side. 
Before  sowing  the  seeds,  the  soil  of  the  seed-bed  should  be  brought  to  a uni- 
form degree  of  firmness  by  working  it  through  and  gently  pressing  it  down 
with  the  expanded  fingers.  If  this  be  not  attended  to,  but  on  the  contrary  the 
soil  be  left  loose  in  one  part  and  compressed  in  another,  water  will  penetrate 
unequally,  and  unevenness  of  surface  will  ultimately  result.  The  surface  should 
from  the  first  be  smooth  and  even,  but  not  hard  and  compressed.  The  seed 
should  then  be  scattered  pretty  thickly  on  its  surface,  and  afterwards  a very 
little  fine  earth  or  sand  may  be  sprinkled  above  it.2  It  is  not  desired  to  cover  the 
seeds,  but  merely  to  steady  them  by  a little  earth  above  them  here  and  there,  and 
to  get  them  into  proper  contact  with  the  soil.  It  is  a very  good  plan  after 
sowing  the  seed  to  press  the  surface  of  the  bed  very  gently  with  the  expanded 
palms  or  with  a smooth  board.  Water  should  be  given  in  the  early  part  of  the 
day  rather  than  in  the  evening.  Watering  must  be  done  judiciously,  and  any- 
thing like  deluging  must  be  carefully  avoided ; at  the  same  time  a uniform 
state  of  moisture  should  be  maintained.  This  is  best  managed  by  using  a very 
finely  bored  garden  syringe  and  forcing  the  stream  of  water  through  it  at  some 
distance  from  the  bed  to  be  operated  on,  so  that  the  moisture  may  fall  on  the 
soil  in  the  form  of  fine  spray.  Very  cold  water  should  be  avoided;  it  may 
therefore  often  be  necessary  to  allow  water  to  stand  for  some  time  in  a warm 
sunny  place  before  using  it,  so  as  to  bring  it  as  near  to  the  temperature  of  the 
air  as  possible.  The  seeds  will  germinate  in  from  two  to  six  weeks,  according 
to  temperature.  Besides  the  morning  watering,  it  may  he  necessary  to  water 
the  seedlings  slightly  once  or  even  twice  during  the  day,  but  watering  late  in 
the  evening  should  be  avoided.  From  the  time  the  seed  is  sown,  it  will  some- 
times be  necessary  to  give  the  beds  a more  complete  protection  from  wind,  rain 
or  sunshine  than  is  afforded  by  the  thatch  above  described.  When  this  is 
necessary,  it  can  be  easily  done  by  putting  up  mats  at  the  exposed  parts  of  the 
bed.  If  seeds  are  sown  under  glass,  they  should  be  well  shaded,  and  especial 
care  should  be  taken  in  watering  seedlings  under  glass  to  allow  the  leaves  to 
become  quite  dry  before  shutting  the  frames.  Young  seedlings  are  especially 

1 It  is  not  convenient  to  have  the  thatch  too  low.  If  it  he  made  five  feet  above  the  soil  at  the  front  or  higher 
and  two  feet  at  the  hack  or  lower  side,  coolies  can  easily  work  under  it,  and  plenty  of  light  and  air  are  besides  ad- 
mitted. During  the  rains  it  is  especially  necessary  to  admit  a free  current  of  air. 

s In  his  notes  on  the  propagation  of  Cinchonas  (Gantz  Brothers,  Madras,  1867)  Mr.  Mclvor  recommends  that,  if 
the  seeds  be  fresh,  they  should  be  steeped  in  cold  water  for  twelve  hours  before  being  sown,  but  if  the  seeds  have  come  from 
a great  distance  or  have  been  kept  for  some  time,  six  hours  steeping  will,  he  considers,  be  suflicient.  “ The  most  con- 
venient way,”  writes  Mr,  Mclvor,  “to  steep  the  seeds  is  to  place  them  loosely  in  a bag  and  immerse  the  same  in  water. 
When  the  seeds  have  been  soaked  the  prescribed  time,  take  the  bag  out  and  drain  off  the  water ; the  seeds  will  be  found 
to  have  swollen  considerably,  and  in  order  to  separate  them,  mix  them  with  about  twice  their  bulk  of  dry  sand.  In  this 
way  the  moisture  around  the  seeds  is  absorbed,  and  on  being  stirred  gently  the  seeds  separate  from  each  other  freely 
and  intermix  with  the  sand.  In  this  condition  they  are  sown  on  the  surface  of  the  soil,  and  lightly  covered  over  with  a 
mere  sprinkling  of  dry  sand.” 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CINCHONA  TREE. 


31 


liable  to  damp  off,  and  every  precaution  should  be  taken  to  prevent  this  accident. 

In  Sikkim,  more  particularly  in  very  damp  weather,  the  seed-beds  are  occa- 
sionally infested  by  the  mycelium  of  a fungus,  the  minute  threads  of  which 
ramify  in  the  soil  and  kill  many  of  the  tender  seedlings.  Gentle  stirring  of  the 
soil  is  found  to  be  of  some  use  in  checking  the  ravages  of  this  pest. 

The  next  operation  is  to  prick  the  young  seedlings  out  into  nursery  beds.  Pricking  out. 
This  first  transplantation  should  be  done  when  the  plants  have  got  two,  or 
even  three,  pairs  of  leaves.  The  best  way  to  remove  them  is  to  insert  a small 
flat-pointed  stick  into  the  soil  under  the  plants  and  then  to  press  the  point  of 
the  stick  gently  upwards,  so  stirring  and  loosening  the  soil  as  to  allow  the 
plants  to  be  easily  removed  from  it  without  breaking  their  tender  rootlets.  It 
is  a good  plan  to  begin  this  operation  at  one  end  or  side  of  a seed-bed  and  to 
work  across  it  in  one  direction  until  all  the  plants  with  two  or  three  pairs  of 
leaves  are  taken  out.  Probably  a few  days  later  some  seeds  hitherto  dormant  will 
have  germinated ; these  can  then  be  removed  in  their  turn.  The  seedlings  taken 
out  should  be  transplanted  into  nursery  beds  formed  in  every  respect  like  the 
seed-beds,  but  with  a thicker  layer  of  vegetable  soil.  They  should  be  pricked 
out  in  lines  at  distances  of  a little  less  than  1^  inches  with  a space  between 
the  lines  of  about  2 inches.  A bed,  5 feet  wide,  will  thus  give  transverse  lines 
holding  about  50  plants  each.  The  holes  for  the  roots  of  the  seedlings  are 
readily  made  with  a blunt-pointed  stick.  In  this,  as  in  subsequent  transplan- 
tations, care  should  be  taken  not  to  double  up  the  roots,  but  to  make  the  holes 
deep  enough  to  receive  them  stretched  out  to  their  full  length.  The  roots  of 
the  seedling  being  put  into  the  hole,  the  earth  should  be  filled  in,  and  care 
should  be  taken  to  press  down  the  earth  and  so  fill  the  hole  thoroughly  to  the 
very  bottom.  A careless  planter  will  often  press  the  soil  firmly  into  the  upper 
part  of  the  hole,  leaving  the  bottom  of  the  latter  imperfectly  filled  with  soil. 

It  is  often  of  advantage  to  prick  the  seedlings  out  into  shallow  boxes  instead  of 
the  open  ground.  They  are  thus  under  command  and  can  be  put  under  glass 
frames  if  necessary  to  establish  them.  After  having  been  pricked  out  the  plants 
should  remain  untouched  until  they  are  about  4 inches  high,  when  a second  trans- 
plantation will  be  necessary.  On  this  second  occasion  they  should  be  planted 
out  in  the  same  manner  as  before,  only  at  distances  of  about  4 by  4 inches  each 
way.  When  from  8 to  12  inches  in  height,  the  seedlings  are  ready  for  trans- 
planting into  the  situations  they  are  permanently  to  oecupy.  If  left  too  long 
in  nursery  beds,  they  are  liable  to  become  unhealthy.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is 
a mistake  to  put  out  too  small  plants.  To  harden  them  for  the  final  trans- 
plantation, the  thatch  by  which  the  seedlings  have  hitherto  been  protected 
should  be  removed,  and  they  should  be  exposed  freely  to  the  weather  for  at  least 
a fortnight  prior  to  removal,  but  dull  cloudy  weather  must  be  chosen  (for  the 
beginning  at  least  of  this  hardening  process),  for  sudden  exposure  to  a bright 
sun  would  be  disastrous.  Prom  the  sowing  of  the  seed  until  this  final  trans- 
plantation, probably  eight  to  twelve  months  must  elapse,  and  during  this  time 
judicious  watering  is  necessary  whenever  the  soil  is  dry,  care,  however,  being 
taken  not  to  overdo  it. 

Cinchona  succirubra  is  propagated  from  cuttings  with  great  readiness,  and  Propagation 
this  method  is  probably  easier  and,  to  the  unexperienced  cultivator,  safer  than  by  cuttmes 
propagation  by  seedlings.  The  best  wood  to  choose  for  cuttings  is  the  thin,  but 
not  too  succulent,  wood  of  the  current  year’s  growth,  that  yielded  by  young 
shoots  springing  from  the  lower  part  of  the  stem  being  preferable  to  the  branches 
of  the  tree.  The  cuttings  should  be  cut  just  below  the  joint,  or  point  where 
a pair  of  leaves  (Cinchona  leaves  always  are  in  pairs)  originates.  The  larger 
leaves  should  be  removed  all  except  their  bases,  but  the  younger  unexpanded 
leaves,  if  any,  should  be  allowed  to  remain.  Cuttings  of  this  species  answer 
very  well  if  put  out  in  thatched  beds  of  the  sort  already  described  for  seedlings. 

They  may  be  also  tried  in  shallow  boxes  about  two  inches  deep,  filled  with 
a layer  of  fine  vegetable  mould  mixed  with  sand.  A layer  of  pure  sand  above 
the  mould  is  of  great  use,  as  it  promotes  drainage,  and  cuttings  are  very  apt  to 
rot  off  at  the  level  of  the  soil  if  it  is  not  thoroughly  drained.  Red  Bark  cuttings 
form  roots  in  from  two  to  four  months  according  to  season  and  temperature.  Tor 
out-door  cuttings,  the  months  from  April  to  August  are  found  in  Sikkim 
to  be  the  most  favourable.  In  drier  localities,  April  will  probably  be  found 


32 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


too  early ; but  tlie  most  suitable  season  must  be  determined  for  every  locality 
by  experience. 

propagation  In  his  admirable  treatise  on  the  principles  and  practice  of  horticulture,1 2  a 

fromustocls  book  deserving  of  careful  study  by  all  interested  in  the  growing  of  plants,  Dr. 

Lindley  makes  the  following  remarks  which  are  particularly  appropriate  to  the 
artificial  propagation  of  Cinchona  Calisaya  : “ It  is  known,”  says  Dr.  Lindley, 

“ that  plants  possess  some  quality  analogous  to  animal  irritability,  to  which,  for 
want  of  a better,  the  name  of  excitability  has  been  given.  In  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  excitability  in  a given  plant  is  the  power  which  its  cuttings 
possess  of  striking.  The  great  promoter  of  vegetable  excitability  is  heat. 
Therefore  the  more  heat  a given  plant  has  been  exposed  to,  within  certain 
limits,  the  more  readily  its  cuttings  strike  root.  This  explains  what  seems  to 
have  puzzled  Mr.  Newman.*  ‘The  young  wood,’  he  says,  ‘of  trees  growing  in 
the  open  air  will  not  do  for  cuttings : and  yet  if  those  same  trees  are  forced  in 
a hot-house,  their  cuttings  are  almost  sure  to  succeed.’  ” This  is  the  case  with 
Cinchona  Calisaya,  in  Sikkim  at  least.  When,  therefore,  it  is  necessary  to  resort 
to  artificial  methods  (as  is  the  case  with  Calisaya ) of  propagation,  the  first  step 
is  to  establish  stock  plants  from  which  to  take  cuttings.  This  is  easily  done 
by  making  layers  in  the  usual  way.  The  operation  of  layering  consists  in 
bending  the  branch  of  a tree  into  the  soil  and  half  cutting  it  through  at  the 
bend,  the  object  being  to  cause  the  upper  part  of  the  branch  thus  partially 
separated  to  form  roots  on  the  cut  surface.  The  cut  part  is  then  put  into  the 
soil  and,  if  necessary,  pegged  down,  a quantity  of  sand  being  put  round  the 
wound  so  as  to  ensure  good  drainage.  It  is  often  found  useful  to  bend  the  shoot 
well  back  before  putting  the  wound  in  the  ground,  so  as,  in  a measure,  to  obstruct 
the  channels  by  which  the  sap  passes,  and  thus,  by  impeding  the  return  of  sap 
from  the  layer  into  the  main  stem,  to  secure  it  for  the  layer  itself.  As  the 
wood  of  Calisaya  is  rather  brittle,  bending,  if  practised  at  all,  must  be  done  care- 
fully. If  the  branches  of  a Cinchona  tree,  as  is  usually  the  case,  cannot  be 
conveniently  bent  down  to  the  natural  soil,  soil  must  be  elevated  to  them. 
This  is  easily  done  by  filling  boxes  with  well-selected  earth  and  raising  them 
on  posts.  In  the  course  of  three  or  four  months  Calisaya  layers  are  found  to 
root.  While  rooting  they  must  be  carefully  watered  : the  beginning  of  the 
rainy  season  is  therefore  the  best  suited  for  layering.  When  well  rooted,  the 
layers  should  be  transplanted  into  glazed  frames  (made  like  ordinary  cucumber 
frames),  and  planted  in  good  soil  at  distances  of  about  six  inches  apart. 
These  are  called  stock  plants,  and  about  every  month,  or  every  second  month 
according  to  circumstances,  they  will  yield  a crop  of  cuttings.  Each  of  the 
cuttings  so  yielded  will  of  course  consist  of  soft  young  wood.  In  taking  the 
cuttings  from  the  stock  plants  entire  shoots  should  not  be  removed,  but  a bud 
or  two  should  always  be  left  on  the  part  of  the  shoot  remaining  on  the  stock  plant 
to  provide  new  shoots.  The  cuttings  themselves  should  be  about  three  to  four 
inches  long.  The  fully-developed  leaves  on  the  cuttings  should  be  cut  so  as  to 
leave  only  their  lower  halves  on  the  cuttings,  but  all  young  leaves  should  be 
allowed  to  remain  entire.  The  cuttings  should  be  put  into  shallow  boxes  of 
the  sort  already  described.  The  soil  in  these  boxes  should  consist  of  fine,  perfect- 
ly-decayed, vegetable  mould,  mixed  with  from  one-half  to  one-third  its  volume 
of  sand,  and  on  the  top  of  the  soil  should  be  spread  a layer,  about  two-thirds 
of  an  inch  deep,  of  pure  sand  to  promote  drainage.  It  is  preferable  to  put  the 
cuttings  into  boxes,  as  described,  than  to  put  them  into  open  soil  under  frames ; 
for  when  the  cuttings  are  rooted,  the  boxes  can  be  removed,  so  as  to  harden  the 
cuttings  gradually  without  disturbing  their  delicate  roots. 

“ What  is  demanded,”  says  Dr.  Lindley  in  the  work 3 already  quoted,  “ when 
cuttings  of  plants  are  to  be  struck  is  a due  adjustment  of  heat,  light,  and 
moisture.  The  first  stimulates  the  vital  processes,  the  second  causes  the  forma- 
tion of  matter  out  of  which  roots  and  leaves  are  organised,  the  third  is  at  once 
the  vehicle  for  the  food  required  by  the  cutting  and  a part  of  it.  The  difficulty 
is  to  know  how  to  adjust  these  agents.  If  the  heat  is  too  high,  organs  are  formed 


1 The  Theory  and  'practice  of  Horticulture,  by  John  Lindley,  F.R.S.,  &c.,  &c.  Longmans  & Co.,  London,  1875. 

2 The  author  of  an  excellent  treatise  on  the  propagation  of  plants. 

? Theory  and  Practice  of  Horticulture,  page  289. 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CINCHONA  THEE. 


33 


faster  than  they  can  he  solidified ; if  too  low,  decay  comes  on  before  the 
reproductive  forces  can  be  put  in  action.  When  light  is  too  powerful,  the  fluid 
contents  of  the  cutting  are  lost  faster  than  they  can  be  supplied ; when  too 
feeble  there  is  not  a sufficiently  quick  formation  of  organisable  matter  to 
construct  the  new  roots  and  leaves  with.  If  water  is  deficient  the  cutting  is 
starved ; if  overabundant,  it  rots.”  Bearing  these  principles  in  mind,  therefore, 
care  should  be  taken  to  provide  mats  to  lay  on  the  glazed  frames,  so  as  to  shade 
them  when  the  sun’s  rays  are  too  powerful ; an  equable  moist  atmosphere  should 
be  kept  up  inside  the  frame ; ventilation  should  be  provided  for  by  opening  the 
frames  for  half-an-hour  or  an  hour  early  in  the  morning,  and  by  keeping  them 
at  other  times  slightly  ajar  by  means  of  a small  stone  or  stick ; and  above  all, 
watering  should  be  very  carefully  done  by  means  of  a finely-drilled  syringe. 

Deluging  should  always  be  avoided,  and  the  leaves  should  never  be  allowed  to 
be  wet  in  the  evening  or  at  night.  Good  cuttings  will  root  during  warm 
weather  in  from  three  to  four  weeks ; in  the  cold  season,  however,  sometimes  as 
long  as  four  or  five  months  elapse  before  good  roots  are  formed.  Propagation 
in  frames  or  houses  furnished  with  bottom  heat  need  not  be  described  here,  as 
in  a favourable  climate  for  Cinchona  cultivation  cuttings  can  be  made  to  root  as 
above  described.  When  thoroughly  rooted,  the  cuttings  should  be  transplanted 
into  thatched  beds,  like  seedlings  at  their  second  transplantation.  Their  further 
treatment  should  be  precisely  that  of  seedlings. 

Propagation  by  buds  was  practised  both  on  the  Nilgiris  and  Sikkim  in  the  Propagation 
early  days  of  the  Cinchona  enterprise.  It  is  now  no  longer  necessary  to  resort  by  budh' 
to  this  method. 

In  preparing  ground  for  permanent  plantation,  the  first  thing  is,  of  course,  to  preparing 
select  the  place ; this  should  be  done  with  due  care  and  after  full  consideration  |e?m“nlnt 
has  been  given  to  the  points  imperfectly  discussed  above.  The  selected  spot  must plantatl0n' 
then  be  cleared  of  its  natural  vegetation.1  The  best  time  for  beginning  to  do  this 
is  obviously  when  the  dry  season  has  sufficiently  advanced  to  make  a second 
growth  of  grass  improbable.  When  the  felled  forest,  whether  grass  or  timber, 
is  sufficiently  dry,  it  may  be  fired.  Stumps  and  logs  remaining  unburnt  after 
the  fire  may  be  rolled  into  spots  unsuitable  for  planting,  or  heaped  together 
and  burnt.  A better  way  is  to  lay  them  between  the  lines  of  plants,  and 
allow  them  to  rot  and  thus  to  profit  by  the  humus  formed  by  their  decay. 

The  large  fibrous  roots  of  tall  grasses  and  other  weeds  likely  to  over-  Lining  out. 
power  the  young  trees  about  to  be  planted,  should  be  dug  out  and  killed  either 
by  exposure  or  burning.  The  land  being  thus  cleared,  any  necessary  roads 
may  be  lined  off  and  made.  The  sites  in  which  the  plants  are  to  be  put  must 
then  be  marked  off.  This  may  conveniently  be  done  by  means  of  a cord, 
about  100  feet  long,  on  which  marks  are  tied  at  the  intervals  at  which 
it  is  wished  to  plant  the  trees.  This  cord  is  stretched  on  the  ground,  and 
opposite  each  of  the  marks  on  it  a piece  of  split  bamboo  is  struck  into  the  soil. 

The  cord  is  then  moved,  another  line  is  staked  off  at  a proper  distance  from 

the  last,  and  so  on.  Coolies  follow,  whose  duty  it  is  to  dig  pits,  about  a foot  to  Digging  pits. 

fifteen  inches  in  depth  and  eighteen  inches  wide,  of  which  the  stakes  already  put 

in  should  be  the  centres.  The  earth  (freed  from  roots  and  stones)  which  has 

been  taken  out  of  each  hole  should  be  returned  to  it,  so  as  to  form  a free  mass 

in  which  the  roots  of  the  plant  about  to  be  placed  can  freely  work.  A coolie 

in  Sikkim  makes  from  100  to  130  of  such  pits  per  day  according  to  the  nature 

of  the  ground.  Plants  hardened  as  described  are  then  brought  from  the 

nursery  lines  in  shallow  boxes,  care  being  taken  to  bring  some  earth  with  their 

roots  and  not  to  expose  them  to  the  air  longer  than  is  absolutely  necessary. 

The  nursery  beds  should  be  well  deluged  with  water  the  night  before  the 
plants  are  removed,  so  that  the  soil  may  adhere  to  their  roots.  A set  of  coolies 
should  be  told  off  to  plant  these  in  the  pits  just  mentioned.  This  is  readily  Planting 
done  by  scraping  a hole  with  the  hands,  or  with  a native  trowel.  The  usual 
precautions  should  be  taken  to  make  this  hole  deep  enough  to  receive  the 
roots  of  the  plant  without  doubling,  and  to  press  the  soil  well  down  as  it  is  thrown 
in  to  cover  the  roots.  One  man  can  easily  supply  two  planters  with  plants ; he 
should  walk  between  two  rows  of  holes  and  hand  to  each  planter  (from  a box 


1 In  windy,  exposed  places,  belts  of  forest  may  be  left  on  tbe  ridges  to  give  shelter. 


I 


34 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Planting 

distance. 


Shading. 


Staking. 


Tillage. 


carried  in  front  of  himself)  a plant  as  he  requires  it.  If  the  plants  be  taken 
out  of  the  box  in  which  they  have  been  brought  from  the  nursery,  and  laid  on 
the  ground  beside  the  holes  to  he  planted  as  the  planters  work  up  to  them 
(a  cheaper  plan  than  that  above  recommended),  the  halls  of  earth  round  their 
roots  are  almost  sure  to  he  broken.  Planting  is  too  important  an  operation  to  he 
done  badly ; it  is  not  wise  to  try  to  economise  on  it,  and  it  is  probably  always 
unadvisable  to  do  it  by  contract.  A good  planter  should  be  able  to  put  in 
from  five  hundred* to  a thousand  plants  per  day,  according  to  the  nature  of  the 
ground.  Nothing  need  be  said  of  deep  hoeing  or  trenching  the  soil  preparatory 
to  planting,  as  these  operations  are  too  costly  for  Cinchona,  and,  besides,  are  in- 
admissible in  steep  ground  on  account  of  the  wash  that  follows  excessive 
loosening  of  the  soil.  In  the  earlier  days  of  the  Nilgiri  plantations  the  soil  was 
trenched  prior  to  being  planted.  In  his  little  book  on  Cinchona  cultivation, 
already  quoted,  Mr.  Mclvor  recommends  trenching,  or,  where  that  is  considered 
too  expensive,  the  digging  of  pits  for  the  plants,  each  pit  to  be  two  feet  square 
and  two  feet  deep.  Planting  should  he  done  when  the  soil  is  moist  and  when 
the  weather  is  cloudy  or  even  wet,  but  heavy  rain  is  not  favourable. 

In  the  early  Nilgiri  planting,  the  trees  were  put  out  at  distances  of  twelve 
feet  apart,  subsequently  at  distances  of  eight  feet,  and  latterly  at  six  by  six  feet. 
In  Sikkim,  the  earlier  planting  stands  six  by  six  feet,  but  for  the  past  four  years 
a distance  of  four  by  four  feet  has  been  adopted.  The  Bed  Bark,  even  in  South 
America,  is  never  a large  tree ; Cinchona  officinalis  is  but  a big  shrub  ; and  it  is 
doubtful  whether,  in  India,  Calisaya  will  ever  attain  any  very  great  size.  Wide 
planting  is  therefore  obviously  an  error.  All  the  Cinchonas,  moreover,  have  the 
habit  of  throwing  out  a quantity  of  superficial  rootlets,  and  young  Cinchona 
plantations  do  not  thrive  until  the  soil  between  the  trees  is  sufficiently  pro- 
tected from  the  sun  to  allow  these  superficial  rootlets  to  perform  their  func- 
tions freely.  The  growth  of  weeds,  as  has  just  been  stated,  is  also  checked  by 
shade.  By  close  planting,  therefore,  two  desirable  objects  are  speedily  obtained, 
and,  moreover,  the  trees  are  encouraged  to  produce  straight  clean  stems.1  As 
the  trees  begin  to  press  on  each  other  they  can  be  thinned  out,  and  a quantity  of 
bark  may  thus  be  got  at  a comparatively  early  period  with  positive  advantage 
to  the  plants  that  are  allowed  to  remain  on  the  ground.  It  is  true  that  the 
initial  cost  of  close  planting  is  greater  than  of  sparse  planting  : on  the  other 
hand,  the  cost  of  keeping  clean,  especially  during  the  first  three  years,  is  less. 

In  Sikkim,  no  shading  or  protection  is  necessary  for  newly-planted  Cin- 
chonas. In  other  localities,  protection  from  the  sun  may,  however,  be  required. 
This  can  readily  be  afforded  by  erecting  on  the  sunny  side  of  each  plant  a rough 
framework  of  bamboo  on  Avliich  grass  or  ferns  can  be  tied,  by  sticking  leafy 
branches  into  the  ground,  and  so  on.  The  best  and  cheapest  mode  for  any  par- 
ticular locality  must  of  course  be  dependent  on  local  conditions. 

In  windy  localities  it  may  be  necessary,  when  the  plants  attain  the  height 
of  a few  feet,  to  give  them  support  by  stakes.  The  great  danger  to  be  avoided 
in  staked  plants  is  the  chafing  caused  by  the  swaying  of  the  plant.  Means 
must  therefore  be  taken  to  prevent  this  by  using  a soft  material  for  tying  and 
so  forth.  A mode  of  support,  suggested  by  Mr.  Mclvor,  is  to  run  rows  of  stakes 
between  the  rows  of  trees,  and  along  the  stakes  to  tie  a continuous  grass  rope  at 
a sufficient  height  from  the  ground  to  be  clear  of  the  stems  and  on  a level  with 
the  leafy  heads  of  the  trees.  The  trees  stand  in  this  way  free  from  the  rope,  but 
receive  support  from  it  when  they  are  much  bent  by  the  wind.  Staking  in  any 
form  is  expensive,  and  it  is  a question  whether  it  is  worth  while  to  plant  Cin- 
chonas in  situations  where  it  is  likely  to  be  necessary. 

As  soon  as  the  weeds  in  the  newly-planted  land  threaten  to  choke  the 
young  plants,  they  must  be  cut  and  a similar  cleaning  must  be  repeated  when- 
ever necessary.  No  special  rule  can  be  laid  down  as  to  the  number  of  clean- 
ings to  be  given  in  a season,  but  for  the  first  three  years  it  is  probable  that  two 
or  three  will  be  necessary,  after  which  once  a year  will  be  enough  ; and  finally 
weeding  will  not  be  wanted  at  all.  If  laid  in  lines  between  the  rows  of  plants, 
the  cut  weeds  rot  and  form  manure.  It  is  hopeless  to  think  of  entirely  freeing 
the  ground  from  weeds  and  of  keeping  a Cinchona  plantation  as  clean  as  a 

1 On  this  well-known  habit  is  founded  the  practice  of  close  planting  in  forest  plantations  in  Europe,  the  object 
being  to  produce  long,  straight,  uubranehiug  stems  from  which  to  cut  timber  of  long  scantling. 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CINCHONA  TREE. 


35 


flower  garden,  and  it  is  quite  unnecessary  to  do  so.  Myriads  of  annuals,  notably 
the  White  Weed  ( Ageratum ),  grasses,  sedges,  &c.,  spring  up,  but,  if  kept 
under  by  cutting,  these  do  but  little  harm.  All  large  perennial  grasses 
and  other  deep-rooting  weeds  which  have  survived  the  first  cleaning  of 
the  ground,  should  be  taken  out  as  soon  as  they  shew  signs  of  growth.  Some 
of  the  species  of  grass  resembling  the  Couch  Grass  of  England  are  especially 
noxious,  and  where  they  remain  in  the  ground,  Cinchona  will  not  grow.  In 
cutting  weeds  of  any  kind,  the  coolies  ought  to  be  taught  to  cut  quite  close  to 
the  ground.  Where  the  majority  of  the  weeds  are  annuals  and  the  soil  is  soft 
and  friable,  it  may  be  advisable  occasionally  to  substitute  hand-weeding  for 
cutting.  The  disturbance  of  the  surface  of  the  soil  caused  in  pulling  the 
weeds  up  by  the  roots,  affords  a rough  kind  of  cultivation  which  is  advan- 
tageous : moreover,  the  superficial  roots  of  the  Cinchonas  are  less  damaged  than 
by  hoeing.  It  need  scarcely  be  stated  that,  in  proportion  as  the  Cinchona  trees 
grow  and  their  leafy  heads  cover  the  ground,  the  undergrowth  of  weeds  becomes 
less  luxuriant.  A slight  superficial  hoeing  of  the  soil  immediately  round  the 
plants  should,  however,  be  given  once  a year,  if  possible.  The  space  thus 
cleared  need  not  exceed  one  and  a half  to  two  feet  in  diameter,  having  the  tree 
stem  as  its  centre.  To  young  plants  especially,  this  is  very  beneficial,  and  it  is 
found  that  even  the  oldest  trees  in  the  Sikkim  plantation  are  much  benefited 
by  the  operation.  The  first  year  after  planting,  a general  digging  or  hoeing 
should  be  given  during  the  cold  season  to  eradicate  the  weeds  that  may  have 
escaped  the  first  cleaning;  during  the  second  year  only  a light  lioeing  will  be 
necessary.  In  all  cultural  operations  it  ought  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
roots  of  Cinchonas  are  comparatively  superficial,  and  that  any  very  deep  hoeing 
is  therefore  more  likely  to  do  harm  than  good. 

Like  many  other  trees,  Cinchonas,  especially  when  close-planted,  have  a Pruning, 
strong  tendency  to  throw  off  their  lower  branches  as  they  increase  in  height. 
Artificial  removal  of  such  branches  as  would  in  time  naturally  drop  off  may  be 
resorted  to  in  places  where  the  young  trees  stand  so  close  that  the  circulation 
of  air  is  seriously  impeded.  When  it  becomes  necessary  to  thin  a plantation, 
double  stems  may  be  reduced  to  one,  and  any  large  branches  that  may  project 
so  as  to  injure  a neighbouring  tree  may  be  cut  away,  but  any  extensive  pruning 
of  the  trees  that  are  to  be  allowed  to  stand  is  to  be  avoided.  It  should  not  be 
forgotten  that  the  leaves  are  the  chief  means  by  which  a tree  grows  and  that 
an  increased  yield  of  bark  is  not  likely  to  follow  a too  free  removal  of  these. 

The  Nilgiri  trials  of  manure  went  to  shew  that  its  application  does  not  Manuring, 
stimulate  the  growth  of  Cinchona  trees.  The  limited  Sikkim  experience  on 
the  contrary  indicates  that  Cinchona,  like  most  other  plants,  is  benefited  by 
manure.  It  would,  however,  be  premature  to  form  as  yet  any  decided  opinion 
as  to  the  extent  to  which  the  application  of  manure  will  be  profitable. 

The  effect  of  manure  on  improving  the  quality  of  the  bark  will  be  con- 
sidered in  the  next  chapter. 


36 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Belative 
values  of 
the  Cincho- 
na barks. 


Bed  Bark 
chiefly  a 
druggist’s 
bark. 


The  alkal- 
oids other 
than  Qui- 
nine. 


Madras 
Commission 
to  report  on 


CHAPTER  Y. 

CHEMISTRY  OE  THE  BARK  CROP. 

We  have  now  traced  to  the  present  time  the  history  of  the  introduction  of 
medicinal  Cinchonas  into  India  and  the  establishment  of  plantations  of  them  in 
this  country,  and  have  given  some  account  of  the  best  modes  of  propagating 
and  cultivating  them,  but  hitherto  little  allusion  has  been  made  to  anything  con- 
cerning the  bark — the  crop  for  the  sake  of  which  these  trees  are  grown — nor  to 
the  modes  of  harvesting  this  crop,  of  improving  its  constitution,  and  of  extracting 
the  alkaloids  which  give  it  its  medicinal  value.1  As  has  been  already  explained, 
the  medicinal  alkaloids  contained  in  bark  are  Quinine,  Cinchonidine,  Quinidine 
and  Cinchonine.  A fifth  called  Aricine  is  occasionally  found,  but  has  never  been 
used  in  medicine.  M.  Hesse  has  also  recently  announced  the  existence  of  an- 
other alkaloid  occurring  only  in  the  succirubra  barks  grown  in  Sikkim.  This  base 
has  received  the  name  of  Quinamine.  As  everybody  knows,  it  is  the  first  of 
these  which  has  hitherto  formed  the  specific  for  malarious  fever.  Bark  for  the 
manufacture  of  this  alkaloid  consequently  brings  a price  in  direct  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  Quinine  contained  in  it.  The  barks  of  Calisaya,  officinalis , and 
JPitayensis  contain  the  largest  proportions  of  Quinine  and  are  consequently  the 
most  valuable  to  a Quinine-maker,  who  in  buying  a bark  takes  account  only  of 
the  Quinine  in  it,  and  allows  little  or  nothing  for  the  other  alkaloids.  Cinchona 
barks,  however,  have  long  had  a recognised  value  otherwise  than  as  sources  of 
Quinine.  They  have  long  been  regarded  as  most  valuable  tonics,  and  as  such  are 
used  for  making  various  pharmaceutical  preparations,  decoctions,  tinctures,  &c. 
Eor  the  manufacture  of  such  preparations,  Red  Bark,  as  being  the  richest  of  all 
in  its  yield  of  total  alkaloids,  has  always  been  much  esteemed,  and  of  late  years 
(since  it  began  to  get  scarce)  has  brought  a price  as  high  or  even  higher  than 
that  got  for  the  barks  richer  in  Quinine.  The  demand,  however,  for  such  tonic 
pharmaceutical  preparations  being  but  limited,  from  the  fact  that  they  are  chiefly 
used  in  Europe,  there  is  no  probability  that  Red  Bark  will  retain  its  high  price 
in  the  face  of  a largely  augmented  supply.  On  the  other  hand,  the  demand  for 
Quinine  is  daily  increasing,  and  there  is  little  fear  of  an  increased  supply  of  barks 
rich  in  Quinine  causing  a fall  from  the  present  prices  of  such.  It  had  for  many 
years  been  suspected  that  the  other  alkaloids  in  which  Red  Bark  is  so  rich  are 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  efficacious  febrifuges  as  Quinine.  The  settlement  of  this 
point  naturally  demanded  attention  at  an  early  stage  of  the  Cinchona  experiment. 
In  order  to  settle  it  by  actual  trial,  a Commission  of  sixteen  medical  officers  of 
the  Madras  Presidency  was  appointed  in  1866  under  the  presidency  of  Dr.  Shaw, 
Inspector-General  of  Hospitals.  This  Committee  was,  by  order  of  Her  Majesty’s 
Secretary  of  State  for  India,  supplied  from  the  manufactory  of  Messrs.  Howard 
and  Sons  with  a quantity  of  chemically  pure  sulphate  of  each  of  the  three  al- 
kaloids Quinidine,  Cinchonidine,  and.  Cinchonine.  Extended  trials  were  made 
with  these  in  the  most  malarious  districts  of  the  Presidency,  and  the  finding  of 
the  Committee  in  their  preliminary  report,  dated  28tli  February  1867, 2 3 was — 

“ That  in  recent  cases  of  uncomplicated  paroxysmal  fever  the  new  alkaloids  appeared  to  most 
of  the  medical  officers  using  them  and  to  most  of  the  members  of  the  Commission  to  he  quite  as 
efficacious  in  the  curing  of  fevers  as  Quinine.  * * * qqie  evidence,  so  far  as  it  has 

come  before  the  Commission,  does  not  go  to  shew  the  superiority  of  one  alkaloid  over  another. 

* * The  main  conclusion  which  the  members  of  the  Commission  have  derived  from 

the  data  before  them  is  that  the  alkaloids,  hitherto  hut  little  valued  in  medicine,  are  scarcely,  if 
at  all,  inferior  as  therapeutical  agents  to  Quinine.” 


1 From  the  time  when  the  first  Nilgiri  trees  had  become  large  enough  to  yield  bark  fit  for  analysis  and  up  to  the 
present  date,  Mr.  Howard,  the  eminent  Quinologist,  has  favoured  Government  with  his  advice  and  assistance  in  the  conduct 
of  the  Cinchona  experiment.  He  has  in  particular  made  repeated  analyses  of  the  various  harks.  So  long  ago  as  1863, 
he  reported  on  a specimen  hark  from  a two-year  old  succirubra  tree,  informing  Government  that  he  found  in  it  the  same 
constituents  as  in  Red  Bark  from  South  America.  In  successive  years  he  furnished  analyses  proving  that,  as  the  trees  got 
older,  their  hark  became  richer  in  alkaloid,  until  they  ultimately  reached  a degree  of  richness  to  which  American  barks 
rarely  attain,  and  that  the  barks  renewed  under  moss  were  the  best  of  their  sort  that  had  ever  been  analysed.  Thus 

Government  nt  every  step  were  assured  of  the  success  of  their  enterprise.  Mr.  Howard’s  exertions  did  not  cease  with 
the  appointment  of  a resident  Quinologist  for  the  Nilgiri  plantations;  on  the  contrary,  they  are  continued  to  the  present 
time. 

3 Parliamentary  Returns  on  East  India  Cinchona  Cultivation,  printed  9th  August  1870,  p.  103  et  seq. 


CHEMISTRY  OP  THE  BARK  CROP. 


37 


The  numerical  results  on  which  the  Commission  founded  their  conclusions  are 


as  follows  : — 

No.  of  Cases. 

Cured. 

Failed. 

Treated  by  Cinchonine  . . 

. . . 410 

400 

10 

„ Cinchonidine  . . 

346 

13 

„ Quinidine  . . . 

. . . 376 

365 

11 

During  the  succeeding  year,  the  Commission,  altered  in  constitution  by  the 
accession  of  two  new  members,  continued  their  investigations.  Their  operations 
differed,  however,  from  those  of  the  previous  year,  by  the  inclusion  of  chemically 
pure  Sulphate  of  Quinine  amongst  the  alkaloids  tested.  The  other  alkaloids 
were  thus  in  this  second  experiment  more  effectually  pitted  against  Quinine. 
The  total  number  of  fever  cases  treated  by  the  four  alkaloids  was  1 2,472.  Of 
these  2,445  were  cures  and  27  were  failures.  The  ratio  of  failure  per  1,000 
cases  treated  was  found  to  be  as  follows  : — 

Ratio  of  failures  per 

1,000  cases  treated. 


Chemically  pure  Sulphate  of  Quinine 7'092 

„ „ „ Quinidine 6'024 

„ „ „ Cinchonidine 9925 

„ „ „ Cinchonine 23255 


This  result  would  show  that  Quinidine  is  rather  more  effectual  than  Quinine,  and 
that  Cinchonine  is  less  effectual  than  the  other  three  alkaloids.  The  conclusion 
expressed  by  the  Commission  is  as  follows  : — 

“ In  regard  to  the  relative  effects  of  the  three  new  alkaloids,  and  with  them  chemically  pure 
Sulphate  of  Quinine,  the  evidence  derived  from  their  use  shows  that,  with  the  exception  of  sul- 
phate of  Ciuchonine,  as  already  stated,  they,  in  a remarkable  degree,  so  closely  resemble  each 
other  in  therapeutical  and  physiological  action  as  to  render  distinctive  description  of  little  or  no 
practical  utility.  In  a large  proportion  of  cases  in  which  they  were  tried  chemically  pure,  Sulphate 
of  Quinine  and  Sulphates  of  Quinidine  and  Cinchonidine  appeared  to  indicate  nearly  equal  febri- 
fuge power,  and  in  equal  circumstances  their  use  produced  almost  the  same  physiological  results. 

* * * result  confirms  the  general  opinion  expressed  by  the  Commission  last  year 

and  likewise  conclusively  established  beyond  doubt  that  ordinary  Sulphate  of  Quinine,  chemically 
pure  Sulphate  of  Quinine  and  Sulphate  of  Quinidine  possess  equal  febrifuge  power : that  Sulphate 
of  Cinchonidiue  is  only  slightly  less  efficacious,  and  that  Sulphate  of  Cinchonine,  though  consi- 
derably inferior  to  the  other  alkaloids,  is  notwithstanding  a valuable  remedial  agent  in  fever.” 

Similar  commissions  of  medical  officers  of  the  Bengal  and  Bombay  Presi-  The  Bombay 
dencies  reported  substantially  to  the  same  effect.  The  following  extract2  commissions 
contains  the  opinion  of  one  of  the  leading  physicians  in  Bengal  on  the  re-  favourably, 
spective  merits  of  the  alkaloids  : — 

“ Since  our  report  we  have  received  from  Dr.  Ewart,  of  the  Calcutta  Medical  College,  an 
account  of  some  experiments  with  the  alkaloids  carried  out  during  the  month  of  October  1866. 

The  period  was  limited  and  the  cases  not  numerous,  but  their  character  was  strongly  marked  in 
every  instance,  and  the  result  of  treatment  well  pronounced.  Dr.  Ewart  states  his  opinion  in 
the  following  general  conclusions  which  are  fully  sustained  by  the  facts  he  adduces  : — 

“ ‘ Sulphate  of  Quinidine  is  an  excellent  antiperiodic  in  doses  of  5 to  20  grains.  It 
is  probably  not  inferior  to  Quinine,  and  is  easily  tolerated  by  the  stomach.  It  is  a good  bitter 
tonic  in  smaller  doses,  and  may  be  combined  with  ferruginous  medicines.  It  is  less  disagreeable 
to  the  taste  and  stomach  than  Quinine,  and  its  use  is  not  accompanied  by  the  unpleasant  effects 
known  as  cinchonism. 

“ ‘Sulphate  of  Cinchonidine  stands  next  in  antiperiodic  power  in  10  to  20-grain  doses,  and 
as  a tonic  in  smaller  quantities  it  is  agreeable  to  the  stomach  and  is  not  accompanied  by 
symptons  analogous  to  cinchonism. 

“ ‘ Sulphate  of  Cinchonine  is  doubtless  a powerful  antiperiodic  in  doses  of  from  10  to  20 
grains.  The  irritability  of  stomach  caused  by  it  is  the  great  objection  to  its  ever  taking  rank 
as  a substitute  for  either  of  the  other  alkaloids,  but  it  may  be  obviated  by  injecting  the  medicine 
in  solution  hypodermically.  It  is  a good  tonic  in  small  doses/  * * * 

“ There  is  no  longer  room  to  doubt  that  the  alkaloids  are  capable  of  beipg  generally  used 
with  the  best  effects  in  India.  They  have  been  compared  with  Quinine,  a drug  which  possesses, 
more  than  any  other  that  can  be  named,  the  confidence  of  medical  practitioners  here ; and 
have  been  found,  by  more  than  one  observer,  to  supplement  this  sovereign  remedy  in  some  of 
its  points  of  deficiency.  The  risk  attending  their  use  is  clearly  not  greater  than  in  the  case  of 
Quinine,  nor  such  as  to  be  in  any  way  deterrent ; while  the  diversities  of  opinion  on  their  re- 
lative usefulness  and  potency  are  no  more  than  will  be  found  between  opinions  concerning  any 
three  drugs  of  the  pharmacopoeia  examined  by  separate  observers.” 


1 Cinchona,  Return  already  quoted,  p.  159. 

2 Report  of  the  Committee  of  Bengal  Medical  Officers  appointed,  to  examine  the  Properties  of  the  Cinchona 
Alkaloids,  to  the  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India  in  the  Home  Department,  1868. 


K 


38 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Object  of 
Government 
in  introduc- 
ing Cin- 
chona into 
India. 


Mr.  Mark- 
ham’s 
suggestions 
as  to  the 
utilisation 
of  Indian 
Cinchona 
Barks. 


Mr.  Mark- 
ham recom- 
mends the 
appointment 
of  a 

Quinologist, 


Mr.  Brough- 
ton’s 
appoint- 
ment. 


These  results  are  eminently  satisfactory,  especially  as  Red  Bark,  so  rich  in 
the  alkaloids  other  than  Quinine,  is  the  species  which  in  every  part  of  India  has 
proved  the  easiest  of  propagation,  the  most  luxuriant  in  growth,  and  the  only 
one  which  can  be  grown  at  all  at  low  levels.  The  establishment  of  the  thera- 
peutic excellence  of  these  alkaloids  largely  increased  the  value  of  the  R.ed  Bark 
plantations  in  India,  and  made  much  easier  of  solution  the  problem  of  supplying 
its  fever-stricken  population  with  a cheap  and  effectual  febrifuge.  In  his  report 
to  the  Government  of  Madras,  written  after  his  second  visit  to  India  in  1865-66, 
Mr.  Markham  had  directed  the  especial  attention  of  Government  to  the  im- 
portance of  finding  out  as  soon  as  possible  the  best  way  of  dealing  with  the 
anticipated  produce  of  the  Government  plantations  so  as  to  secure  the  avowed 
object  of  Government  in  undertaking  the  cultivation  at  all.  Had  pecuniary 
profit  been  that  object,  it  would  probably  have  been  best  secured  by  arranging 
to  send  the  bark  to  England  for  sale,  and  by  continuing  to  purchase  Quinine  in 
the  usual  way,  trusting  to  reduce  its  price  by  increasing  the  supply  of  bark. 
But  it  is  extremely  doubtful  whether,  under  such  an  arrangement,  a cheap 
febrifuge  would  ever  have  been  brought  within  the  reach  of  fever  patients  so 
poor  as  the  agricultural  population  of  India,  a population  who  for  ages  accus- 
tomed to  look  on  often-recurring  fever  as  part  of  their  fate,  have  become  too 
apathetic  to  be  prepared  to  pay  much  for  relief  from  it.  The  object  of 
Government  is  that  an  efficient  febrifuge  shall  be  available  by  purchase  in  every 
corner  of  India,  that  it  shall  become  part  of  the  stock-in-trade  of  every  village 
shopkeeper,  and  that  it  shall  be  purchaseable  at  not  more  than  a rupee  an 
ounce.  At  the  present  moment  Quinine  is  available  by  purchase  only  in  a 
few  of  the  larger  towns  where  there  is  a European  population,  and  even  in 
such  places  it  costs  from  six  to  ten  rupees  per  ounce.  It  is  of  course  supplied 
to  all  Government  dispensaries,  but  only  to  a very  limited  extent,  the  supply  for 
a year  being  as  a rule  really  equal  to  the  actual  demands  of  but  a few  days.  The 
dispensing  of  so  costly  and  scarce  a drug  gives  rise  it  is  believed  to  much  sharp 
practice  among  the  lower  officials  at  dispensaries  and  hospitals,  and  a dose  of 
the  coveted  febrifuge  is  probably  as  a rule  unattainable  to  the  very  poorest  of 
the  patients.  Mr.  Markham  suggested  that,  instead  of  sending  the  bark  to 
England  to  be  sold,  a febrifuge  should  be  prepared  from  it  at  the  Government 
plantations  which  should  contain  the  alkaloids  in  a rough  form  and  should  be 
saleable  at  a cheap  rate.  He  recommended  the  preparation  called  Quinium, 
a product  which  (while  an  effectual  febrifuge)  would  not  be  bought  up  by 
speculators  as  a source  of  Quinine,  it  being  unsaleable  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses. Quinium  is  made  by  treating  pounded  bark  with  slaked  lime  and  the 
resulting  lime  product  with  alcohol.  Mr.  Markham  considered  that  a com- 
petent chemist*  should  be  got  from  England  and  located  on  the  Nilgiris  whose 
functions  should  be  to  work  out  the  whole  subject  of  Indian  Quinology.  His 
recommendation  coincided  with  others  which  had  been  made  to  the  same  effect, 
and  was  subsequently  strengthened  by  the  verdict  of  the  Alkaloid  Com- 
missions already  referred  to.  Accordingly,  in  October  1866,  the  Secretary 
of  State  appointed  as  Government  Quinologist  on  the  Nilgiris  Mr.  John 
Broughton,  then  Hr.  Erankland’s  Assistant  at  the  Boyal  Institution,  London. 
Mr.  Broughton  was  engaged  for  a period  of  three  years,  and  his  duties  were 
defined  as  follows  : to  discover  by  repeated  analyses  of  bark  from  plants  growing 
in  different  situations,  the  conditions  as  regards  elevation,  climate,  soil  and 
exposure  best  calculated  to  produce  the  largest  possible  yield  of  alkaloids ; to 
ascertain  the  difference  as  regards  yield  and  efficiency  between  green  and  dried 
barks ; to  analyse  the  leaves  and  flowers  of  the  different  species ; to  settle  the 
best  method  of  drying  the  bark  ; and  finally,  to  enable  Her  Majesty’s  Govern- 
ment to  arrive  at  a decision  with  respect  to  the  best  and  cheapest  method  of 
preparing  the  febrifuge  for  use  among  the  poorer  classes  of  the  natives  of  India. 
Mr.  Broughton  arrived  at  Ootacamund  in  January  1867  and  decided  to  build  his 
analytical  laboratory  there : his  alkaloid  manufactory,  however,  was  subse- 
quently established  at  Neddiwattum.  Mr.  Broughton’s  attention  was  at  first 
of  course  directed  to  an  analysis  of  the  barks  yielded  on  the  plantation,  and  in 
April  1867  he  published  his  first  report,  giving  results  confirmatory  of  those 
previously  obtained  by  Mr.  Howard.  Since  his  appointment,  Mr.  Broughton 
lias  worked  steadily  towards  the  ends  set  before  him  by  the  Secretary  of  State, 
and  has  published  his  results  in  a series  of  able  and  interesting  reports  com- 


CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  BARK  CROP. 


39 


municated  to  the  Madras  Government,  and  in  some  papers  laid  before  the 
Royal  Society  of  London.  These  results  may  now  he  roughly  summarised.  £°^rcheg 
They  are  as  follow 1 : — 

(1)  The  leaves  of  Cinchona  contain  hut  a minute  quantity  of  alkaloid,  £^80n0an 
and  only  about  half  of  that  is  Quinine.  So  far  hack  as  the  year  1863,  the  late 
Dr.  Anderson  concluded,  as  the  result  of  some  experiments  made  at  Darjeeling,  “ 
that  the  leaves  contain  some  alkaloids,  and  he  believed  that  they  might  be  of 
value  as  a febrifuge.  This  hope  is  dispelled  by  Mr.  Broughton  who  has  deter- 
mined the  amount  to  be  as  follows  : — 


Total  Alkaloids. 

Quinine. 

In  dried  leaves  of  Red  Bark 

In  dried  leaves  of  Crown  or  Pale  Bark 

00190 

00111 

0008 

0005 

The  bitter  taste  of  the  leaves  is  largely  due  to  the  presence  of  Quinovine. 

(2)  The  flowers  of  the  Cinchonas  contain  no  alkaloid  but  a considerable  cinchona 
amount  of  Quinovine ; while  ripening  fruit  contains  but  the  faintest  trace  of  comiin  no 
alkaloid,  and  ripe  seed  none  whatever.  The  act  of  flowering  does  not  appear  alkalold- 
to  have  any  direct  influence  on  the  amount  of  alkaloid  in  the  bark. 

(3)  As  regards  the  wood  of  Cinchona  trees,  Mr.  Broughton  found  that  cinchona 
drv  Red  Bark  wood  contains  0‘08  to  0T1  per  cent,  of  alkaloid,  of  which  0'004  contlina 
is  "Quinine,  and  that  Pale  or  Crown  Bark  wood  yields  R0101  per  cent.,  with  aikiloia. 

O' 004  of  Quinine.  t 

(4)  The  order  in  which  the  alkaloids  are  formed  in  the  bark  of  living  The  order  in 

trees  appears  to  be  as  follows : The  first  to  appear  is  one  which  resembles  IiklSoid^eare 

Quinine  in  every  respect  except  in  not  forming  crystallizable  salts.  This  alka-  cinSfon^ 
loid  is  found  alike  in  the  original  bark  of  young  trees,  and  in  strips  of  young  bark' 
bark  forming  over  the  cambium  of  old  trees  to  replace  strips  of  the  original 

bark  which  have  been  removed.  The  chemical  changes  which  occur  in  the 
bark  are  thus  related  more  to  the  age  of  the  bark  than  to  the  age  of  the  tree. 

As  time  passes  on,  this  primitive  alkaloid  resembling  Quinine  becomes  replaced 
partly  by  real  crystallizable  Quinine  (the  desideratum  of  the  quinine  manufac- 
turer) and  partly  by  Cinchonidine.  Although  Mr.  Broughton  has  never 
actually  succeeded  in  converting  Quinine  into  Cinchonidine  by  artificial  means, 
he  is  led  to  believe  that  such  a transmutation  occurs  in  nature.  This  conclu- 
sion is  supported  by  many  collateral  facts. 

(5)  High  temperature  favours  the  formation  of  Cinchonidine  and  dimi-  High 
nishes  that  of  Quinine.  Bark  of  trees  grown  at  a low  elevation,  and  of  those  unTaveorurabi°e 
grown  even  at  a high  elevation  but  of  which  the  stems  have  been  exposed  to  of  Qunitne a 
sun-light,  contains  a large  proportion  of  Cinchonidine,  and  is  pro  tanto  poor 

in  Quinine.  A low  mean  temperature,  within  certain  limits,  is  therefore  favour- 
able to  the  production  of  Quinine.  Deprivation  of  light  favours  the  increase 
of  the  total  amount  of  alkaloids  in  a bark.  Mr.  Broughton  covered  the  stem  of 
a Cinchona  tree  with  a shield  of  tinned  plate  and  the  stem  of  another  with 
black  cloth,  his  object  being  to  keep  the  bark  in  darkness  without  impeding 
the  access  of  air  or  protecting  it  from  the  heating  influence  of  the  sun’s  rays. 

The  results  were  that,  after  ten  months’  protection  in  this  way,  the  amount  of 
total  alkaloids  was  found  to  be  increased  by  about  2-8  per  cent,  in  each  case. 

(6)  The  researches  of  Mr.  J.  E.  Howard  and  of  Dr.  Eliickiger,  confirmed  by  ceuuiar 
those  of  Mr.  Broughton,  prove  that  the  alkaloids  are  contained  in  the  outer  seat  of  the 
and  cellular  portion  of  the  bark,  and  not  in  the  inner,  fibrous  or  liber  layer,  alkal01ds 
and  it  even  appears  that  an  increased  development  of  the  'fibrous  part  of  a 

bark  is  accompanied  by  a decrease  in  the  amount  of  Quinine  in  it. 

(7)  Intimately  connected  with  the  last  two  results  is  the  fact,  first  Renewed 
brought  into  prominence  by  the  result  of  Mr.  Mclvor’s  experiments,  that  bark  crystaii^-111 
renewed  under  moss  contains  a larger  amount  of  both  total  and  crystallizable  tiktioids. 
alkaloids  than  ordinary  bark.  Such  bark  is  more  cellular  than  ordinary  bark, 

and  has,  by  means  of  the  moss,  to  a great  extent  been  protected  both  from  the 
heat  and  light  of  the  sun’s  rays  during  its  formation. 


1 Parliamentary  Return,  East  India  Cinchona  Cultivation,  printed  9th  August  1870,  pp.  237  et  seq. 


40 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Alkaloids  in 
living  bark 
not  perma- 
nent. 


The  salts 
formed  by 
the  alka- 
loids in  liv- 
ing bark. 


Proportion 
of  alkaloids 
varies  with 
age. 


The  most 
healthy 
trees 
yield  the 
richest  bark. 


Effects  of 
manure  on 
composition 
of  bark. 


Modes  of 

drying 

bark. 


(8)  The  alkaloids  in  living  Red  Bark  are  not  permanent  in  either  nature 
or  quantity.  On  the  contrary,  they  are  affected  both  by  the  seasons  of  the  year 
and  also  by  age.  During  the  rainy  season  on  the  Nilgiris  (from  June  to  Sep- 
tember) the  yield  of  total  alkaloids  is  at  its  lowest.  It  rises  at  the  end  of  the 
rains  ( i . e.  towards  the  latter  half  of  September)  and  continues  high  during 
the  cold  and  dry  weather,  falling  slightly  during  February  and  March,  rising 
again  in  April,  and  attaining  its  maximum  in  May.  The  yield  of  crystallizable 
sulphates  in  the  main  follows  a similar  line  of  variation.  The  dry  season  is, 
therefore,  other  things  being  equal,  the  time  to  collect  bark.  The  particular 
part  of  the  dry  season  must,  however,  in  some  measure  he  influenced  by  the 
readiness  or  the  reverse  with  which  the  hark  can  he  separated  from  the  wood. 
The  seasonal  variation  in  Crown  Bark  has  not  been  determined. 

(9)  The  chemical  form  or  state  of  combination  in  which  the  alkaloids 
occur  in  living  hark  is  a point  of  much  importance.  Mr.  Broughton’s  researches 
lead  him  to  believe  that,  in  Red  Bark,  four-fifths  of  the  total  amount  of 
alkaloids  exist  combined  with  Quino-tannic  acid  in  a solid  state  within  the 
tissues,  and  most  probably  exclusively  within  the  cellular  tissue.  The  alkaloids 
appear  not  to  be  very  active  vital  constituents,  but  rather  to  be  stores  “ of  which 
only  a small  portion  at  the  most  shares  in  the  changes  incident  to  growth.”  The 
remaining  fifth  of  the  total  alkaloid  is  in  solution  in  the  juice  of  the  bark. 

(10)  Up  to  a certain  point  in  the  life  of  a Red  Bark  tree  the  total  alka- 
loids contained  in  its  bark  increase  in  quantity,  the  annual  increments  dimi- 
nishing in  amount  until  a maximum  is  reached.  The  proportion  of  crystalliz- 
able quinine,  however,  rather  diminishes  as  the  maximum  yield  of  total  alka- 
loids is  approached.  The  maximum  of  total  alkaloids  is  reached  about  the 
ninth  year,  after  which  age  not  only  waste  but  deterioration  begins,  the  total 
amount  of  alkaloid  diminishing  and  cinchonidine  becoming  transformed  into 
Cinchonine,  an  alkaloid  of  less  value.  The  influence  of  age  on  the  Crown 
Barks  has,  owing  to  their  great  variability  in  quality  at  all  ages,  not  been  settled 
with  the  same  degree  of  certainty,  but  it  is  probably  less  than  in  the  case 
of  Red  Bark. 

(11)  One  of  the  most  important  conclusions  arrived  at  by  Mr.  Brough- 
ton is  that  “ the  most  vigorous  and  rapidly  growing  trees  yield  a much  richer 
bark  than  more  stunted  and  less  vigorous  trees  of  the  same  age,  and  of  course 
they  yield  at  the  same  time  more  bark.”  Hence,  whatever  conditions  stimu- 
late growth  have  a direct  effect  in  increasing  the  yield  of  alkaloid.  The  bark 
of  diseased  trees  contains  little  alkaloid  and  that  of  dead  trees  none  whatever. 

(12)  Mr.  Broughton’s  experiments  show  that  Red  Bark  is  but  little  benefited 
by  the  application  of  manure,  the  increase  in  alkaloid  resulting  from  its  applica- 
tion being  but  slight,  and  little  of  that  increase  being  Quinine.  Crown  Bark,  on 
the  other  hand,  was  found  to  be  much  improved  by  manuring.  An  applica- 
tion of  farm-yard  manure  three  or  four  times  during  a period  of  about  five 
years  gave  an  increase  in  pure  Quinine  of  4’75  per  cent.,  and  in  total  alkaloids 
of  2'81  per  cent.,  thus  raising  the  value  of  the  bark  about  kalf-a-crown  a 
pound.  A pound  of  guano  given  to  a tree  caused  an  increase  of  total  alka- 
loids in  the  bark  of  25  per  cent.,  of  which  2 per  cent,  were  Quinine,  thus 
raising  the  value  of  its  bark  eighteen  pence  a pound.  Ammonia  Sulphate  in 
doses  of  fib  per  tree  gave  an  increase  of  122  per  cent,  of  total  alkaloids  and 
of  057  per  cent,  of  Quinine.  A curious  point  in  this  experiment  was  that  none 
of  these  manures  caused  any  apparent  increased  growth  of  the  trees,  and  did 
not  even  affect  the  tint  of  their  foliage. 

(13)  Mr.  Broughton’s  elaborate  experiments  on  different  modes  of  drying 
bark  prove  that  exposure  to  a high  temperature,  especially  in  a moist  atmo- 
sphere, causes  an  alteration  in  the  chemical  composition  of  the  alkaloids  and 
renders  bark  almost  worthless.  Even  the  sun’s  rays  are  hurtful  if  bark  is  long 
exposed  to  them.  To  secure  it  in  the  best  possible  condition,  bark  should  be 
taken  off  the  trees  in  large  pieces,  and  these  should  be  arranged  on  drying 
stages,  under  shelter  from  the  light  and  heat  of  the  sun’s  rays,  but  open  to  the 
access  of  air.  The  pieces  should  be  frequently  turned.  Bark  should  be  taken 
off  in  dry  weather  only.  If  allowed  to  become  mouldy  and  to  ferment,  as  is 
apt  to  happen  if  it  be  taken  during  wet  weather,  deterioration  more  or  less 
serious  surely  occurs.  Dry  bark,  on  the  other  hand,  will  keep  unchanged  for 
many  months. 


CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  BARK  CROP. 


41 


(14)  Mr.  Broughton  calculates'  that  trunk  bark  loses  from  70  to  74-8  per 
cent,  of  weight  in  drying,  and  branch  bark  from  75  to  76  per  cent.  The  Sik- 
kim experience  goes  to  skew  that  trunk  red  hark  loses  73  per  cent,  and  twig 
hark  75  per  cent. 

Such  are  the  facts  in  the  life-history  and  chemistry  of  the  Cinchona  alka- 
loids which  Mr.  Broughton  has  elicited  and  determined. 


Loss  of 
weight  in 
bark  by 
drying. 


Report  to  Secretary  to  Government  of  Madras,  dated  1st  December  1873,  Appendix. 


42 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Benewal 
under  moss. 


Description 
of  the 
process  of 
mossing. 


Arguments 
in  favour  of, 
and  against, 
mossing. 


CHAPTER  YI. 


MODE  OE  HARVESTING  THE  BARK  CROP. 

Two  matters  of  practical  importance  still  remain  to  be  discussed,  and  to 
tliese  the  remaining  chapters  of  this  report  will  he  devoted.  These  matters  are, 
first,  the  most  profitable  means  of  harvesting  the  hark  crop  ; second,  the  best 
means  of  extracting  the  alkaloids  contained  in  it,  so  as  to  obtain  the  largest 
amount  of  an  effectual  febrifuge  at  the  least  possible  cost.  Mr.  Mclvor’s 
attention  was  early  directed  to  the  solution  of  the  problem  of  how  to  produce 
the  greatest  amount  of  alkaloid  in  the  least  amount  of  time.  From  the  begin- 
ning he  appears  to  have  been  full  of  faith  that,  under  cultivation,  the  total 
yield  of  alkaloid  and  the  proportionate  amount  of  Quinine  in  any  bark  could  be 
increased.  In  April  1863  he  reported  to  Government  that  “ the  Cinchona  tree 
has  the  power  of  rapidly  renewing  its  bark,  if  the  spaces  from  which  the  latter 
is  taken  are  immediately  covered  with  damp  moss;”  and  that  the  new  bark 
formed  over  these  spaces  is  thicker,  in  proportion,  than  that  part  of  the  bark 
which  had  not  been  interfered  with.  Subsequent  experience  led  Mr.  Mclvor 
to  the  double  conclusion  that  not  only  can  the  amount  of  bark  yielded  by  a tree 
be  very  much  increased  by  the  process  of  mossing,  but  that  the  total  amount 
of  alkaloids  (and  especially  the  proportion  of  crystallisable  Quinine)  in  bark  so 
renewed  is  considerably  greater  than  in  natural  bark.  Mr.  Mclvor  proposed  to 
harvest  all  Cinchona  bark  in  this  way,  and  in  1865  he  sought  to  obtain  a patent 
for  his  method,  so  as  to  secure  to  himself  a pecuniary  interest  in  its  application. 
This  was,  however,  disallowed.  Mr.  Mclvor’s  mossing  process  is  thus  described 
in  his  own  words' — 

“A  labourer  proceeds  to  an  eight-year  old  tree,  and,  reaching  upas  far  as  lie  can,  makes  a 
horizontal  incision  of  the  required  width.  From  either  end  of  this  incision  he  runs  a vertical 
incision  to  the  ground,  and  then,  carefully  raising  with  his  knife  the  bark  at  the  horizontal 
incision  until  he  can  seize  it  with  his  lingers,  he  strips  off  the  hark  to  the  ground  and  cuts  it 
off.  The  strip  of  hark  then  presents  the  appearance  of  a ribbon  more  or  less  long.  Suppos- 
ing the  tree  to  be  of  28  inches  in  circumference,  the  labourer  will  take  nine  of  the  above 
ribbons,  each  Q inches  wide.  He  will  thus  leave,  after  the  tree  has  been  stripped,  other  nine 
ribbons  still  adhering  to  the  tree,  each  somewhat  broader  than  the  stripped  ribbon  and  at 
intervals  apart,  occupied  by  the  spaces  to  which  the  stripped  ribbons  had  adhered.  As  soon  as 
he  has  removed  his  strips,  the  labourer  will  proceed  to  moss  the  trunk  all  round,  tying  ou  the 
moss  with  some  fibre.  The  decorticated  intervals  will  thus  be  excluded  from  light  and  air,  and 
this  point  is  one  of  the  capital  points  in  the  system.  The  mere  exclusion  of  light  and  air  from 
a stem  partially  bared  of  bark  acts  in  two  ways  : it  enables  a healing  process  to  be  rapidly  set 
up  in  the  same  way  as  a plaster  does  in  the  case  of  a wound  in  an  animal  organism  : and  it  has 
this  farther  curious  effect,  it  increases  the  secretion  of  Quinine  in  the  bark  renewed  under  its 
protection.  This  increase  ofQuinine  is  admitted  by  Mr.  Broughton  in  all  his  reports.  At  the 
end  of  six  or  twelve  months  the  bands  of  bark  left  untouched  at  the  first  stripping  are  re- 
moved, and  the  intervals  they  occupied  on  the  trunk  are  mossed.  At  the  end  of  twenty-two 
mouths,  on  an  average,  the  spaces  occupied  by  the  ribbons  originally  taken  are  found  to  be 
covered  with  renewed  bark  much  thicker  than  the  natural  bark  of  the  same  age,  and  this  re- 
newed bark  can  be  removed  and  a fresh  process  of  renewal  again  be  fostered  by  moss.  In 
another  six  or  twelve  months,  the  renewed  bark  of  the  natural  ribbons  left  at  the  first  strip- 
ping can  be  taken  and  so  on  ; harvests  ai’e  obtainable  from  the  trunk,  alternately  from  the 
spaces  left  at  the  first  stripping  and  the  spaces  left  by  the  second  stripping.  Experience 
hitherto  does  not  shew  any  limit  to  the  taking  of  these  harvests  from  a tree.  Of  course,  it  is 
understood  that  at  every  stripping  the  ribbons  taken  are  longer  than  at  the  preceding  stripping, 
because  the  tree  has  each  year  increased  in  height  and  bulk,  and,  therefore,  the  top  of  every 
ribbon  consists  of  natural  bark  and  the  lower  part  of  renewed  bark.”  Mr.  Mclvor  farther 
adds,  “ All  experience  hitherto  acquired  shews  that  bark  invariably  renews.  It  renews  easilv 
and  early  when  the  cambium  is  untouched.  In  cases  where  the  cambium  is  injured,  the  renewal 
proceeds,  but  the  process  is  slower.  In  respect  of  universal  renewal,  there  is  no  difference 
whatever  between  the  Red  and  Crown  Barks.” 

Mr.  Mclvor  has  all  along  urged  that  this  mode  of  cultivating  and  cropping 
bark  will  he  found  by  far  more  profitable  than  any  other.  Its  advantages,  as 
stated  by  him,  are — that,  as  the  bark  (if  taken  with  proper  precautions)  is  al- 


1 Report  to  the  Commissioner  of  the  Kilgiris,  dated  9th  August  1873. 


MODE  OE  HARVESTING  TIIE  BARK  CROP. 


43 


most  invariably  renewed  by  the  end  of  periods  varying  from  twelve  to  twenty- 
two  months,  a crop,  amounting  to  half  the  trunk  bark  of  a tree  and  increasing 
in  actual  amount  pari  passu  with  the  growth  of  the  latter,  can  be  regularly 
taken  about  once  a year  without  in  any  way  interfering  with  the  health  and 
vigour  of  the  tree  ; and,  moreover,  that  the  bark  so  taken  is  richer  in  total  alka- 
loids, and  specially  richer  in  crystallisable  Quinine,  than  natural  bark.  By 
following  this  plan  Mr.  Mclvor  believes  that  advantage  can  always  be  taken  of 
the  period  in  its  growth  when  renewed  bark  is  richest  in  alkaloid,  so  that  it  may 
be  removed  then.  This  is  on  the  supposition  that  at  that  period  the  bark  shall 
have  attained  sufficient  thickness,  which  of  course  it  may  not  have  done.  Mr. 
Broughton’s  more  recent  investigations  on  the  effects  of  mossing  Red  Bark  go  to 
shew  that  the  increase  of  total  alkaloid,  which  undoubtedly  characterises  re- 
newed bark  on  young  trees,  does  not  characterise  the  renewed  bark  of  trees 
which  have  arrived  at  the  age  of  maximum  yield, — in  other  words  that,  on  trees 
more  than  eight  years  old,  moss-renewed  bark  is  not  richer,  as  far  as  yield  of 
total  alkaloid  is  concerned,  than  natural  bark  of  the  same  age.  Such  bark 
appears,  however,  to  contain  more  crystallisable  Quinine  than  natural  bark  and 
is  thus  more  valuable  as  a source  of  pure  Quinine,  although  not  more  so  as  a 
source  of  Cinchona  alkaloid.  It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  mossing  deals  with 
only  part  of  the  bark  of  a tree,  namely,  half  or  third  of  that  covering  the  trunk. 

Mr.  Broughton’s  most  recent  inference  from  his  analyses  is  therefore,  if  correct, 
of  some  importance.  It  is  to  the  effect  that  there  is  apparently  a transference  of 
alkaloid  from  the  untouched,  into  the  renewing,  bark  and  that,  therefore,  if  the 
renewed  mosspd  bark  of  a tree  be  enriched,  the  natural  bark  remaining  on  the  same 
tree  above  the.region  treated  by  moss  is  pro  tanto  impoverished.  Mr.  Broughton 
has  recently  been  farther  led  to  conclude  that  the  renewal  of  bark  is  not  by  any 
means  an  invariable  result  of  treatment  with  moss.  On  the  contrary,  he  estimated 
that  85  per  cent,  of  2,000  trees  barked  and  mossed  in  1871  had,  two  years  later, 
either  wholly  or  partially  failed  to  renew  their  bark.  This  conclusion  was 
substantially  confirmed  by  Dr.  Bidie,  who  was  sent  to  report  specially  on  the 
subject.  These  2,000  trees  are,  however,  stated  by  Mr.  Mclvor  to  have  been 
barked  and  mossed  by  unskilled  labour  : moreover  Mr.  Mclvor  maintains  that 
their  failure  to  renew  their  bark  has  been  much  exaggerated. 

Additional  serious  objections  to  the  mossing  system  are,  the  necessity  (in 
order  to  prevent  injury  to  the  delicate  cambium)1 2  of  having  the  operation  done 
by  skilled  and  careful  men  under  constant  European  supervision,  the  fact 
that,  at  the  age  when  it  is  richest  in  alkaloids,  the  renewed  bark  is  frequently 
found  to  be  much  thinner  than  natural  bark,  and  the  consequent  necessity  of 
allowing  it  to  stand  until  it  thickens,  thus  reducing  the  frequency  of  cropping 
from  once  in  eighteen  months  (as  originally  estimated  by  Mr.  Mclvor)  to  once 
in  from  two  to  three  years,  and  finally  the  diminution  in  health*  and  vigour 
actually  observed  in  trees  which  have  been  submitted  to  the  process,  a diminu- 
tion so  great  as  to  involve  the  danger  of  their  premature  death.  As  already 
explained,  bark  is  only  successfully  renewed  when  it  is  formed  regularly  over 
the  entire  surface  of  the  wood  that  has  been  laid  bare.  If  tfie  delicate  cam- 
bium surface  has  been  injured  by  rough  handling,  the  damaged  part  of  the 
wood  dies ; it  does  not  reproduce  bark,  and,  unless  covered  by  lateral  growth 
from  the  cut  edge  of  the  natural  bark,  it  remains  bare.  The  bare  part  ulti- 
mately decays,  and  thus  disease  is  introduced  into  the  stem. 

The  minor  objections  to  the  process  are,  that  it  can  be  done  only  when 
there  is  much  moisture  in  the  air,  and  that  consequently  bark  must  be  harvest- 
ed at  the  very  seasons  when  it  is  most  difficult  to  dry  it  for  exportation ; and 
that,  even  if  wet  bark  is  to  be  used  for  local  manufacture,  the  supplies  are 
poured  into  the  factory  during  a limited  season  of  the  year  only. 

Mossing  has  been  tried  in  the  Sikkim  plantations  and  lias  totally  failed  ^osshig,  a 
from  a cause  not  alluded  to  in  any  of  the  Nilgiri  reports,  namely,  the  attacks  sYkkim!' 

1 On  this  point  Dr.  Bidie  in  his  report  to  the  Government  of  Madras,  dated  13th  November  1873,  writes: — 

“ It  is  of  great  importance  that  the  cambium  layer  should  not  be  injured  by  the  knife,  or  be  allowed  to  dry,  or  be  exposed  to  the  sun, 
as,  if  injured  in  any  of  these  ways,  the  bark  will  fail  to  renew." 

2 Dr.  Bidie’s  testimony  regarding  this  is  as  follows : — 

“ So  far  as  mere  dimensions  of  stem  go,  there  is  but  little  difference  between  the  mossed  and  unmossed  (Red  Bark)  trees  ; but,  taking 
a bird’s  eye  view  of  the  trees,  the  most  casual  observer  cannot  fail  to  notice  the  superior  luxuriance  of  the  unmossed." 

And  again  concerning  the  Crown  Barks  he  writes : — 

“The  mossed  Crown  Barks,  owing  to  the  renewal  of  their  lower  branches  and  the  faded  hue  of  their  foliage,  present,  on  casing  a bird’s 
eye  view  of  an  estate,  a very  inferior  appearance  compared  with  trees  that  have  not  been  barked.  1 also  observed,  in  both  the  Red  and 
Crown  Barks  which  had  been  mossed,  a tendency  to  produce  an  unusual  amount  of  flower  and  seed,  a peculiarity  very  common  in  plants 
which  may  have  had  their  vitality  reduced  in  any  way.” 


44 


CINCnONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Renewal  of 
bark  without 
moss. 


Coppicing  ; 
description 
of  the 
process. 


Experience 
of  coppicing 
in  the 
N ilgiris. 


of  ants.  In  every  tree  treated  by  Mr.  Mclvor’s  process  in  Sikkim,  the  renew- 
ing bark  has,  as  fast  as  formed,  been  regularly  eaten  by  these  insects,  to  which 
the  moss  apparently  forms  a most  acceptable  cover,  and  to  which  the  succulent 
young  bark-cells  appear  to  afford  a particularly  attractive  food.  This  is  no 
matter  of  surmise  or  theory,  for  these  insects  have  repeatedly  been  observed  at 
work  by  Mr.  Gammie,  the  resident  manager  of  the  plantation,  and  also  by 
myself.  Trees  covered  with  straw,  instead  of  moss,  fared  no  better. 

A number  of  trees,  however,  which  were  recently  barked  in  Sikkim  in  the 
way  described  by  Mr.  Mclvor,  but  which  were  left  bare  of  any  kind  of  covering 
whatever,  have  renewed  their  bark  fairly  well,  the  renewal  taking  place 
(as  in  successful  mossing)  not  by  growth  from  the  edges  of  the  bark  left  on  the 
stem,  but  by  development  over  the  entire  denuded  cambium  surface.  The  bark 
thus  renewed  has  not  yet  been  submitted  to  analysis,  being  as  yet  not  suffi- 
ciently old  to  be  judged  of.  The  successful  renewal  of  Cinchona  bark  with- 
out protection  has  also  been  observed  on  the  Nilgiri  plantations.1 

The  other  system  by  which  it  has  been  proposed  to  take  the  bark  crop  on 
the  Nilgiris  is  that  known  as  coppicing.  This  consists  in  cutting  down  trees 
either  close  to  the  ground  or  within  a short  distance  of  it,  and  of  allowing  one  or 
more  of  the  crop  of  shoots  which  rises  from  the  stumps  to  grow.  If  any  shoots 
naturally  arise  from  near  the  base  of  the  stem  prior  to  cutting  it,  these  would 
of  course  be  left  to  form  coppice,  instead  of  trusting  to  the  formation  of  entire- 
ly new  shoots  from  the  cut  stump.  As  a fact,  such  natural  root-shoots  do  not 
occur  to  any  great  extent  on  healthy  Cinchona  trees  at  Sikkim,  although  they 
appear  to  do  so  in  the  Nilgiris.  Coppicing  is  a mode  of  working  well  known 
in  forestry  and  is  done  in  several  ways ; thus,  the  trees  in  a piece  of  forest  may 
be  cut  down  all  at  once ; or  a proportion  only  may  be  felled,  leaving  the  young 
shoots  originating  from  their  stumps  to  grow  under  the  protection  of  the  larger 
trees  left  standing.  One  or  other  of  these  modes  is  that  proposed  as  an  alter- 
native to  mossing.  If  Mr.  Broughton  is  correct  as  to  the  period  of  the 
maximum  richness  of  Bed  Bark,  and  if  it  be  desired  to  take  advantage  of  that 
period,  the  trees  would,  under  the  coppicing  system,  be  felled  during  the  eighth 
year  of  their  age ; and  from  the  stumps  two  or  three  shoots  would  be  allowed  to 
grow,  which  shoots  would  in  turn  he  felled  (when  of  sufficient  size)  either 
simultaneously,  or  one  at  a time  annually  until  all  are  cut.  The  cutting 
of  each  shoot  would  be  followed  by  the  appearance  of  new  shoots  from  the 
stump.  A steady,  successive,  series  of  crops  of  bark  could,  it  is  believed,  thus  be 
got  from  a plantation  treated  coppice  fashion.  That  other  trees  continue  to 
yield  coppice  for  a long  series  of  years  is  a well-known  fact  of  which  the  ex- 
tensive hard-wood  coppices  of  France  and  Germany,  and  the  Cinnamon  cop- 
pices of  Ceylon,  need  only  be  mentioned  as  instances.  It  seems  pretty  well 
established  that  in  their  natural  forests  on  the  Andes,  Cinchona  trees  sprout 
freely  from  their  cut  stumps.  The  presumptions  in  favour  of  the  success  of 
coppicing  appear  therefore  pretty  strong.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
hitherto  treatment  of  Cinchonas  coppice-fashion  has  received  no  proper  trial 
in  the  Nilgiris,  whereas  many  thousand  trees  have  been  submitted  to  the  moss- 
ing, process.  Mr.  Mclvor’s  return  of  coppiced  trees  is  as  follows  : — 


There  were  coppiced  in  December  1866  about  50  trees 


in 

January 

1867 

33 

50 

D 

in 

May 

1871 

33 

240 

33 

in 

June 

1873 

33 

58 

3) 

in 

October 

33 

33 

57 

33 

Total  ...  455  trees. 


Of  these,  he  informs  us,  a considerable  percentage  died  after  being  cut, 
(that  is,  they  sent  up  no  new  shoots)  and  the  shoots  of  those  that  survived  were 
but  poor.  Mr.  Mclvor  speaks  of  the  shoots  on  some  trees  at  Neddiwuttum  as 
being  when  seven  years  old  “ mere  wands  ” clothed  with  bark  “ too  thin  to 
be  of  any  value  whatever.”  In  his  report  already  alluded  to,  Dr.  Bidie  gives 
his  opinion  of  the  Nilgiri  coppicing  experiments  in  the  following  words  : — 

“ So  far  we  may  be  said  to  have  had  in  the  Nilgiris  no  experience  whatever  of  this  method 
of  harvesting  the  bark,  as  the  few  experiments  which  have  been  made  have  been  on  too 


1 See  Dr.  Bidie’s  report,  paragraph  16. 


MODE  OF  HARVESTING  THE  BARK  CROP. 


45 


small  a scale,  and  not  conducted  in  a manner  likely  to  throw  much  light  on  the  subject.  The 
oldest  coppiced  trees  are  some  Red  Barks  which  were  cut  down  in  1866.  I was  not  able  to  find 
the  whole  of  these,  but  those  which  I saw  had  not  done  well.  This  is  hardly  to  he  wondered 
at,  as,  in  the  first  place,  some  of  the  trees  were  immediately  over  the  scarp  of  a road, — a had 
situation  for  coppiced  trees, — and,  in  the  next  place,  too  many  shoots  had  been  left  to  grow  up 
from  the  stumps.  The  coppicing  experiment  was  made  in  1871,  — 240  C.  succirubra  trees  having 
been  cut  down  in  that  year.  Of  these,  40  are  on  the  Kilgraston  estate  and  form  a single  row, 
flanked  on  each  side  by  tall  neighbours;  while  the  200  are  on  the  Denison  estate  and  con- 
stitute a plot  which  has  been  completely  cleared.  As  regards  the  40  trees  on  the  Kilgraston 
estate,  they  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  had  fair  play,  as  their  neighbours  have  so  completely 
shaded  them  as  to  deprive  them,  to  a considerable  extent,  of  the  necessary  light  and  air.  Too 
many  shoots  have  also  been  allowed  to  spring  up  from  the  stools,  and  these  shoots,  owing  to 
the  dense  shade,  were  observed,  in  many  instances,  to  be  too  feeble  to  stand  erect.  No  opinion 
as  to  coppicing  can  be  deduced  from  this  part  of  the  experiment.  The  200  coppiced  trees  on 
the  Denison  estate  have  done  better,  all  the  stools,  with  a very  few  exceptions,  having  survived, 
and  the  shoots  have  grown  fairly  and  are  looking  healthy. 

“ Another  coppicing  experiment  was  carried  out  in  June  1873,  — 58  Red  Bark  trees  having 
been  cut  down,  while  a similar  number  of  contiguous  trees,  of  the  same  species  and  age,  were 
barked  and  mossed  with  the  view  of  the  results  of  the  two  systems  being  rigidly  contrasted. 

I must  say  at  once  that  this  trial  is  on  much  too  paltry  a scale,  and  that  the  coppiced  trees 
were  cut  at  an  unfortunate  period  of  the  year,  as,  being  then  full  of  sap,  they  of  coui’se  bled 
profusely  and  thus  ran  a great  risk  of  dying  or  having  their  vitality  more  or  less  permanently 
impaired.  Owing  to  the  short  time  that  had  elapsed  since  this  experiment  was  instituted,  it 
was  quite  useless  for  any  practical  deductions ; but  I may  remark  that  all  the  stools  had 
either  thrown  up  shoots  or  gave  promise  of  doing  so.  The  same  remarks  apply  to  a small 
coppicing  experiment  on  Crown  Barks  on  the  Dodabetta  estate,  these  trees  having  also  been  cut 
in  June  1873/'’ 

The  objections  urged  against  the  application  of  coppicing  to  Cinchonas  may  ^oppiSn  * 
be  summed  up  as  follows  : — 

1st. — The  stump  of  the  felled  tree  (usually  called  the  stool ) may  fail  to  The  steals 
send  up  shoots.  This  not  unfrequently  happens,  even  with  shootai  to 
healthy  trees,  both  in  the  Nilgiris  and  in  Sikkim.  In  the  case  of 
unhealthy  trees  the  results  are  of  course  much  less  favourable. 

2nd. — It  has  been  urged  that  coppicing  is  a difficult  and  delicate  operation  . It  is  said  to 
On  the  Continent  of  Europe  and  in  England  no  such  difficulty  and  delicate 
is  experienced,  and  coppicing  is  done  by  unskilled  labour.  In operatlou 
Sikkim,  ordinary  hill  coolies  of  by  no  means  great  intelligence 
are  found  to  do  it  quite  well.  The  thinning-out  of  the  shoots 
that  spring  from  the  stool,  so  as  to  leave  only  two  or  three  of  the 
best  of  them,  is  the  most  delicate  operation  connected  with  cop- 
picing ; yet,  this  is  found  in  Sikkim  to  be  a task  which  a coolie  of 
ordinary  intelligence  can  be  taught  in  a few  lessons. 

3 rd. — It  has  been  said  that  coppice  shoots  grow  more  slowly  than  young  coppice 
trees.  In  Sikkim  four-year  old  succirubra  trees  average  in  height  to  grow 
15  feet : four-year  old  shoots  from  the  stools  of  trees  cut  at  the  i’lowly’ 
age  of  four  years  average  12'4  feet  in  height.  Such  shoots  are  not 
however  so  thick  as  the  stems  of  untouched  four-year  old  trees. 

4 th. — The  bark  of  coppiced  shoots  is  said  to  be  thin  and  worthless.  Mr.  coppice 

Broughton’s  and  Mr.  Wood’s  analyses  of  such  bark  yield  results  beudnaVd 
which  shew  it  to  be  as  good  as,  if  not  better  than,  original  bark.  worthless- 

5 th. — It  has  also  been  given  as  an  objection  to  coppice  that,  as  the  removal  said  to  be 
of  the  shade  of  the  older  trees  is  rapidly  followed  by  a growth  method, 
of  weeds,  the  annual  cost  of  keeping  it  clear  of  weeds  will  be 
about  equal  to  that  of  keeping  up  a young  -plantation.  The 
weight  of  this  objection  has  however  been  ratber  exaggerated,  for 
it  is  found  that,  if  only  alternate  rows  of  old  trees,  or  if  alternate 
trees  in  alternate  rows  be  cut,  sufficient  shade  is  given  by  the 
heads  of  the  trees  left  standing,  not  only  to  protect  the  young 
stool-shoots,  but  also  to  a great  extent  to  keep  weeds  in  check. 

It  is  moreover  doubtful  whether  the  total  abandonment  of  all 
cultivation,  although  a cheap,  is  really  a desirable  or  profitable 
policy ; for  it  must  be  remembered  that  Cinchona  trees  of  all 
ages  receive  much  benefit  from  the  moderate  stirring  of  the  soil 
that  is  incidental  to  the  operations  of  weeding  and  hoeing. 

M 


46 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Said  to  yield 
less  bark 
t han  the 
mossing 
process. 


The  two 
systems 
compared. 


6th. — It  is  very  strongly  insisted  on  both  by  Mr.  Mclvor1  and  by  the 
Commissioner  of  the  Nilgiris  that  more  bark  can  be  taken  from 
a tree  within  a given  time  by  mossing  than  by  coppicing.  An 
illustration  is  given  by  the  latter  as  follows'2 : — 

“ One  thousand  succirubra  trees  of  eight  years  old  were  mossed.  They  will  be  twelve 
years  old  in  September  next.  In  these  four  years  they  have  given  at  four  harvestings  : — 

2,980  tbs  in  1871-72  of  dry  bark. 

764  „ „ 1872-73 
1,546  „ „ 1S73-74 
770  „ „ 1874-75 

6,060  „ „ 


or  in  all  6,000  and  odd  pounds  of  dry  bark.  On  the  other  hand,  the  240  trees  coppiced  hy  my 
predecessor  and  Mr.  Broughton  in  May  1871  gave  the  following  results : — 200  of  the  trees 
were  coppiced  in  one  block.  They  were  of  the  season  1862-63.  The  other  40  trees  were  of 
the  season  1864-65,  and  they  were  coppiced  in  alternate  rows.  The  bark  obtained  from  the 
240  trees  aggregated  720lbs.  of  green  trunk  bark  (equal  to  2551bs.  of  dry  bark)  and  3241bs. 
of  green  branch  bark  (equal  to  lOOfbs.  of  dry  bark).  The  whole  quantity  of  dry  bark  attained 
was  thus  355lbs.  or  1/48R).  per  tree.  I have  on  several  occasions  stated  that  these  trees  have 
given  nothing  since.  Therefore  the  mossed  trees  have  yielded  63bs.  of  dry  bark  per  tree 
against  l-48fb.  in  the  case  of  the  coppiced  trees,  including  all  the  branch  bark,  which  of 
course  has  not  been  taken  in  the  mossed  trees.  Six  pounds  each  tree  of  mossed  trunk  bark 
have  to  be  set  against  l|fb.  of  mixed  trunk  and  branch  bark,  or  four  times  the  quantity  of 
the  more  valuable  bark.” 

The  figures  just  quoted  would  seem  to  shew  a strong  case  in  favour  of 
mossing.  It  must  not  however  be  forgotten  that,  whereas  the  mossing  experi- 
ments were  conducted  with  much  enthusiasm  and  care,  those  in  coppicing  were 
on  a very  small  scale,  received  but  little  attention,  and  are  admitted  by  every- 
body to  have  been  inadequate  and  unsatisfactory.  These  figures  are,  moreover, 
vitiated  for  the  purposes  of  comparison  by  an  obvious,  though  doubtless  un- 
intentional error.  The  1,000  trees  referred  to  as  mossed  were  eight  years  old ; 
they  yielded3  in  1871-72,  2,9801bs.  of  dry  bark  per  tree.  But  this  was  natural 
bark,  originally  covering  their  stems,  which  was  taken  off  to  allow  moss 
to  be  applied  ; and  it  is  equal  to  about  three  pounds  per  tree.  Of  the  six  pounds 
claimed  as  the  produce  of  these  mossed  trees,  half  the  quantity  is  thus  original 
bark  which  existed  on  them  prior  to  the  application  of  moss,  the  other  half  is 
bark  renewed  under  moss.  On  the  other  hand,  the  240  coppiced  trees  were,  as  Mr. 
Mclvor  states4,  of  two  ages  : 200  were  eight  years  old  and  40  were  five  and  a half 
years  old.  They  yielded  only  T48  lbs.  of  original  bark  (the  bark  of  both  stem 
and  branches  being  included)  and  must  therefore  have  been  very  much  smaller 
trees  than  the  thousand  which  yielded,  from  their  stems  only,  three  pounds  each 
of  original  bark.  The  bark  of  the  four-year  old  shoots  of  these  coppiced  trees 
is  besides  not  calculated  at  all.  In  Sikkim  we  know  that  the  value  of  bark 
taken  from  four-year  old  coppice  shoots  rising  from  stools  from  5-|  to  8 years 
old  would  be  considerable. 

The  contrast  between  the  Nilgiri  results  of  mossing  as  compared  to  cop- 
picing, imperfect  although  the  latter  are,  is  therefore  not  so  great  as  at  first 
sight  appears.  But,  even  accepting  Mr.  Mclvor’s  estimate  of  the  yield  obtain- 
able by  mossing,  it  does  not  appear  that  the  data  as  to  the  comparative  merits 
of  the  two  systems  are  as  yet  sufficient  to  warrant  the  formation  of  a final  and 
definite  opinion  as  to  which  is  the  preferable  one  in  practice  for  the  Nilgiris.  It 
may  possibly  be  found  that  a compromise  may  be  most  advantageous,  and  that 
it  may  pay  best  first  to  take  a crop  of  bark  by  mossing  and  then  to  coppice  the 
trees.  The  removal  of  a large  part  of  the  bark  of  a tree  every  year  can  hardly 
fail  to  cause  an  amount  of  derangement  in  its  vital  processes  which  can  scarcely 
be  beneficial  to  its  health.  It  will  not  therefore  be  anticipated  by  anybody 
at  all  conversant  with  vegetable  physiology  or  with  practical  horticulture,  that 
Cinchona  trees  will  for  a long  series  of  years  not  only  bear  annual  decortica- 
tion with  impunity,  but  go  on  producing,  with  the  regularity  of  machines,  annual 


1 Letter  from  Mr.  Mclvor  to  the  Commissioner  of  the  Nilgiris,  dated  9th  August  1873- 

2 Letter  from  the  Commissioner  of  the  Nilgiris  to  the  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  Madras,  dated  17th  June 
1874,  paragraph  17. 

3 See  Mr.  Mclvor’s  annual  report  on  the  Nilgiri  Cinchona  plantations  for  1871-72,  paragraph  11. 

1 Letter  to  Commissioner  of  the  Nilgiris,  dated  August  1873. 


MODE  OF  HARVESTING  THE  BARK  CROP. 


47 


crops  of  bark  of  high  quality.  Experience  alone  will  decide  liow  long  they 
will  live  under  such  treatment.  It  has  already  taught  that  on  the  Nilgiris  the 
trees  will  do  for  some  time,1  and  the  supporters  of  mossing  say  for  long  enough 
time  to  yield  better  results  than  any  other  mode  of  bark  harvest  hitherto  pro- 
posed. It  is  urged  by  the  advocates  of  the  process  that,  if  mossed  trees  shew 
symptoms  of  failing  health,  they  can  be  coppiced  or  replaced  by  seedlings,  and 
that,  even  under  these  circumstances,  they  will  have  paid  better  than  had  they 
been  coppiced. 

With  the  view  of  estimating  the  merits  of  the  coppicing  system,  a number  Experience 
of  trees  of  various  ages  were  cut  down  in  the  Sikkim  plantation  towards  the  in  8>kkim.  g 
end  of  the  year  1874.  About  a year  later  (i.  e.,  in  September  1875)  these 
plants  were  examined  and  the  details  of  the  measurements  of  the  coppice  of  a 
few  of  them  may  here  be  given  in  a tabular  form.2  The  figures  are  as  follows 


Number  of  plants  1 
measured. 

When  planted. 

Planting  distance. 

When  coppiced. 

Percentage  of  plants 
which  have  failed  to 
send  up  shoots  from 
their  stools  and  which 
are  presumably  dead. 

Percentage  of  plants 
in  which  the  coppice 
shoots  are  two  or 
more. 

Average  height  of 
coppice  in  Septem- 
ber 1875. 

Feet. 

50 

1866 

6x6 

Dec.  1870... 

12 

12-4 

feet 

100 

1866 

Ditto 

„ 1874... 

7 

26  per  cent. 

2-58 

r 

j 

50 

1867 

Ditto 

„ 1874... 

2 

57 

2'88-j 

i 

i 

20 

1867 

Ditto 

„ 1874... 

5 

... 

2-20 

100 

1867 

Ditto 

„ 1874... 

22 

31 

2-70 

100 

1868 

Ditto 

„ 1874... 

18 

34 

2-46 

20 

1869 

Ditto 

Nov.  1874... 

10 

none 

2-35 

100 

1870 

Ditto 

Dec.  1874... 

30 

71  „ 

334 

86 

1871 

Ditto 

„ 1874... 

17 

61 

3-91 

100 

1872 

4x4 

„ 1874... 

36 

20  „ 

3-27 

Rejueks. 


From  this  patch  a few  cankered  plants  had  been  cut 
and  some  thinning  of  healthy  trees  had  been  done 
between  1870  and  1873.  In  1874  a patch  was  cut 
down  almost  entirely,  a few  trees  only  being  ef 
per  acre.  The  measurements  here  given  are  those 
therefore  of  as  nearly  as  may  be  a clean  coppice, 
free  from  shade. 


The  trees  were  cut  in  rows  in  the  plantation,  the 
coppice  was  thefore  shaded. 


Ditto 


ditto. 


Ditto 


ditto. 


Ditto 


ditto. 


Ditto 


ditto. 


Ditto 


ditto. 


The  trees  in  this  patch  were  very  vigorous  and  had 
large  shady  heads.  The  coppice  therefore  was 
smothered.  —See  remarks  on  page  48. 


1 It  is  quite  beside  tbe  question  to  quote,  as  has  been  done,  the  repeated  and  long-continued  yield  of  cork  by  the 
cork-oak  and  to  argue  from  that  in  favour  of  the  success  of  continued  artificial  decortication  of  Cinchona  trees.  Cork 
consists  of  the  outer  bark,  which,  when  not  removed  artificially,  is  shed  spontaneously  by  the  trees  at  stated  intervals. 
The  inner  bark  of  the  tree  forms  no  part  of  the  cork  of  commerce,  and  neither  in  the  artificial  removal  nor  in  the  natural 
shedding  of  cork  is  the  inner  bark  layer  removed.  The  young  wood  or  cambium  is  therefore  never  exposed.  Medicinal 
Cinchona  bark,  on  the  contrary,  consists  of  the  entire  bark,  outer  as  well  as  inner ; and,  in  the  process  of  mossing,  the 
whole  is  removed  and  the  young  wood  or  cambium  is  laid  bare  — a process  to  which  there  is  nothing  analogous  in  the 
collection  of  cork.  The  habit  of  naturally  shedding  the  outer  bark  is  not  peculiar  to  the  cork-oak,  but  occurs  in  other 
plants.  As  familiar  examples,  may  be  mentioned  the  grape-vine  and  the  guava. 

2 The  measurements  of  the  coppice  shoots  of  fifty  trees  planted  in  1866  and  cut  down  in  December  1870  arc 
also  given. 


48 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Longevity  o: 
Cinchona  in 
India  not 
known  yet. 


Value  of  the 
bark  of 
young  trees. 


Modifica- 
tions of 
coppicing. 


These  figures  give  a fair  example  of  the  condition  of  some  thousands  of 
coppiced  trees  in  the  Sikkim  plantation  : they  cannot  on  the  whole  be  regard- 

ed as  very  favourable.  One  important  item  of  the  Sikkim  experience  of 
coppice  is  that  shoots  grown  under  shade  are  inclined  to  be  thin  and  lank,  and 
they  are  undoubtedly  less  healthy  and  vigorous  than  those  of  the  coppice  that 
follows  a complete,  or  nearly  complete,  clearance  of  the  old  trees.  The  expense 
of  keeping  such  a coppice  clear  of  weeds  is,  as  has  been  already  pointed  out, 
considerable. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  we  are  still  ignorant  of  one  most  important  fact 
in  Cinchona  cultivation  in  India,  and  one  which  has  a most  important  bearing 
on  modes  of  taking  the  bark  crop  ; the  fact  is  this — we  do  not  know  the  age  to 
which  the  trees  will  naturally  live  in  this  country . If  their  lives  are  to  be  short, 
it  will  be  advisable  to  adopt  working  plans  involving  early  taking  of  the  bark ; 
if  they  are  to  be  long-lived,  longer-deferred  cropping  must  be  practiced.  With 
regard  to  mixed  coppice,  we  do  not  know  exactly  up  to  what  age  the  shade  of 
the  older  trees  is  advantageous  or  the  reverse  to  the  young  shoots.  There  is, 
doubtless,  a period  at  which  the  shade  of  the  older  trees  will  begin  to  be  dis- 
advantageous to  the  coppice  under  them,  and,  as  soon  as  this  period  arrives,  the 
older  trees  must  be  sufficiently  thinned  out.  Recent  analyses  by  Mr. 
Wood,  the  Government  Quinologist  on  the  Sikkim  plantations,  go  to  shew  that 
the  yield  of  alkaloid  is  really  not  so  much  affected  in  Sikkim  by  the  age 
of  the  tree  as  Mr.  Broughton  found  it  to  be  in  the  Nilgiris;  and  that  the  bark 
of  healthy  trees  from  four  to  eight 1 years  old,  and  of  coppice  shoots  from  three 
to  four  years  old,  is  all  pretty  much  the  same  in  its  percentage  of  total  alkaloid. 
Mr.  Wood  is  further  inclined  to  think  that,  at  all  ages  of  the  trees,  the  value  of 
bark  depends  on  its  position  on  the  stem;  the  richest  stem  bark  being  nearest  the 
base  of  the  stem,  and  the  poorest  nearest  its  apex,  the  bark  of  the  larger  roots 
being  the  richest  of  all,  and  that  of  the  small  branches  the  poorest.  The  first  of 
these  discoveries  has  an  important  bearing  on  the  question  of  bark  harvesting  and 
makes  it  highly  probable  that,  if  the  object  be  to  grow  bark  for  the  sake  of  its  total 
alkaloid  (and  this  is  the  avowed  object  of  Government),  and  not  merely  for 
its  Quinine,  it  will  probably  pay  best  to  plant  thickly, 2 as  in  Sikkim,  and  to  take 
the  crop  early.  By  planting  at  4 x 4 feet,  as  is  done  in  Sikkim,  alternate 
rows  might  be  cut  out  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  year,  leaving  the  trees  standing 
at  distances  of  8 x 4 feet.  Possibly  the  stools  of  the  first  cutting,  standing 
in  such  deep  shade  as  this  close  planting  involves,  would  not  send  up  coppice 
shoots,  and  it  is  scarcely  desirable  that  they  should  do  so.  By  a second  cutting 
a year  or  two  later,  the  distances  might  be  increased  to  8 x 8 feet.  The  stools 
formed  from  this  and  subsequent  cuttings  would  probably  coppice  fairly  well. 
Purther  cuttings  of  alternate  rows  or  of  alternate  trees  would  follow,  coppice 
shoots  rising  from  each  and  being  worked  in  the  modes  usual  for  coppice  inEurope. 


1 The  following  extract  from  Mr.  Wood’s  report  to  the  Bengal  Government  dated  24th  May  1875  contains  some 
analyses  of  suceirubra  stem  bark  of  various  ages : — 

“ The  next  point, for  consideration  is  the  alkaloidal  value  of  the  bark.  Wishing  in  the  first  place  to  ascertain  the  maximum  quality  to 
which  our  suceirubra  attains,  and  having  already  examined  bark  taken  from  trees  growing  at  different  elevations,  I requested  Mr.  Gammie 
to  obtain  for  me  samples  from  the  stems  of  our  finest  trees  of  different  ages.  He  therefore  furnished  me  with  seven  samples. 

“ The  results  of  analysis  were  as  follows 

Total  Alkaloid. 


No.  I,  trees  planted  in  1866 

67  per 

ii 

, „ „ 1867 

7'3 

..  hi 

„ „ 1868 

6'8 

..  IV 

„ „ 1869 

6-61  , 

„ V , 

„ ,.  1870 

6'63  , 

..  VI 

,,  „ 1871 

6-04  , 

„ VII 

» „ 1872 

7-68  , 

The  constituents  of  the  total  alkaloid  from  the  oldest  and  youngest  of  these  were  determined 

No.  1. 

No.  6. 

No.  7. 

(1866.) 

(1871.) 

(1S72.) 

“Total  alkaloid 

67 

604 

7-68 

Alkaloid  soluble  in  Ether 

24 

2 73 

2 17 

Cinchonidine 

...  19 

1-99 

2'95 

Cinchonine 

2 4 

1-31 

2'56 

Crystalline  Sulphate  of  Quinine 

1-3 

1-35 

•82 

“ The  mixed  stem  and  branch  bark  of  suceirubra 

trees  of  similar 

ages  gave  the  following 

Total  Ukaloid. 

“1866 

4 37  per  ceut." 

1867 

670  „ 

1869 

485  „ 

1869 

432  „ 

1870 

4S5 

1871 

4'8I) 

1872 

423 

: The  increase  in  total  outturn  of  bark  per  acre  when  close  planting  is  adopted  is  very  much  greater  than  a 
superficial  glance  at  the  figures  indicating  the  planting  distances  would  lead  one  to  suppose.  Thus,  while  the  adoption 
of  a planting  distance  of  12  x 12  feet  (as  in  the  older  parts  of  the  Nilgiri  plantations)  gives  303  trees  per  acre, 
planting  6 x 6 feet  gives  1,210  trees,  and  planting  4x4  feet  (as  in  Sikkim)  gives  2,722  trees  per  acre.  This  considera- 
tion is  lost  sight  of  in  the  calculations  already  quoted  on  the  respective  yields  of  mossing  and  coppicing  on  the  Nilgiris. 
For  a table  of  the  number  of  plants  to  the  acre  according  to  planting  distance  see  Appendix  L. 


MODE  OE  HARVESTING  THE  BARK  CROP. 


49 


It  may  also  be  found  to  answer  to  cut  down  entirely  all  the  trees  on  a patch 
planted  4x4  feet  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  impede  each  other’s  growth,  which 
would  in  good  soil  be  about  the  third  or  fourth  year.  The  coppice  on  a patch 
so  treated  would  grow  freely,  and  so  also  would  the  weeds ; cultivation  would 
therefore  be  necessary.  These  methods  are  now  being  tried  on  the  Sikkim 
plantation. 

The  rather  discouraging  results  of  coppicing,  and  the  undoubted  Harvesting 
richness  1 in  alkaloid  of  the  bark  covering  the  larger  roots  of  Cinchona  trees,  the  trees, 
suggested  to  the  resident  manager  of  the  Sikkim  plantation  (Mr.  James  A. 

Gammie)  that  the  plan  of  digging  out  the  trees  by  their  roots  might  be  advan- 
tageous. Accordingly  during  the  past  cold  season  about  thirty-five  acres  of 
eight  and  nine-year  old  trees  have  been  treated  in  this  way.  The  operation  of 
rooting  out  is  not  so  formidable  as  might  be  expected.  If  a plantation  is 
worked  from  below  upwards,  it  is  found  that,  after  the  lower  row  has  been  taken 
out,  the  trees  are  very  easily  eradicated  by  pulling  them  downwards,  a little 
earth  having  been  first  removed  from  their  roots  at  the  upper  side,  and  a rope 
being  attached  to  the  stem  pretty  far  up,  so  as  to  give  a long  leverage.  The 
collection  of  bark  by  the  method  of  rooting  out  is  estimated  to  cost  2£  pies 
(•28  of  a penny)  per  pound  of  green  bark,  as  against  If  pies  (‘22  of  a penny)  by 
coppicing. 

It  seems  not  unlikely  that  uprooting  might  be  conjoined  with  early  coppic- 
ing. Tor  example,  a patch  planted  4x4  feet  might  be  thinned  to  8 x 8 at 
the  end  of  the  fourth  year ; and  at  the  end  of  the  eighth  year  the  remaining 
trees  might  be  uprooted.  The  ground  in  this  method  of  uprooting  is  sub- 
mitted to  a thorough  deep  cultivation  and  may  be  replanted  at  once,  or  it  may 
be  allowed  to  lie  fallow  for  some  time  before  being  replanted.  The  obvious 
objection  to  immediate  replanting  is,  of  course,  that  it  is  bad  practice  to  replant 
with  the  same  species ; but,  as  nothing  except  the  bark  of  the  former  crop  will 
have  been  removed  from  the  ground,  this  objection  ought  to  go  for  little  in  the 
face  of  the  immense  advantage  gained  by  a thorough  upturning  of  the  soil. 

Moreover,  it  is  the  custom  on  fir  plantations  in  Scotland  to  replant  with  fir ; 
and  in  the  case  of  fir  the  old  crop  is  almost  entirely  removed  in  the  shape  of 
timber.  One  advantage  of  replanting  at  once  is  that  the  expense  of  clearing 
the  land  is  obviated,  as  in  the  process  of  uprooting  it  is  cleaned  to  hand.  By 
adopting  a different  planting  distance  from  the  last  crop,  the  new  plants  could 
be  made  to  occupy  slightly  different  spots  from  their  predecessors.  If,  however, 
it  is  deemed  expedient  to  give  the  ground  rest  for  a few  years,  a rotation  on 
this  basis  could  easily  be  established. 

At  certain  seasons  of  the  year  the  bark  can  be  separated  from  the  wood  Removing: 

• ••  * « • t «*•  biirk 

with  great  ease.  This  is  the  case  in  Sikkim  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
cold  season,  which,  therefore,  for  this,  as  for  other  reasons,  is  the  best  for  taking 
the  bark  crop.  The  barking  is  done  by  a gang  of  coolies,  to  whom  the  felled 
stem  and  branches  are  made  over  as  fast  as  they  are  cut.  Provided  with  a 
stout  gardener’s  knife,  a cooly  in  removing  stem  bark,  or  the  bark  of  thick 
branches,  first  marks  it  off  into  long  narrow  slips  by  longitudinal  and  transverse 
incisions ; he  then  separates  one  of  the  ends  of  a strip  by  putting  his  knife 
under  it  and  pressing  upwards ; the  end  being  freed,  the  remainder  of  the  strip 
readily  comes  off.  Bark  from  the  smaller  branches  and  twrigs  cannot  of  course 
be  removed  thus ; but  it  is  easily  whittled  off,  care  being  taken  to  include  as 
little  wood  in  the  whittlings  as  possible. 

On  being  taken  off  the  trees,  the  bark  is  laid  to  dry  in  rough  sheds  fitted  Drying  the 
up  wdth  open  shelves  made  of  split  bamboo.  These  sheds  are  erected  in  any 
convenient  place  near  the  spot  where  the  trees  are  being  cut.  When  the  bark 
has  dried  as  far  as  is  possible  without  artificial  heat,  it  is  carried  off  to  the  drying- 
house,  a masonry  building  (near  the  factory)  fitted  up  with  shelving  and  supplied 
with  arrangements  for  keeping  charcoal  fires  lit.  If  the  drying-liouse  be  kept 
well  closed,  the  bark  is  speedily  and  throughly  dried,  and  without  being1  2 
exposed  to  a temperature  high  enough  to  affect  its  chemical  constitution. 

When  well  dried,  it  can  be  stored  without  danger  of  deterioration. 


1 Mr.  Wood’s  analyses  shew  that  root  bark  contains  about  8 per  cent,  of  total  alkaloids. 

? The  temperature  of  the  Sikkim  drying-house  ranges  from  10°  to  15°  Fht  above  that  of  the  open  air. 


K 


50 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


CHAPTER  YII. 


ON  THE  LOCAL  MANUFACTURE  OF  A CINCHONA  FEBRIFUGE. 


The  Cinchona  plantations  on  the  Nilgiris  yield  practically  two  barks,  Red 
Bark  and  Crown.  Red  Bark  is  rich  in  total  alkaloids,  hut  not  very  rich  in  Quinine, 
Commercial  and  the  Quinine  in  it  is  difficult  of  extraction.  This  hark  is  of  comparatively  small 
Bark.of  Bed  value,  therefore,  to  the  Quinine-maker,  although  of  great  value  to  Government 
as  a source  of  supply  of  a cheap  febrifuge.  Red  Bark  is  also  of  much  value 
in  Europe  for  decoctions  (in  other  words  it  is  a good  druggist’s  hark),  and  re- 
cently large  prices  have  been  got  for  consignments  bought  by  druggists.  These 
rates  are  far  beyond  the  value  of  the  Quinines  contained  in  such  bark 
as  estimated  by  a Quinine-maker.  It  is  doubtful  whether  a European  alkaloid- 
maker  could,  in  fact,  work  Red  Bark  for  its  alkaloids  at  their  present  price,  and 
pay  for  the  bark  at  the  rates  recently  given  in  London  for  Nilgiri- grown 
produce.  The  present  good  prices  should  undoubtedly  be  taken  advantage 
of  by  all  planters  to  whom  gain  is  the  sole  object.  If,  however,  the  profits  of 
sale  are  to  be  taken  advantage  of,  the  idea  of  at  once  supplying  a cheap  febrifuge 
must  be  abandoned.  The  latter  is  the  avowed  object  of  Government,  and  no 
passing  commercial  advantage  should  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  its  realisation. 

The  following  table,  extracted  from  Mr.  Broughton’s  report  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  Madras,  dated  9th  August  1873,  gives  analyses  of  certain  Nilgiri 
barks  which  were  sent  to  England  for  sale,  and  may  be  taken  as  a fair  example 
of  the  produce  of  the  Government  plantations  there : — 


1 a 

^4 

p a 

O 

«5 

3 

M 

Jjf 

rt 

Ned- 

Ph 

£ d 

'O 

O 

p 

£ 

o 

3 

P 

o> 

o -h 
rd  £ 

•2  a 

Ph 

M 

u 

T3 

D 

« 

***  a 

S s 
P O 

P 

Q 

M 

P . 

O 

o 

O t ■ 4 

p 

raj 

cS 

P 

A 

S S 

a «# 

'd  m* 

a.  z) 
• o ^ 

o a 

& 

'S* 

o 

a 

08 

ej  a 

CM 

S eS 
CP 

£ ^ 
gP 

S 

« 

5 

P4 

W 

P 

5 

6 

a 

o 

P 

* 

t 

t 

§ 

ii 

f 

Total  alkaloids  ...  ... 

6-20 

5'S2 

2'?5 

4'45 

571 

8'58 

4-32 

3'42 

6*60 

3-61 

091 

Quinine  and  Quinicine 

114 

3-25 

1-31 

0 97 

1'33 

308 

2 32 

3'89 

2'07 

Cinchonidine  and  Cinchonine 

506 

2-67 

275 

314 

4'14 

2-25 

1-24 

170 

271 

1-54 

Pure  Sulphate  of  Quinine  obtained  crys- 
tallised 

Pure  Sulphate  of  Cinchonidine  obtained 

074 

2 '62 

074 

0-62 

0'81 

3 11 

2-39 

386 

2-04 

crystallised 

3-47 

0-88 

l’OO 

1'61 

2'22 

1-14 

0'85 

0’G7 

100 

0-99 

* Mean  of  three  analyses.  t Mean  of  two  analyses.  ||  Mean  of  two  analyses, 

t Mean  of  two  analyses.  § Do.  do.  Do  do. 


Commercial  Crown  Bark  is,  on  the  other  hand,  rich  in  crystallisable  Quinine,  and  is 
crownBark.  nearly  as  highly  valued  by  the  Quinine-maker  as  good  American  Yellow.  If 
any  bark  is  to  be  sent  to  England  for  sale,  Crown  Bark  should  be  sent.  The 
Red  Bark  trees  are,  however,  by  far  the  most  numerous  on  the  Government  and 
other  plantations  in  India  and  the  Colonies.  This  species  is  hardier,  grows 
better,  and  yields  about  a third  more  bark  than  the  Pale  or  Crown  Bark. 
The  utilisation  of  Red  Bark  by  manufacture  in  India  is  therefore  of  the  highest 
importance. 

The  Sikkim  The  Sikkim  plantations  consist  of  Red  and  Yellow  Bark  trees.  Yellow 
andkYeifow.d  Bark,  which  has  been  a failure  on  the  Nilgiris,  promises  to  be  a success  there. 

In  character  Yellow  resembles  Crown  Bark,  but  is  even  more  esteemed  by  the 
Quinine-maker.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that,  both  being  easy  to  work, 
Crown  and  Yellow  Barks  would  be  very  much  preferable  to  Red  Bark  as 
sources  for  the  manufacture  in  India  of  a cheap  febrifuge  if  officinalis  and 
calisaya  trees  could  be  got  to  grow  as  luxuriantly  as  succirubra. 

As  the  result  of  his  experiments,  Mr.  Broughton  decided  on  issuing  as 
“ the  cheap  febrifuge  ” wanted  for  India  a preparation  called  Amorphous 
Quinine,  which  consists  of  the  total  alkaloids  of  Cinchona  Bark  in  the  form  of  a 
non-crystalline  powder,  mixed  to  some  extent  with  the  resin  and  red-colouring 
matter  so  abundant  in  Red  Bark.  This  alkaloid  has  been  accepted  by  the  medi- 


Mr. 

Broughton’s 
Amo  rphous 
Quin  ine. 


ON  THE  LOCAL  MANUFACTURE  OF  A CINCHONA  FEBRIFUGE. 


51 


cal  faculty  in  tlie  Madras  Presidency  as  a remedy  in  malarious  fever  scarcely, 
if  at  all,  inferior  to  Quinine.  Mr.  Broughton’s  own  account  of  his  mode  of 
preparing  this  alkaloid,  is  given  by  himself  as  follows' : — 


“ 6.  The  actual  Cinchona  bases  being1,  of  course,  the  active  medicinal  constituents  in  the  Br'(;uc,lton>f, 
Therapeutical  considerations  and  results.  sulphates  or  other  salts  employed  as  febrifuge,  it  was  m^ufoetur. 

as  effective  medicines  as  their  salts. 


necessarily  believed  that  the  bases  themselves  would  be  described!* 


Alkaloids  exist  in  hark  as  insoluble  Quino 
tannates. 


Principle  of  method  in  use. 


The  considerable  amount  of  tinctures  and  extracts  of 
Cinchona  bark  still  employed  in  medicinal  practice  clearly  shews  the  efficacy  of  salts  other 
than  sulphates,  nor,  as  far  as  I could  learn,  do  the  preparations  made  from  Cinchona  bark  des- 
titute of  real  Quinine  skew  any  failure  in  febrifuge  efficacy,  a fact  readily  explained  by  the 
results  of  the  Madras  Cinchona  Commission.  Pure  Quinine  Sulphate  contains  but  73’55  per 
cent,  of  Quinine.  It  was,  therefore,  believed  that  a preparation  of  the  Cinchona  alkaloids, 
in  the  proportion  that  they  naturally  exist  in  the  barks,  which  would  contain  about 
ninety-seven  per  cent,  of  the  pure  bases,  would  admit  of  exactly  the  same  medicinal 
doses  being  employed  as  of  Quinine  Sulphate.  If  there  should  be,  for  which  there  is  no 
evidence,  a somewhat  inferior  febrifuge  quality  in  the  alkaloids  other  than  Quinine,  this  would, 
it  was  believed,  be  compensated  for  by  the  larger  amount  of  the  real  bases  in  the  preparation 
in  comparison  with  Quinine  Sulphate.  The  report  of  the  Medical  Inspector-General,  attached 
to  G.  O.  No.  29  of  the  11th  January  1871,  appears  subsequently  to  corroborate  these  suppo- 
sitions, as  he  states  it  to  be  ‘a  remedy  in  malarious  fever,  scarcely,  if  at  all,  inferior  to  Quinine.’ 
******** 

“ 8.  In  a report  appearing  in  Return  on  Cinchona  Cultivation,  1870,  page  243,  paragraph  54, 

and  more  fully  in  a Memoir  in  Phil.  Trans.  Roy.  Soc., 
1870,  I shew  that  six-sevenths  of  the  alkaloids  in  the 
bark  of  C.  succirubra  occur  in  the  form  of  Quino-tan- 
nates.  As  this  salt  is  nearly  insoluble  in  water,  the  presence  of  a strong  acid  is  necessary  for 
its  decomposition  and  complete  solution  of  the  alkaloid.  It  is  this  circumstance  which  con- 
stitutes the  main  difficulty  in  the  preparation  of  alkaloid,  since,  even  after  the  tannates  have 
been  decomposed  in  hot  or  dilute  solutions,  they  partially  re-form  when  the  same  solutions  be- 
come cold  or  are  increased  in  strength. 

******** 

“ 14.  The  method  I have  adopted  is  quite  similar  in  principle  to  the  usual  method  that  since 

the  time  of  Pelletier  has  prevailed  in  manufactories  of 
Cinchona  alkaloids.  It  consists  in  precipitating  the 
alkaloids  in  an  insoluble  state  and  subsequently  separating  them  from  the  mass  of  impurities 
with  which  they  are  mixed  by  solution  in  alcohol.  The  method  is,  however,  so  contrived  that 
the  very  cheapest  materials  are  used,  and  the  greatest  economy  is  practicable,  with  those  mate- 
rials which  are  not  found  on  the  plantations.  The  only  material  of  which  the  consumption 
is  large  is  that  of  wood  fuel,  which  some  years  ago  it  was  believed  would  be  furnished  in  any 
amount  by  the  Cinchona  plantations  by  trees  which  had  been  coppiced.  This,  however,  has 
not  been  the  case,  owing  to  the  adoption  of  Mr.  Mclvor’s  system  of  mossing,  respecting  which 
I have  already  expressed  an  opinion  which  I need  not  further  reiterate. 

“ 15.  The  process  was  first  tried  in  my  small  laboratory  at  Ootacamund,  and  I found  that 
, , „ , , from  eighty  to  ninety-five  per  cent,  of  the  total  amount 

* of  alkaloid  m the  bark  was  obtained  by  it.  If  done  with 

analytic  precision,  which,  of  course,  cannot  be  practically  carried  out  in  a manufactory,  97 T 
per  cent,  of  that  amount  is  obtainable,  though  I have  never  obtained  this  result  when  working 
with  native  coolies,  but  only  when  the  work  was  performed  by  myself  or  by  my  laboratory 
assistant. 

“ 16.  The  first  product  of  this  process,  named  by  the  late  Principal  Medical  Inspector- 

General  “ Amorphous  Quinine,”  was  prepared  in  the 
small  experimental  manufactory  erected  at  Ootacamund, 
where  enough  was  prepared  from  Red  Bark  grown  at  Neddivuttum  for  a fair  trial  of  its  medical 
efficacy.  The  results  of  its  medical  trial  are  contained  in  a report  of  the  Principal  Medical 
Inspector-General  attached  to  G.  O.  No.  29  of  the  11th  January  1871,  which  were  considered 
highly  favourable. 

“ 17.  I will  now  describe  the  method  of  manufacture  I have  adopted,  which,  though 

in  the  course  of  work,  it  has  been  constantly  modified 
employed.  an(j  improved,  is,  of  course,  susceptible  of  further  im- 
provements in  detail. 

The  bark  in  long  strips,  exactly  as  taken  from  the  tree,  is  placed  in  a copper  pan  with  1^ 
per  cent,  of  sulphuric  acid2  and  a quantity  of  water  that  has  already  been  used  for  the 
fourth  extraction  of  nearly  spent  bark  aud  is  boiled  for  an  hour.  The  liquid  and  bark  are 
then  separated  by  strong  pressure  in  a screw  press,  the  former  falling  in  a wooden  vat 
placed  underneath.  The  squeezed  and  nearly  dry  bark  is  again  boiled  with  liquid  that  has 
been  used  for  a third  boiling  of  other  bark,  and  another  half  per  cent,  of  acid  is  added.  After 
an  hour’s  boiling  it  is  again  squeezed.  It  is  then  again  boiled  with  a liquid  that  has  come  off 
nearly-spent  bark,  again  squeezed,  and  finally  boiled  with  water.  During  these  four  boilings 
the  bark  after  each  squeezing  diminishes  greatly  in  bulk  and  becomes  almost  pulp,  so  that  it 
occupies  far  less  room  in  a pan  at  the  third  boiling  to  what  it  did  at  the  first.  The  order  in 

IV.  B — The  numbering  of  the  paragraphs  of  Mr.  Broughton’s  letter  is  retained  in  the  above  quotation. 

1 Mr.  Broughton’s  letter  to  Secretary,  Madras  Government,  dated  1st  December  1873. 

s This  is  the  amount  of  acid  employed  for  irunlc  bark ; for  prunings  but  one  per  cent,  or  even  less  is  ordinarily  used. 


First  trials  of  manufacture. 


Description  of  method  now 
Extraction  of  bark. 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Mr. 

Broughton’s 
manufactur- 
ing process 
described. 


which  the  several  liquids  used  in  extraction  are  employed  depends  on  the  qualities  of  bait  un- 
der manufacture;  but  it  is  so  arranged  as  to  obtain  finally  a liquid  containing  as  much  alka- 
loid as  possible  in  solution,  and  also  that,  as  far  as  possible,  the  bark  should  be  exhausted  of 
alkaloid.  Finally,  there  arrives  a point  when  the  amount  of  alkaloid  in  the  bark  has  become 
so  small  as  not  to  repay  the  expense  of  further  extraction.  The  bark  then  is  dried  in  the  sun 
and  used  as  fuel. 

“ 18.  The  liquid,  which,  if  the  foregoing  be  judiciously  managed  should  be  intensel}7-  bitter 

and  strong,  is  evaporated  to  about  one-sixth  of  its  bulk. 
Precipitation  ot  extracts  with  lnne.  , <•  j , , , in  ^ , , -»  • . 

transferred  to  a tub,  and  allowed  to  cool.  It  is  then 

decomposed  by  neutralisation  u7ith  milk  of  lime,  which  precipitates  the  alkaloids,  decomposing 
the  Quino-tannates  and  Sulphates  with  formation  of  insoluble  lime  salts.  A slight  excess  of 
lime  is  always  added.  After  standing  for  a day,  the  precipitate  is  separated  by  filtration, 
squeezed,  dried,  and  powdered  in  a common  ragi  mill.1  The  liquid,  wdiich  contains  abundance  of 
Calcic  Quinate  in  solution,  is  thrown  away. 

“ 19.  As  first  conducted,  the  evaporation  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  paragraph  was  omitted, 

_ „ , the  precipitation  being  at  once  performed  in  the  original 

.Evaporation  was  at  first  dispensed  with.  v •%  .>  , i,  . • j • n . , , .•  , Y i i 

Necessity  for  the  use  of  lime.  Muld-  Bnt>  as  alkaloid  is  unfortunately  slightly  soluble 

in  lime-water,  this  proceeding  was  found  to  produce 
considerable  waste,  and  therefore  it  was  found  necessary  to  evaporate  in  order  to  reduce  this 
waste  to  a minimum.  In  India  lime  must  necessarily  be  the  precipitant,  as  it  is  by  far  the 
cheapest  of  all  the  alkaline  bases.  I have  tried  both  English  Caustic  Soda  and  Indian  Soudoo  as 
precipitants  of  the  alkaloid,  but  for  many  reasons  do  not  now  employ  them. 

“ 20.  The  powdered  lime  precipitate  is  then  packed  in  the  apparatus,  of  which  a drawing  is 
given  ; ABCD  being  a large  cone  of  sheet  iron,  through  the  centre  of  which  passes  an  up- 
right tube,  the  upper  end  of  which  terminates  in  a crosspiece  with  four  openings.  The  lower 
end  of  the  tube  is  also  open,  and  supported  on  a flat  perforated  circular  disc  (CD)  made  of  sheet- 
iron.  This  allows  it  to  rest  in  the  cone.  Below,  and  tightly  fitting  to  the  lower  part  of  the 
cone,  is  au  under  copper  vessel  (FG).  The  cone  is  supported  by  chains,  and  above  it  is  placed 
in  connection  w7ith  the  lower  end  of  a simple  worm-tub  (not  shewn  in  the  drawing)  by  means 
of  a tube  (H).  The  powdered  lime  precipitate  is  filled  in  the  cone  till  immediately  under  the 
_ , , . , , , , cross  tube  (E).  The  upper  lid  of  the  cone  is 

b 1 J fitted  on  and  alcohol  poured  on  till,  by  passing 

through  the  precipitate,  the  lower  vessel  becomes  about  a-third  full.  The  spirit  is  then  saturat- 
ed with  alkaloid,  which  is  neutralised  with  care  by  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  of  which  the  strength 
is  known.  Then  the  upper  lid  of  the  cone  is  put  into  connection  with  the  upper  condenser  by 
the  tube  E,  and  a fire  is  lighted  below.  The  spirit  boiling  in  FG  rises  in  vapour  through  the 
inner  tube  and  passes  out  at  the  four  openings  of  the  cross-piece.  It  here  generally  condenses 
to  a liquid,  but  if  not  it  passes  into  the  copper  condenser,  where  it,  of  course,  condenses,  so  that 
by  a judicious  arrangement  of  the  fire  a layer  of  liquid  is  kept  on  the  surface  of  the  precipitate. 
A gauge  (BI)  allows  this  to  be  seen  from  the  outside.  If  the  fire  is,  however,  kept  too  fierce, 
no  harm  can  ensue,  since,  if  the  layer  of  liquid  rises  in  consequence  higher  than  the  percolation 
through  the  precipitate  removes  it,  it  simply  passes  down  through  the  centre  tube  into  the 
lower  vessel.  Hence  the  apparatus  is  self-acting,  and  the  cooly  work-people  have  no  access 
to  the  alcohol,  which  is  all  inside  the  apparatus.  A small  amount  of  alcohol  by  constant 
circulation  through  the  apparatus  thus  completely  dissolves  the  whole  of  the  Cinchona  bases 
without  any  waste  of  spirit  or  alkaloid.  Every  two  days  the  alkaloid  is  neutralised  with  dilute 
acid.  If  this  be  done  with  moderate  care,  there  is  no  chance  of  the  copper  under-ves6el  being  in 
the  least  attacked,  but  if  very  carelessly  done,  a mere  trace  of  Oxide  of  Copper  is  dissolved. 
This,  however,  rarely  occurs ; but  if  it  does,  it  is  readily  remedied  subsequently. 

21.  The  fire  is  thus  kept  up  until  the  whole  of  the  alkaloid  is  dissolved  and  passes  into  the 

_ , lower  vessel.  This  state  of  things  is  known  by  the 

Recovery  and  actual  waste  or  alcohol.  c ,•  ...  ~ ■ 

alkalinity  oi  the  liquid  in  the  lower  vessel  not  in- 
creasing; but,  to  make  sure,  the  spirit  dropping  from  the  cone  is  usually  tested  when  the  pro- 
cess draws  near  its  end.  When  finished,  the  exhausted  precipitate  does  not  contain  a trace  of 
alkaloid,  all  being  in  the  lower  vessel.  The  lower  vessel  is  then  removed  and  the  alcohol  sepa- 
rated by  distillation.  Water  is  also  poured  on  the  cone,  in  order  to  wash  out  the  alcohol  with 
which  the  precipitate  is  still  moistened,  until  the  latter  is  quite  removed.  The  alcohol  is  thus 
nearly  all  recovered  and  is  purified  for  another  operation  by  distillation.  W ith  care,  waste  of 
spirit  practically  does  not  occur,  but  I have  been  unable  yet  to  prevent  all  loss  of  spirit  from 
the  carelessness  with  which  every  operation  in  this  country  appeal’s  more  or  less  attended. 
The  loss,  however,  has  not  exceeded  six  per  cent,  and  has  fallen  frequently  much  below  this. 

“ 22.  The  alkaloid  sulphate  in  the  lower  vessel  is  suddenly  diluted  with  about  ten  times 

. , . . „ „ , its  bulk  of  cold  water.  This  separates  a considerable 

Purification  and  precipitation  of  alkaloid.  Qf  black  siuce  th(J  contamination  of 

copper  occurred  in  Bengal  in  the  alkaloid,  I have  always  as  a precaution  added  a small  amount 
of  a dilute  acidulated  solution  of  Sodic  Sulphide  to  the  liquid.  This  completely  removes  copper 
if  it  be  present,  though  with  very  moderate  care  it  is  completely  unnecessary.  The  solution  is 
still,  however,  coloured  with  impurities,  to  remove  which  a small  amount  ol  alkaloid  is  pre- 
cipitated by  the  addition  of  dilute  Caustic  Soda,  which  carries  down  with  it  the  colouring  matters. 
The  whole  is  then  filtered  through  a cloth  bag,  and  the  alkaloid  in  the  filtrate  is  precipitated 
by  Caustic  Soda,  separated  by  filtration,  squeezed,  dried,  and  powdered.  It  is  then  “ Amorphous 


1 The  mill  used  by  the  peasantry  for  grinding  their  grain. 


Scales  ife  vru'Jr&s  tx>  thsjfoot. 


ON  THE  LOCAL  MANUFACTURE  OF  A CINCHONA  FEBRIFUGE. 


53 


Before  it  leaves  the  manufactory,  as  a precautionary  measure,  it  is  always  tested  for  ^ughton ,s 

manufactur- 


Potasli 

fuel. 


should  be  obtained  from  aslies  of 


Quinine.” 
copper. 

“ 23.  Formerly,  from  the  ashes  of  the  fuel  employed,  Caustic  Potash  was  prepared,  to  use  d^c?ibed!S 

as  precipitant,  instead  of  soda.  But  lately  so  small  an 
amount  of  potash  has  occurred  in  the  ashes  that  this 
has  been  discontinued.  If  the  Cinchona  wood  from  cop- 
piced trees  was  employed  as  fuel,  this  might  be  again  resumed,  and  thus  a further  saving  effected. 

“ 24.  Sulphuric  acid  has  been  used  in  preference  to  hydrochloric  acid,  mainly  because  it  is 

the  cheaper  acid.  While  the  cost  is  nearly  the  same,  the 
Why  sulphuric  acid  is  preferred  for  ex-  effecfcjve  work  produced  by  the  sulphuric  acid  is  nearly 

double  that  of  hydrochloric  acid  for  equal  weights.  It 
has  also  some  better  qualities  for  transit  through  the  tropics.  The  use  of  sulphuric  acid  has 
also  some  chemical  advantages  which  I need  not  further  particularise.  With  Red  Bark  there  is 
unfortunately  no  fear  of  the  sudden  crystallisation  of  Quinine  Sulphate  on  the  dilution  mention- 
ed in  paragraph  22,  as  there  would  be  with  Crown  Bark. 

“ 25.  The  alkaloid  which  is  carried  down  in  connection  with  the  precipitated  resin,  and  in 

the  purification  by  fractional  precipitation,  is,  of  course, 
from  time  to  time  obtained  free  from  impurities  by  the 
obvious  methods  of  drying  and  digestion  with  dilute 
acids,  etc.  Thus  obtained,  it  is  generally  very  pure  and  colourless. 

“ 26.  Throughout  the  whole  course  of  manufacture, 
apparatus  tbiougbout  has  been  sjmpiic^y  0£  arrangement  has  been  carried  out,  as  far  as 

possible.  The  reasons  for  this  are — 

—That  certain  labour-saving  appliances  which  are  used  in  England  would  here  he  a 
source  of  considerable  expense  and  are  obtainable  with  great  difficulty  and  delay. 

Until  alkaloid  manufacture  in  South  India  has  proved  itself  a permanent  success,  I 
have,  therefore,  felt  it  wiser  to  refrain  from  all  dispensable  expenditure  for  apparatus 
for  which  simple  substitutes  could  be  provided. 

2 nd. — That  the  simpler  the  apparatus  the  more  readily  are  they  repaired,  when  necessary, 
in  India. 

The  intelligence  of  Canarese  coolies  on  the  Nilgiris  is  fully  exercised  by  the  simplest 
proceedings  of  manufacture ; therefore  any  increase  in  their  apparent  complexity  has 
to  be  made  with  a risk  of  loss  and  injury  to  the  apparatus. 

******* 


Alkaloid 

wasted. 


Simple 

preferred 


contained  in  the  resin  is  not 


lst.- 


3rd.- 


“ 35. 


Sources 

ure. 


I will  indicate  the  sources  of  the  loss  of  alkaloid  which  occur  in  the  manufacture, 

nearly  the  whole  of  which  are  preventible  only  at  a 
greatly  increased  cost  of  labour  and  product — 


of  waste  of  alkaloid  in  manufac- 


“ 1st. — The  not  quite  complete  exhaustion  of  the  hark  of  alkaloid  on  first  extraction  with 
acidulated  water.  Usually  the  bark  at  the  end  of  the  boilings  described  in  para- 
graph 16  of  this  report  still  contains  a small  amount  of  alkaloid  which  another  boil- 
ing and  squeezing  would  remove.  This  is  not  now  performed,  as  the  small  amount  of 
alkaloid  obtained  would  not  repay  the  cost  of  the  labour,  fuel,  and  subsequent 
evaporation. 

“ %nd. — Spilling  and  waste  of  extract,  and  occasionally  of  bark  itself,  by  the  carelessness 
and  indifference  of  the  coolies.  This  is  not  preventible  in  India. 

“ 3rd. — Waste  of  material  in  grinding  the  lime  precipitate  and  in  final  powdering  of  the 
alkaloid.  This  may,  with  care  and  training,  be  diminished,  but  cannot  entirely  be 
obviated. 

“ 4 th. — The  solubility  to  a small  extent  of  the  alkaloid  in  limewater.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1872-73  loss  from  this  source  occurred.  It  has  since,  as  I have  before 
mentioned,  been  prevented  by  the  evaporation  of  the  liquid  extract  of  hark  down 
to  a small  bulk,  before  the  precipitation  with  milk  of  lime  is  performed.  I cannot 
fairly  estimate  the  amount  of  waste  that  has  occurred  from  this  source,  hut  believe 
it  will  not  have  exceeded  20tbs.  of  alkaloid. 

“ 36.  As  a measure  of  precaution  I have  repeatedly  tested  whether  the  lime  precipitate  is 
completely  exhausted  of  alkaloid  by  the  alcohol  before  throwing  it  away,  and  have  always 
found  that  no  alkaloid  is  wasted  by  imperfect  exhaustion,  as  might  otherwise  be  naturally 
supposed.” 

Up  to  the  end  of  the  financial  year  1872-73,  about  six  hundred  pounds  ofEesuitsof 
Amorphous  Cinchona  alkaloids  had  been  produced  at  the  Nilgiri  factory.  It  manufacture 
was  found,  however,  that,  after  calculating  at  its  manufacturing  value 1 the  Sfiig’iris 
price  of  the  hark  used,  Mr.  Broughton’s  product  cost  more  than  ordinary  com- 
mercial Quinine.  The  factory  has  accordingly  been  closed,  and  arrangements 
are  to  be  made  for  the  disposal  of  the  whole  of  the  Nilgiri  bark  otherwise  than 
by  local  manufacture. 

The  Sikkim  plantations  are  younger  than  those  on  flie  Nilgiris.  No  Locai 
Quinologist  was  appointed  to  them  until  the  end  of  the  year  1873,  when  Mr. 


1 The  prices  taken  by  the  Commission  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  working  of  the  factory  are— Dry  truuk  bark 
2s.,  and  branch  bark  6 d.  a pound. 


O 


54 


CINCHONA  CULTIVATION  IN  INDIA. 


Sikkim 
method  of 
manufacture. 


Rate  of 
production 
of  alkaloid  in 
Sikkim. 


C.  H.  Wood  was  sent  out  by  the  Secretary  of  State.  Owing  to  delays  in  the 
arrival  of  his  laboratory  apparatus,  Mr.  Wood  was  unable  to  begin  work  before 
March  1874.  Some  time  was  necessarily  spent  in  the  preliminary  work  of 
analysing  the  various  barks  produced  in  the  plantation  with  the  view  of  deter- 
mining the  influence  of  elevation,  manure,  &c.,  on  them,  and  also  in  conducting 
experiments  with  the  object  of  settling  on  the  most  advantageous  mode  of 
manufacturing  an  efficient  febrifuge.  Actual  manufacturing  operations  did  not 
therefore  begin  until  1875. 

The  method  at  present  in  operation  in  the  factory  in  Sikkim  is  simple  in 
the  extreme.  Its  principle  has  been  thus  described  : — 

“ In  this  method,”  writes  Mr.  Wood,1  “ the  bark  (roughly  powdered)  is  first  exhausted  with 
cold  acidulated  water,  and  the  resulting  liquor  precipitated  hy  a caustic  alkali.  It  is  therefore 
essentially  the  same  as  that  advocated  by  Dr.  DeVry,  although  I have  found  it  desirable  to  modify 
the  plan  of  precipitation  he  recommended.”  * * * “ No  fuel  is  required  except  what  may 

be  necessary  to  dry  the  alkaloid  obtained.  No  expensive  machinery  is  involved,  the  only  plant 
required  being  some  wooden  tubs  and  calico  filters.  Skilled  labour  is  unnecessary,  and  very 
little  supervision  is  wanted.” 

At  present  about  a ton  of  dry  Red  Bark  is  being  worked  up  in  Sikkim  per 
week  by  this  process.  The  bark  hitherto  so  utilised  has  been  chiefly  derived 
from  thinnings  and  prunings  undertaken  from  time  to  time  in  the  interests  of 
the  trees.  By  the  end  of  the  current  financial  year  (1875-76)  about  32,000 
ounces  of  alkaloid  will  have  been  turned  out.  Next  year  a much  larger 
quantity  will  he  yielded. 

After  making  a very  moderate  estimate  as  to  the  actual  number  of  trees 
on  the  plantation  and  of  the  outturn  of  bark  per  tree  (viz.,  one  and  a half 
pounds  in  eight  years),  and  after  covering  every  expense  and  including 
interest  at  four  per  cent,  on  all  the  capital  sunk  in  the  Government 
Cinchona  enterprise  in  Sikkim,  Mr.  Wood  calculates  that  there  can  soon  be 
yielded  by  this  rough  process  from  130,000  to  140,000  ounces  (or  from  3f  to 
4 tons)  annually  of  an  efficient  febrifuge  at  a cost  of  rather  less  than  one  rupee 
per  ounce.  But  more  complete  methods  of  extraction  are  now  under  trial  by 
Mr.  Wood,  which  give  promise  of  a still  cheaper  rate  for  the  outturn.  Taken 
in  large  bulk  the  Sikkim  Red  Bark  yields  a mixed  alkaloid  of  an  almost  uniform 
composition,  which  Mr.  Wood  gives  as  follows  : — 


Crystallisable  Quinine 
Amorphous  Quinine 
Cinchonine 
Cinchonidine 
Colouring  matter,  &c. 


15‘5  parts. 


17-0 

33-5 


)) 


29-0 

5-0 


)) 


Total  • ...  100-0 


An  approximate2  idea  of  the  commercial  value  of  this  compound  may  be 
got  by  calculating  what  it  would  cost  to  make  up  a compound  of  similar 
proportions  of  the  sulphates  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  as  sold  in  the  London 
market.  The  prices  of  these  sulphates  fluctuate  greatly,  and  those  of  the  alkaloids 
other  than  Quinine  do  so  more  especially.  And,  although  at  the  present  time 
plentiful,  there  is  no  guarantee  that  these  alkaloids  could  always  be  had 
in  any  quantity,  even  at  a considerably  enhanced  price.  As  has  already  been 
explained,  they  are  by-products  of  the  manufacture  of  Quinine  and  do  not  exist 
in  large  proportion  in  the  barks  used  by  Quinine  manufacturers.  They  exist 
largely  in  Red  Bark,  which  is  at  present  chiefly  a druggist’s,  and  not  a Quinine- 
maker’s  bark,  and  were  a Quinine-maker  obliged  to  resort  to  Red  Bark  he  proba- 
bly could  not  afford  to  pay  current  rates  for  it  and  to  sell  its  alkaloids  also  at 
current  rates.  The  Sikkim  alkaloid  at  one  rupee  an  ounce  will  in  all  pro- 
bability remain  very  much  cheaper  than  a similar  mixture  purchased  in 
Europe,  and  it  will  have  the  great  advantage  of  being  always  available  at  one 
price.  The  establishment  of  the  therapeutic  value  of  the  alkaloids  other  than 
Quinine  has  however  been  really  one  of  the  results  of  the  Government  Cinchona 
enterprise : there  is  therefore  nothing  unfair  in  regarding  130,000  ounces  of 
the  Sikkim  product  as  nearly  equal  in  money  value  (as  it  apparently  is  in 

1 Report  of  Government  Quinologist,  British  Sikkim,  dated  5th  August  1874. 

- Only  approximate,  because,  whereas  the  Sikkim  product  consists  of  the  pure  uncombined  alkaloids,  the  com- 
mercial sulphates  consist  of  a comparatively  costly  alkaloid  chemically  combined  with  a considerable  percentage  of 
sulphuric  acid,  which  is  one  of  the  cheapest  of  chemicals. 


ON  THE  LOCAL  MANUFACTURE  OF  A CINCHONA  FEBRIFUGE. 


55 


therapeutic  efficiency)  to  a similar  amount  of  Quinine  which,  at  nine  shillings 
an  ounce,  it  would  cost  the  State  £58,500  sterling  to  purchase  in  London. 

The  Sikkim  alkaloid  has  already  been  submitted  to  a careful  trial  by 
physicians  attached  to  the  four  leading  hospitals  in  Calcutta : it  has  also  been 
tried  in  the  Burdwan  fever.  The  reports 1 of  the  gentlemen  who  tried  the 
preparation  are  so  favourable  that  Dr.  Cockhurn,  the  Deputy  Surgeon-General 
of  the  Presidency  Circle,  has  given  it  as  his  opinion  that  there  is  “ sufficient 
evidence  to  shew  that  the  drug  may  he  brought  into  general  use.”  Larger 
quantities  are  now  being  issued  for  trial  in  other  parts  of  India.  Should  this 
drug  be  accepted  by  the  medical  profession  in  India  as  an  efficient  febrifuge, 
they  will  be  provided  with  a means  of  combating  the  commonest  disease  in 
the  country  such  as  they  never  before  possessed.  It  is  notorious  that  its  high 
price  has  prevented  and  still  prevents  the  sufficiently  free  use  of  Quinine  in 
dispensary  and  other  practice  among  the  poor,  and,  until  a cheaper  substitute 
be  given  to  the  medical  profession  and  to  the  general  public,  the  old  and 
ineffectual  combat  with  malarious  fever  is  likely  to  continue.  With  a good 
febrifuge  at  a rupee  or  twelve  annas  an  ounce,  malarious  fever  should  be 
robbed  of  three-fourths  of  its  annual  victims,  and  the  poor  of  this  land  be 
thus  attached  to  their  paternal  Government  by  yet  another  bond. 


Therapeutic 
value  of  the 
Sikkim 
Cinchona 
febrifuge. 


J Extracts  from  these  reports  will  be  found  in  Appendix  M. 


. 


APPENDICES 


APPENDIX  A. 


List  of  the  chief  Modern  Works  relating  to  Cinchona  (from  Fliickiger  and  H anbury’s 

Pharmacographia,  page  328). 

Berg  (Otto),  Chinarinden  der  pharmakognostisclien  Sammlung  zu  Berlin.  Berlin,  18G5,  4to, 
48  pages  and  10  plates  shewing  the  microscopic  structure  of  barks. 

Bergen  (Heinrich  von),  Monographie  der  China.  Hamburg,  1826,  4to,  348  pages  and  7 
coloured  plates  representing  the  following  barks: — China  rubra,  Huanuco,  Calisaya, 
flava,  Huamalies,  Loxa,  Jaeu.  An  exhaustive  work  for  its  period  in  every  direction. 

Blue-books — East  India  ( Cinchona  Plant),  folio. — 

A.  — Copy  of  correspondence  relating  to  the  introduction  of  the  Cinchona  plant  into 

India,  and  to  proceedings  connected  with  its  cultivation,  from,  March  1852  to 
March  1863. 

Ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  printed,  20th  March  1863.  272  pages. 

Contains  correspondence  of  Royle,  Markham,  Spruce,  Pritchett,  Cross,  Mclvor, 
Anderson  and  others,  illustrated  by  5 maps. 

B.  — Copy  of  further  correspondence  relating  to  the  introduction  of  the  Cinchona  plant 

into  India,  and  to  proceedings  connected  with  its  cultivation,  from  April  1863  to 
April  1866. 

Ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  he  printed,  18th  June  1866.  379  pages. 

Contains  monthly  reports  of  the  plantations  on  the  Nilgiri  Hills ; annual  reports 
for  1863-64  and  1864-65,  with  details  of  method  of  propagation  and  cultivation, 
barking,  mossing,  attacks  of  insects,  illustrated  by  woodcuts  and  4 plates  ; report 
of  Cross’s  journey  to  Pitayo,  with  map  ; Cinchona  cutivation  in  Wynaad,  Coorg, 
thePulney  Hills  and  Travancore  with  map  ; in  British  Sikkim,  the  Kangra  Valley 
(Punjab),  the  Bombay  Presidency,  and  Ceylon. 

C.  — Copy  of  all  correspondence  between  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  and  the  Governor - 

General,  and  the  Governors  of  Madras  and  Bombay,  relating  to  the  cultivation 
of  Cinchona  plants,  from  April  1866  to  April  1870. 

Ordered  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  printed,  9th  August  1870. 

Contains  reports  on  the  Nilgiri  and  other  plantations,  with  map ; appointment  of 
Mr.  Broughton  as  analytical  chemist,  his  reports  and  analyses  ; reports  on  the 
relative  efficacy  of  the  several  Cinchona  alkaloids  ; on  Cinchona  cultivation  at 
Daijeeling  and  in  British  Burma. 

Delondre  (Augustin  Pierre)  et  Bouchardat  (Apollinaire),  Quinologie.  Paris,  1854,  4to,  48  pages, 
and  23  good  coloured  plates  exhibiting  all  the  barks  then  met  with  in  commerce. 

Gorkom  (K.  W.  van),  Die  Chinacultur  anf  Java,  Leipzig,  1869,  61  pages.  An  account  of  the 
management  of  the  Dutch  plantations. 

Howard  (John  Eliot),  Illustrations  of  the  Nueva  Quinologia  of  Pavon.  London,  1862,  folio, 
163  pages  and  30  beautiful  coloured  plates.  Figures  of  Cinchona,  mostly  taken  from 
Pavon’s  specimens  in  the  Herbarium  of  Madrid,  and  three  plates  representing  the  structure 
of  several  barks. 

Howard  (John  Eliot),  Quinology  of  the  East  Indian  Plantations.  London,  1869,  fol.  x.  and 
43  pages,  with  3 coloured  plates,  exhibiting  structural  peculiarities  of  the  barks  of  cultiva- 
ted Cinchona. 

Karsten  (Hermann),  Die  medicinischen  chinarinden  Neu-  Granada’ s.  Berlin,  1858,  8vo.,  71  pages, 
and  two  plates  shewing  microscopic  structure  of  a few  barks.  An  English  translation  pre- 
pared under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Markham,  has  been  priuted  by  the  India  Office,  under 
the  title  of  Notes  on  the  Medicinal  Cinchona  Barks  of  New  Granada  by  H.  Karsten,  1861. 
The  plates  have  not  been  reproduced. 

Karsten  (Hermann),  Flora  Columbia  terrarumque  adjacentium  specimina  selecta.  Berolini,  1858, 
folio.  Beautiful  coloured  figures  of  various  plants,  including  Cinchona,  under  which  name 
are  several  species  usually  referred  to  other  genera.  Only  the  first  three  parts  have  been 
published. 

Markham  (Clements  Robert) . The  Cinchona  species  of  New  Granada,  containing  the  botanical 
descriptions  of  the  species  examined  by  Drs.  Mutis  and  Karsten  ; with  some  account  of  those 
botanists  and  of  the  results  of  their  labours.  London,  1867,  8vo.,  139  pages  and  5 plates. 
The  plates  are  not  coloured,  yet  are  good  reduced  copies  of  those  contained  in  Karsten’s 
Flora  Columbia-,  they  represent  the  following: — Cinchona  corymbosa,  C.  Triana,  C. 
lancfolia,  C.  cordifolia,  C.  Tucujensis. 


p 


58 


APPENDICES. 


Miquel  (Friedrich  Anton  Wilhelm)  De  Cinchona  speciebus  quibusdam,  adjedis  Us  qua  in 
Java  coluntur.  Commentatio  ex  Annalibus  Musei  Botanici  Lugduno-Batavi  exscripla. 
Amstelodami,  1869,  4to,  20  pages. 

Phoebus  (Philipp),  Die  Delondre- Bouchardaf  schen  China-Rinden.  Giessen,  1864,  8vo,  75  pages 
and  a table.  The  author  gives  a description,  without  figures,  of  the  miscroscopic  structure 
of  the  type-specimens  figured  in  Delondre  and  Bouchardat's  Quinologie. 

Planchon  (Gustave),  Des  Quinquinas.  Paris  et  Montpellier,  1864,  8vo.,  150  pages.  A descrip- 
tion of  the  Cinchonas  and  their  barks.  An  English  translation  has  been  issued  under 
the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Markham  by  the  India  Office,  under  the  title  of  Peruvian 
Barks,  by  Gustave  Planchon,  London,  printed  by  Eyre  and  Spottiswoode,  1866. 

Soubeiran  (J.  Leon)  et  Delondre  (Augustin),  De  V introduction  et  de  V acclimataiion  des 
Cinchonas  dans  les  hides  neerlandaises  et  dans  les  hides  britanniques.  Paris,  1868,  8vo, 
165  pages. 

Triana  (Jose),  Nouvelles  etudes  sur  les  Quinquinas.  Paris,  1870,  folio,  80  pages  and  33  plates. 
An  interesting  account  of  the  labours  of  Mutis,  illustrated  by  uucoloured  copies  of 
some  of  the  drawings  prepared  by  him  in  illustration  of  his  unpublished  Quinologia  de 
Bogota,  especially  of  the  several  varieties  of  Cinchona  lancifolia ; also  an  enumeration  and 
short  descriptions  of  all  the  species  of  Cinchona , and  of  New  Granadian  plants  (chiefly 
Cascarilla)  formerly  placed  in  that  genus. 

Yogi  (August),  Chinarinden  des  Wiener  Grosshandels  und  der  Wiener  Sammlungen.  Wien, 
1867,  8 vo,  134  pages,  no  figures.  A very  exhaustive  description  of  the  microscopic 
structure  of  the  barks  occurring  in  the  Vienna  market,  or  preserved  in  the  museums  of 
that  city. 

Weddell  (Hugh  Algernon),  Histoire  naturelle  des  Quinquinas,  ou  monographic  du  genre  Cin- 
chona, suivie  d’une  description  du  genre  Cascarilla  et  de  quelques  autres  plantes  de  la 
meme  tribu.  Paris,  1849,  folio,  108  pages,  33  plates  and  map.  Excellent  uucoloured 
figures  of  Cinchona  and  some  allied  genera,  and  beautiful  coloured  drawings  of  the 
officinal  barks.  Plate  I exhibits  the  anatomical  structure  of  the  plant;  Plate  II  that 
of  the  bark. 

Weddell  (Hugh  Algernon),  Notes  sur  les  Quinquinas,  extrait  des  Annales  des  Sciences 
naturelles,  5dme  s&rie,  tomes  XI  et  XII,  Paris,  1870,  8vo,  75  pages.  A systematic  arrange- 
ment of  the  genus  Cinchona,  and  description  of  its  (33)  species,  accompanied  by  useful 
remarks  on  their  barks.  An  English  translation  has  been  printed  by  the  India  Office 
with  the  title,  Notes  on  the  Quinquinas  by  H.  A.  Weddell,  London,  1871,  8vo,  64  pages. 
A German  edition  by  Dr.  F.  A.  Fluckiger  has  also  appeared  under  the  title,  Uebersicht 
der  Cinchonen  von  H.  A.  Weddell,  Schaff hausen  and  Berlin,  1871,  8vo,  43  pages,  with 
additions  and  indices. 


APPENDIX  B. 


Statement  shelving  quantities  of  Quina  Sulphas,  Cinchonine,  Cinchonidine,  and  Quinidine 
Sulphates  supplied  to  the  Government  Medical  Depots  in  India  from  1867  to  1873,  and  price 
of  the  same. 


Quantity. 

Price. 

Bengal. 

1867. 

Lbs. 

£ s.  d. 

Quin®  Sulphas... 

1,083 

0 4 0 per  oz 

1868. 

Quin®  Sulphas  ... 

500 

0 3 11  „ 

?)  » 

1,617 

3 10  8 per  lb. 

1869. 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of — ... 

150 

0 12  0 „ 

Ciuchonidine  „ 

150 

2 8 0 „ 

Quinidine  „ 

150 

2 8 0 „ 

Quin®  Sulphas  ...  ...  ...  ... 

1,000 

4 4 0 „ 

„ ,,  ...  ...  ••• 

1,068 

4 3 6 „ 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of — ... 

350 

0 9 6 „ 

Cinchonidine  „ 

350 

2 10  0 „ 

Quinidine  „ 

350 

2 10  0 „ 

1870. 

Quin®  Sulphas  ... 

1,160 

4 19  8 „ 

)>  >> 

1,200 

5 3 4,, 

» >> 

1,100 

4 2 9,, 

APPENDICES, 


59 


APPENDIX  B — ( continued ). 


B e N G a l — ( continued ) . 

1871. 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

Cinchonidine  Sulphate  ...• 

Quinidine 


C Ihs.  850^ 
1 „ 846 J 


Lbs. 

1,696 

220 

160 


£ s.  d. 

'5  5 10  per  16. 

and 

.5  5 2 „ 

2 0 0 „ 

2 14  0 „ 


1872. 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

>)  )) 

Quinine,  Neutral  Sulphate  of  — 
Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

Quinine,  Neutral  Sulphate  of  — 


500 

500 

760 

60 

950 

40 


6 0 0 
5 10  2 
4 18  8 
4 6 0 
4 18  8 
4 6 0 


yy 

yy 

y* 

yy 

yy 

yy 


1873. 

Quinse  Sulphas 

yy  yy 

1874. 

Quinse  Sulphas 
Cinchonidine,  Sulphate  of  — 
Cinchonine  ,, 

Quinidine  ,,  ... 

Ciuchona  Febrifuge,  Darjeeling 

1875. 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

Cinchonidine,  Sulphate  of  — 
Cinchonine  „ 

Quinidine  „ 

Cinchona  Febrifuge,  Darjeeling 

Madras. 

1867. 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

yy  yy 

yy  yy 

1868. 

Quinidine,  Sulphate  of  — ... 

Cinchonidine,  Sulphate  of — 
Cinchonine  „ 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 


16s.  oz. 
60  10 
2,546 

16s, 

5,524 

115 

86 

302 

20 


3,037 

116 

28 

142 

305 


0 7 lOperoz. 

6 16  0 per  16. 


200 

67 

461 


0 4 
0 4 
0 4 


3 

0 

0 


per oz. 

yy 

yy 


133 

133 

133 

645 


0 5 
0 5 
0 1 
3 18 


0 „ 

6 „ 

8 per  16. 


1869. 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

Quinidine,  Sulphate  of  — ... 

Cinchonine  ,, 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 


150 

150 

61 

200 


4 4 
2 4 
0 10 
4 10 


0 

0 

0 

8 


yy 

yy 

yy 

yy 


1870. 

Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of — ... 
Cinchonidine  ,, 

Quinidine  „ 


130 

149 

208 

195 


5 6 8 
0 12  0 
2 0 0 
2 8 0 


yy 

yy 

yy 

yy 


Quinse  Sulphas  ... 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of  — 
Quinse  Sulphas,  bleached 
„ ,,  unbleached... 


1871. 


360 

20 

15 

25 


5 6 6 „ 

1 0 6 „ 

0 8 3 per  oz. 


60 


APPENDICES. 


APPENDIX  B — ( concluded ). 


Quantity. 

Price. 

1872-73. 

Lbs.  oz. 

£.  a.  d. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

300 

5 0 0 per  lb. 

>) 

183  6 

6 16  0 „ 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of — ... 

48  8 

Cinchonidine  ,, 

10  9 

Quinidine  ,, 

71  14 

1874. 

IBs. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

399 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of — ... 

74 

Cinchonidine  ,, 

55 

Quinidine  „ 

63 

1875. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

632 

Cinchonine,  Sulphate  of  — ... 

124 

Cinchonidine  „ 

68 

Quinidine  „ 

124 

Bombay. 

1867. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

500 

0 4 2peroz. 

jy  yy  ...  ...  ...  » « » 

200 

0 1 6 „ 

1868. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

760 

4 14  per  lb. 

1869. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ...  ...  ... 

750 

4 3 0 „ 

1870. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ...  ...  ... 

700 

4 17  6 „ 

yy  yy 

810 

4 13  9 „ 

1871. 

Cinchonine  ...  ...  ... 

3 

1 4 0 „ 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

400 

5 18  6 „ 

1872. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

722 

5 12  0 „ 

1874. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

1,000 

Cinchonidine,  Sulphate  of  — 

167 

Cinchonine  „ 

Quinidine  ,, 

1875. 

Quinae  Sulphas  ... 

891 

Cinchonidine,  Sulphate  of  — 

345 

Cinchonine  ,, 

Quinidine  „ 

... 

APPENDICES, 


61 


02 


APPENDICES. 


Ootacamund,  W.  G.  McIVOR, 

\Wt  June  1874.  Snjodt .,  Govt.  Cinchona  Plantations. 


APPENDICES. 


G3 


^3 

"!S 

S 

IS6 

s 

<3 


Q 

X! 

i— ) 

P 

a 

P 

P 

P 

<1 


VO 

N 

oo 

rH 

s; 

v> 

Go 

CO 


5 

<$ 


GO 


P 

?S 


o 

& 


o 


S* 

5$ 

<P 


53 


r^5 

£ 


vo 

!>• 

CO 


d 

(M 


d 

o 

a 

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u 

C3 

Ph 

0) 

Q 


O 


P 

a 

o 

u 

pH 


d 

o 

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o 

p 

o 

Pi 


rO 

a 

d 


5 

a 

£ 


a 

a 


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Ci 

O 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

0 

o o 

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r—i  r— ( 

r—i 

7 

7 

5 

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a +3 
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rs 

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vo 

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£ 

o 


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Ph  0 £ 0 Eq  d 


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S3 


ci 

J3 

g 

’o 

o 

a 


O ~ S R 


a 

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59  -3  jT 
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9 O 

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P ^ ^ t>> 

03  9 Cm  5>  92 

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5 a : : : ::  : : i7>  p*  => 
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m 

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59  a'pS.Sg'Sss  : 

o ^a»Sfe?H^P4 


i (M 


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•^ooNxooHfn 


1 These  prices  arc  quoted  from  the  Nilgiri  Report;  they  do  not  harmonise  with  the  prices  actually  ruling  at  recent  bark  sales  in  London  as  given  in  Appendix  G,  pp  GO— 70. 


64 


APPENDICES. 


P 

XI 

t— I 

P 

P 

P 

P 

<1 


£3  O O CO 


CO  w* 

r-T  O 


A 


»q_  t-« 

CO  T* 


P$  W 


CS 


<P 

NC^ 


M r}T 


p' 

•30 


CO 

GO 


<3 

"K» 


Pd  ca 


CO 


-2  c! 


rs 

P 

a:  fcD 

be  .2 


■S  a 


2 


•J1  '_i  ^ — ' CJ  •— « ."ts  Ci  I— I « v_*  w r-.  «— • '— ' , , 

WcqHOfeOfi,QPiHWPciHQWO>*ao2 


-p  i-  a 


The  expenditure  on  account  of  the  Quiuologist  is  not  Included  in  the  above  statement. 


APPENDICES 


65 


W 

X 

HH 

ft 

£ 

W 

PH 

PH 

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lO 

i> 

QO 


3 


o 

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«*5 

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5 


S 

CD 


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saroc  jo  jaqui'nu  pijox 

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o 

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tO 

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tb 

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to 

OC ) 

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o 

b 

ao 

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to 

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to 

to 

i - 

r}< 

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b» 

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d 

b 

co 

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ui  paprtqd  joquinu  ptjoj, 

05 

00 

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00 

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to 

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b. 

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CD 

CO 

X 

CO 

CO 

X 

CO 

CO 

X 

CO 

CO 

X 

CO 

co 

X 

CO 

CO 

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CO 

X 

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X 

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Tj» 

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CQ 

. 

•po 

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05 

00 

CO 

00 

05 

°i. 

cf 

CO 

CD 

to 

N 

'if 

Cl 

d 

to 

b- 

'Vjt 

© 

Cl 

CO 

Cl 

ao 

to 

to 

bC 

Cl 

o 

8 

S 

to 

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cf 

8 

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to* 

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d 

to 

CD 

d 

8 

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8 

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05 

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cf 

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t2S§ 
2 a 


R 


The  above  return  refers  only  to  trees  planted  out,  nursery  stock  being  excluded. 


66 


APPENDICES. 


APPENDIX  F. 


Revenue  and  Expenditure  of  Government  Cinchona  Plantations  in  British  Sikkim,  on  all 
counts,  from  their  commencement  to  31s^  March  1875. 


Year. 

t- 

Revenue. 

Charges. 

Rs. 

Rs. 

1862-63 

nil 

9,455 

1863-64 

nil 

10,421 

1864-65 

nil 

39,096 

1865-66 

nil 

59,063 

1866-67 

nil 

48,964 

1867-68 

1,068 

67,601 

1868-69 

543 

75,965 

1869-70 

156 

54,542 

1870-71 

nil 

54,756 

1871-72 

1,484 

60,023 

1872-73 

2,320 

50,795 

1873-74 

2,387 

55,620 

1874-75 

nil 

59,942 

Total 

7,958 

6,46,243 

APPENDIX  G. 

PARTICULARS  OP  BARK  SALES  AT  LONDON. 
{The  prices  are  per  pound  avoirdupois.) 


21  st  and  2 3th  January  1875. 

91  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling-  to  good,  2s.  3d.  to  3s.  5d.,  about  20  sold. 

405  Packages  Calisaya,  quill,  middling  to  good — 

215  Packages  sold,  2s.  6d.  to  3s.  8 d. 

190  Ditto  bought  in,  2s.  to  2s.  3d. 

38  Serons  Caravaya,  quill,  fair,  Is.  9 d.,  bought  in. 

1,659  Bales  soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good — 

485  bales  sold,  Is.  5 d.,  to  2s. 

1,174  „ bought  in,  Is.  6d.  to  2s.  4 d. 

52  Bales  New  Granadian,  fair,  2s.  3d.,  bought  in. 

136  Bags  Maracaibo,  fair,  2 \d.,  sold. 

39  Bales  Carthagena,  middling,  hard,  Is.  1 d.  to  Is.  2 d.,  sold. 

46  „ Ceylon  Cinchona,  middling  to  fair,  8 d.  to  Is.  3d.,  sold. 

420  „ Ashy  Crown — 

21  bales,  fair  to  good,  Is.  3d.  to  2s.  4 d.  1 , , 

399  „ ordinary  to  fair,  3d.  to  Is.  Id.  / so  ' 

169  Sacks  Mossy  Lima,  fair  to  good,  3d.  to  4 d.,  sold. 

34  Serons  Crown,  very  ordinary  to  middling,  4 d.  to  Is.  5 d.,  soli. 

67  Bales  Red,  fair  to  good,  but  rather  small,  Is.  to  2s.,  about  three-fourths  sold. 


4 th  and  9 th  February  1875. 

492  Serons  Calisaya,  quill,  middling  to  good,  2s.  3d.  to  3s.  5 d.,  about  320  sold. 
40  Ditto  ditto  „ common,  smooth  like  Crown,  withdrawn. 

85  Ditto  ditto  „ „ Is.  to  2s.,  about  60  sold,  Is.  4 d.,  to  Is.  3d. 


ac- 


APPENDICES.  67 

3 Serons  Calisaya,  bold  quill,  fair  to  good,  3s.  id.  to  3s.  11  d.,  sold. 

76  Ditto  ditto  flat,  middling  to  good,  2s.  6 d.  to  3s.  3 d.}  about  20  sold,  3s.  to  3s.  3 d. 
831  Ditto  soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good — 

582  Serons,  bought  in,  Is.  8 d.  to  2s.  8<£. 

249  Ditto  common,  sold,  3 d.  to  Is.  3d. 

101  Ditto  New  Granadian,  fair,  52  Serons  sold  before  the  sale,  remainder,  2s.  3d., 
bought  in. 

37  Ditto  Hard  Pitayo,  withdrawn. 

17  Bags  Ceylon  Cinchona,  small,  twiggy  to  fair,  6d.  to  Is.  5 d.,  sold. 

98  Bales  Crown — 

42  Bales,  fair  to  good,  Is.  to  2s.  3^.,~|  , i 

36  Ditto  very  ordinary,  2d.  to  9 d.,  f S0  ( ' 

35  Ditto  red,  very  ordinary  to  middling,  6d.  to  Is.  3d.,  part  sold. 

12  Serons  Condurango,  good,  3d.,  bought  in.  > 


Dated  18 th  and  23 rd  February  1875. 

262  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling  to  fair,  2s.  2d.  to  3s.  3d.,  about  100  sold,  2s.  9 d.  to 
3s.  3d. 

82  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  ordinary  to  fair,  all  damaged,  Is.  3d.  to  3s.  Id.,  about  50  sold. 
205  Ditto  ditto  quill,  very  middling  to  fair,  2s.  6d.  to  3s.,  about  30  sold,  2s.  9 d. 

54  Ditto  ditto  ,,  very  inferior,  smooth,  Is.  Id.  to  2s.,  bought  in. 

3 Ditto  ditto  bold  picked  quill,  4s.  3d.  to  5s.  5 d.,  sold. 

850  Packages  soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good,  Is.  5 d to  2s.  8 d.,  about  70  sold,  Is.  9 d. 
to  2s.  2d. 

412  Packages  soft  Columbian,  very  ordinary,  Is.,  about  20  sold. 

417  Ditto  New  Granadian,  middling  to  fair,  Is.  Id.  to  2s.  8 d.,  about  140  sold. 

32  Bales  Carthagena,  middling  to  fair,  Is.  1 d.  to  Is.  3d.,  sold. 

30  Ditto  ditto  common,  3d.  to  8 d.,  sold. 

64  Ditto  Crown,  middling  to  good,  Is.  to  2s.  3d.,  all  sold. 

180  Ditto  ditto  very  ordinary  to  middling,  3d.  to  9 d.,  about  60  sold. 

267  Ditto  Mossy  Lima,  fair  to  good,  id.  to  3d.,  bought  in. 

56  Ditto  Maracailes,  middling  to  fair,  1 \d.  to  3 \d.,  sold. 

40  Ditto  Red,  middling  to  fair,  Is.  to  3s.  9 d.,  about  30  sold. 

6 Ditto  Ceylon  Cinchona,  fair  silvery  quill,  Is.  Id.,  sold. 


18^  and  23rd  March  1875. 

51  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling  to  fair,  2s.  to  3s.,  bought  in. 

309  „ „ quill,  middling  to  fine,  2s.  to  4s.  Id.,  about  150  sold  at  3s.  3d.  to  4s.  Id. 

1693  Bales  soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good — 

44  sold  before  the  sale. 

367  withdrawn. 

303  sold,  Is.  to  2s.  5 d. 

979  bought  in,  Is.  to  2s.  8^. 

183  Bales  New  Granadian,  fair  to  good,  2s.  to  2s.  8 d.,  about  70  sold  at  2s.  7 d.  to  2s.  8 d. 

25  ,,  Hard  Carthagena,  Is.,  bought  in. 

87  „ Maracaibo,  middling  to  fair,  2 \d.  to  3d.,  about  half  sold  at  2 \d. 

85  Serons  Crown,  fair  to  fine,  Is.  2d.  to  2s.  2d.,  nearly  all  sold. 

48  ,,  „ very  ordinary,  id.  to  3d.,  sold. 

26  Cases  Red,  middling  to  good,  Is.  3d.  to  3s.  9 d.,  about  20  sold  at  Is.  3d.  to  2s. 

23  Bales  East  Indian  Cinchona  at  Madras,  good  to  fine  Officinalis  2s.  10<7.  to  3s.  10 d. 
all  sold. 


8 tk  and  13 th  April  1875. 

167  Serons  Calisaya,  middling  flat,  2s.  1 d.  to  2s.  10^.,  bought  in. 

36  ,j  „ „ withdrawn. 

10  ,,  „ quill,  1 seron  fine  sold  at  3s.  5 d.,  remainder  middling  to  fair  bought 

in  at  Is.  Qd.  to  2s.  lOi. 

126  Bales  Carthagena,  fair  to  good,  Is.  3d.  to  Is.  6^.,  sold. 

39  „ „ middling,  8 d.  sold. 

180  Cases  East  Indian  Cinchona,  fair  to  fine,  Is.  8 d.  to  3s.  3d.,  about  half  sold. 

907  Bales  soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good- 
62  Bales  withdrawn. 

845  „ Is.  to  2s.  9 d.,  about  80  sold  at  Is.  to  2s.  Id. 

18  Serons  Hard  Pitayo  fine,  2s.  5 d.  to  2s.  3d.,  bought  in. 

37  Cases  Red,  middling  quilly  to  good  flat,  Is.  to  2s.  13d.,  about  three-fourths  sold. 

20  Bales  Maracaibo,  fair,  2 %d.,  sold. 

165  Serons  Crown  and  Grey,  middling  to  fine,  3d.  to  2s.  5 d.,  all  sold. 

233  Sacks  Mossy  Lima,  middling,  2 id.  to  2| d.,  about  three-fourths  sold. 


68 


APPENDICES. 


22 nd  and  21th  April  1875. 

115  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling'  to  fair,  2s.  6d.  to  2s.  10d.,  about  three-fourths  sold. 
160  „ ,,  quill,  middling  to  good,  2s.  3d.  to  3s.  Id.,  about  100  sold. 

23  ,,  „ „ very  inferior,  Is.  7 d.  to  2s.,  bought  in. 

506  Bales  soft  Columbian,  very  middling  to  fair,  Is.  to  2s.  3d.,  nearly  all  bought  in. 

66  „ „ very  ordinary,  6d.,  bought  in. 

359  „ New  Granadian,  fair  to  good,  Is.  9 d.  to  2s.  9 d.,  about  220  sold  at  2s.  3d.  to 

2s.  9 d. 

51  „ Hard  Pitayo,  middling,  8 d.  to  Is.,  bought  in. 

87  „ very  ordinary  Columbian,  2d.,  bought  in. 

220  Bags  East  Indian  Cinchona  at  Madras,  fair  to  fine,  Is.  3d.  to  3s.  5 d.,  all  sold,  about. 
97  lbs.  each. 

60  Cases  „ „ at  Calicut,  fair,  Is.  9d.  to  2s.  1 d.,  bought  in,  about  100  lbs.  each. 

35  Serons  Crown,  fair  to  good.  Is.  3d.  to  2s.  4 d.,  sold. 

22  ,,  „ very  ordinary  to  middling,  4 d.  to  10 d.,  bought  in. 

15  Cases  Red,  middling  to  fair,  2s.  4 d.  to  3s.,  bought  in. 

11  Bales  „ fair,  badly  damaged,  3|d.  to  4£d.,  sold. 


Is*  and  3th  July  1875. 

72  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling  to  fair,  2s.  4 d.  to  3s.  2d.,  sold. 

384  „ „ quill,  middling  to  fine,  3s.  to  3s.  lid.,  about  100  sold. 

10  ,,  „ picked  quill,  4s.  3d.  to  6s.  2d.,  sold. 

54  „ „ very  inferior  smooth  quill,  Is.  2d.  to  2s.  3d.,  about  35  sold  at  Is.  2d.  to 

Is.  4 d. 

1,320  Bales  soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good,  Is.  lOd.  to  2s.  Id.,  bought  in. 

201  Bales  New  Granadian,  good,  2s.  2d.  to  2s.  3d.,  about  60  sold  at  2s.  3d.  to  2s.  3d. 

200  Bales  Maracaibo,  fair  bright  3d.  to  4 d.,  bought  in. 

27  Cases  East  India  Cinchona,  21  fair  quill  Is.  5 d.  to  2s.  3d.,  bought  in  3d.  twiggy 

Id.,  sold. 

79  Cases  Red,  32,  fair  to  good  heavy  flat,  Is.  3d.  to  4s.  3d.  | . 

47,  small  and  inferior,  4 \d.  to  Is.  j a so  c . 

20  Bales  Ashy  Crown,  Is.  3d.,  bought  in. 

10  Bales  Crown,  fair,  Is.  5 d.  to  Is,  7 d.,  sold. 

63  Sacks  Mossy  Lima,  middling  to  good,  2d.  to  4 d.,  bought  in. 


7 th  and  12 th  October  1875. 

60  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling,  2s.  to  3s.,  bought  in. 

20  „ „ „ „ 2s.  2d.  to  2s.  9 d.,  sold. 

3 „ „ „ picked,  3s.  lid.  to  4s.,  bought  in, 

72  „ „ quill,  ordinary  to  good,  2s.  to  3s.  6d.,  bought  in. 

23  „ „ „ good,  3s.  to  '6s.  5d.,  sold. 

9 Bales  Carthagena,  middling,  4d.  to  8d.,  part  sold. 

204  „ Soft  Columbian,  good,  2s.  to  2s.  4d.,  bought  in. 

9 „ „ middling,  Is.  9d.  to  2s.,  sold. 

83  „ „ withdrawn. 

14  Bags  Ceylon  Cinchona  Red,  good,  Is.  2d.  to  2s.  8d.,  sold. 

5 „ „ Crown,  good,  4s.  3d.  to  4s.  7 d.,  sold. 

12  Bales  Crown,  middling,  4d.  to  Is.  5d.,  sold. 

35  „ „ „ 3d.  to  Is.  9d.,  bought  in. 

59  „ mossy  Lima,  middling  to  fair,  3d.  to  4d.,  bought  in. 


13 th  October  1875. 

86  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling,  2s.  to  3s.,  bought  in.  , 
60  „ „ „ „ 2s  2d.  to  2s.  9d.,  sold. 

3 „ „ „ picked,  3s.  lid.  to  4s.,  bought  in. 

72  „ „ quill,  ordinary  to  good,  2s.  to  3d.,  bought  in. 

23  „ „ „ good,  3s.  to  3s.  5d.,  sold. 

9 Bales  Carthagena,  middling,  4d.  to  8d.,  part  sold. 

204  „ Soft  Columbian,  good,  2s.  to  2s.  4d.,  bought  in. 

9 „ „ „ middling,  Is.  9d.  to  2s.,  sold. 

83  „ „ „ withdrawn. 

14  Bags  Ceylon  Cinchona,  Red,  good,  Is.  2d.  to  2s.  3d.,  sold. 

5 „ „ „ Crown,  good,  4s.  6d.  to  4s.  Id.,  sold. 

12  Bales  Crown,  middling,  4d.  to  Is.  5 d.,  sold. 

35  „ „ „ 3d.  to  Is.  9d.,  bought  in. 


APPENDICES. 


69 


hth  and  3tli  November  1875. 

65  Serous  Calisaya,  flat,  middling,  all  country  damaged,  2s.  to  2s.  4 d.,  bought  in. 

49  „ „ ordinary  smooth  quill,  Is.  3d.,  bought  in. 

512  Bales  Soft  Columbian,  middling  to  good,  Is.  8 d.  to  2s.  8 d.,  bought  in. 

145  .,  „ very  middling,  Is.  to  Is.  3d.,  bought  in. 

103  ,,  „ good,  sold  before  the  sale. 

117  ,,  Carthagena,  fair  to  good.  Is.  5 d.  to  2s.  2d.,  sold. 

15  ,.  ,,  common,  7 d.  to  8 d.,  sold. 

18  Cases  East  India  Cinchona,  fair  quill,  @ Cochin  and  Mangalore,  2s.  4 d.  to  2s.  10 d., 
bought  iu. 

35  „ Crown  & Grey,  fair  to  fine,  Is.  3d.  to  2s.  Id.,  all  sold. 

7 „ „ „ very  inferior,  3d.  to  3d.,  bought  in. 

59  ,,  Mossy  Lima,  fair  to  good,  4 \d.  to  3d.,  bought  in. 


2nd  and  1th  December  1875. 

20  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  middling,  2s.  Id.  to  2s.  13d.,  sold. 

106  „ ,,  quill,  good,  3s.  lOcZ.  to  4s.  4 d.,  sold. 

172  ,,  ,,  ,,  fair,  3s.  2d.  to  3s.  3d,  about  half  sold. 

6 Cases  ,,  „ picked,  6s.,  bought  in. 

192  Bales  Carthagena,  fair  to  good,  Is.  6^.  to  2s.,  sold. 

8 ,,  „ inferior,  3d.  to  Is.,  sold. 

81  ,,  Soft  Columbian,  withdrawn. 

489  „ „ middling  to  fair,  2s.  to  2s.  3d.,  bought  in. 

21  ,,  New  Granadian,  middling,  Is.  Id.,  sold. 

158  „ Ceylon  Cinchona,  fair  quill,  2s.  to  2s.  5d.  ) ,, 

17  „ „ „ middling,  small  quill,  Is.  2d.  to  Is.  llr?.  J so 

5 Cases  Red,  middling  to  fair.  Is.  to  2s.  3d.,  sold. 

22  Bales  Maracaibo,  fair,  3d.,  sold. 

196  ,,  Mossy  Lima,  middling  to  fair,  3d.  to  3d.,  bought  in. 

5 Serons  Crown,  good,  Is.  1 \d.  to  3s.,  sold. 

83  „ ,,  middling  to  fair,  5 d.  to  Is.  3d.,  mostly  bought  in. 


13th  and  18 th  January  1876. 

402  Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  ordinary  to  fair,  sound,  2s.  3d.  to  3s.*)  , , . . . 

damaged,  Id.  to  2s.  3r/./about  ioU  sold’ 

26  ,,  „ very  ordinary,  Is.  ‘Id.,  bought  in. 

17  ,,  „ middling,  2s.  2d.  to  2s.  3d.,  sold. 

266  „ „ quill,  middling  to  good,  2s.  3d.  to  3s.  10 d. ; 70  fair  to  good  sold  at 

3s.  3d.  to  3s.  \0d.,  196  middling  bought  in  at  2s.  3d.  to  3s. 

139  „ „ inferior  smooth  quill,  sound,  Is.  to  Is.  Id.  sold;  damaged  at  3d.  to 

Is.  3d.  sold. 

5 Cases  „ picked  quill,  4s.  3d.  to  5s.  9 d.,  sold. 

42  Bales  Carthagena,  fair  to  good,  Is.  3d.  to  2s.,  sold. 

19  „ ,,  inferior  hard,  Id.  to  1 Id.,  sold. 

1995  „ Soft  Columbian,  fair  to  good,  2s.  2d.  to  2s.  9 d.,  about  300  sold. 

260  „ „ inferior,  9 d.  to  Is.,  bought  in. 

327  „ New  Granadian,  Is.  3d.  to  2s.  8^.,  mostly  sold. 

38  ,,  East  India  Cinchona,  good  quill,  2s.  5 d.  to  3s.  3d.  \ . , 

43  ,,  „ „ middling  quill,  Is.  2d.  to  Is.  lid.  f so  * 

55  Serons  Crown,  fair  to  fine,  Is.  5 d.  to  3s.  5 d.,  all  sold. 

154  „ ,,  ordinary  to  middling,  3d.  to  Is.  Id.,  mostly  bought  in. 

81  Bags  Mossy  Lima,  fair  to  good  bright,  3d.  to  3d.,  part  sold. 

18  Cases  Red,  fair  bright  quilly  and  flattish,  Is.  3d.  to  2s.  3d.  *)  , . 

pickings  and  dust,  Id.  to  9 d.  j S0  ' 

101  Bales  Maracaibo  Bark,  3d.  to  3^6?.,  bought  in. 


131 

163 

28 

20 

49 

6 

169 

58 

6 

58 

8 


2 7lh  January  and  ls£  February  1876. 

Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  very  middling  to  fair,  2s.  to  3s.,  about  half  sold  at  2s.  to  2s.  3d. 
quill,  good  to  fine,  3s.  3d.  to  3s.  13d.,  all  sold. 

„ middling,  3s.,  bought  in. 

,,  ordinary,  Is.,  10^.  do. 

„ very  ordinary  smooth  like  Crown,  Is.  to  Is.  3d.,  bought  in. 
Cases  „ „ fine  picked,  5s.  6^.  to  5s.  13d.,  sold. 

Serons  Soft  Columbian,  fair  to  good,  Is.  8 d.  to  2s.  3d.,  about  40  sold  at  Is.  8 d.  to  Is.  3d. 
„ Hard  Pitayo,  fair.  Is.  3d.,  sold. 

Cases  East  India  Cinchona  Bark,  middling  to  fair  quill,  Is.  10^.  to  2s.  3d.,  sold. 

Bales  Carthagena,  fair  to  good,  Is.  Id.  to  Is.  3d.,  all  sold. 

„ ,,  inferior  hard  quill,  6^.,  sold. 


)) 


s 


70 


APPENDICES. 


44  Serous  Ashy  Crown.,  good  to  fine,  2 s.  1<7.  to  2s.  10 d.,  all  sold. 

70  „ „ middling  to  fair,  Is.  lrf.  to  Is.  9d.,  all  sold. 

44  ,,  ,,  very  ordinary,  6d.  to  9 d.,  bought  in. 

280  Bags  Mossy  Lima,  ordinary  to  fair,  2 d.  to  4 d.,  bought  in. 


48 

114 

20 

380 

123 

470 

67 

37 

13 

256 

37 

11 

20 

9 


24 th  and  29 th  February  1876. 

Serons  Calisaya,  flat,  very  ordinary  to  middling,  all  damaged,  Is.  to  2s.  bou 
„ ,,  quill,  very  ordinary,  9 d.  to  Is.,  bought  in. 

„ ,,  flat,  fair  sound,  2s.  3d.  to  2s.  8^.,  sold. 

,,  New  Granadian,  fair  to  good,  Is.  3d.  to  3s.  2d.,  about  300  sold. 

,,  ,,  inferior,  Is.  lfl?.  to  Is.  Id.,  all  sold. 

,,  Soft  Columbian,  ordinary  to  good,  Is.  to  2s.  Id.,  bought  in. 

„ ,,  sold  before  the  sale. 

„ Carthagena,  fair  to  good,  Is.  Id.  to  Is.  9 d.,  all  sold. 

,,  ,,  very  middling,  5 d.  to  9 d.,  sold. 

„ Ashy  Crown,  middling  to  fine,  Is.  5 d.  to  2s.  9 d.,  all  sold. 

„ Crown,  very  ordinary  to  middling,  2>d.  to  Is.  3d.,  bought  in. 

,,  Red,  middling  to  fair,  Is.  6d.  to  2s.  3d.,  bought  in. 

,,  Mossy  Lima,  fair,  4 d.,  bought  in. 

Cases  East  India  Cinchona,  fair  quill,  2s.  3d.  to  3s.,  bought  in. 


ght  in. 


APPENDICES 


71 


APPENDIX  II. 


Meteorological  observations  made  at  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Ootacamund,from  1#/  April  18G8 

to  31#/  March  1869. 


MONTHS. 

Dby  Bulb. 

Wet  Bulb. 

Maxi- 
mum in 
shade. 

Mini- 
mum in 
shade. 

Rainfall. 

7 A.  M. 

2 P.  M. 

6 P.  M. 

Daily 

mean. 

7 A.  M. 

2.  p.  M. 

6.  P.  M. 

Daily 

mean. 

Inches. 

Cents. 

Days 

with 

Rain. 

Days 

with- 

out 

Haiti. 

April  1868 

68-57 

7271 

6171 

64-33 

53-86 

6093 

56-79 

57-19 

77-87 

53-23 

75 

ii 

20 

May  „ 

67  0 

70-36 

60'96 

6277 

54-20 

61-48 

57-32 

57  67 

7377 

53-93 

7 

09 

20 

11 

June  „ 

5475 

6235 

65-30  ? 

67-47 

63-86 

58-65 

54-45 

55-65 

63-71 

5363 

8 

03 

21 

9 

July 

63  47 

61-89 

54-47 

56-61 

52-79 

59-05 

6358 

5514 

10 

35 

23 

8 

August  „ ... 

63-67 

63-0 

55-10 

57-22 

5271 

59-29 

53-90 

55-30 

65-68 

3 

14 

18 

13 

September ,, 

52  54 

6427 

56-31 

57-71 

61-46 

69-88 

55-04 

55-46 

67-40 

7 

59 

18 

12 

October  „ 

53-56 

66-30 

56.52 

58-46 

5096 

69-74 

64-74 

5516 

68-39 

9 

01 

20 

11 

November  „ 

51-23 

66-12 

55-69 

67-68 

45-96 

66-12 

50-85 

50-98 

6990 

•• 

3 

25 

6 

24 

December  „ 

61  81 

69-24 

55  52 

6886 

4338 

55-95 

48-76 

49  36 

71-07 

34 

3 

28 

January  1869 

61-12 

08-12 

55-59 

58-27 

4395 

67-76 

50-76 

60-82 

71-20 

44 

4 

27 

February  „ 

5219 

70-0 

59-44 

60-64 

48-44 

60-12 

64-62 

64-40 

73-48 

... 

30 

3 

25 

March  „ 

53-52 

70-67 

60-31 

61-50 

48-29 

62-29 

55  33 

55-30 

74-04 

2 

30 

11 

20 

Total 

Annual  mean ... 

52 

69 

168 

208 

6361 

67-0 

67-24 

59-28 

49-99 

59  72 

63-84 

54-37 

7059 

Ootacamund.  W.  G.  McIVOR, 

Supdt.  of  Govt.  Cinchona  Plantations. 


N eddivuttum  Weather  report  from  1#/  April  1868  to  31s/  March  1869. 


MONTHS. 

Hygrometer. 

Maximum  in 

Minimum  in 

Rain  in 

Days  with 
rain. 

Days  without 
rain. 

Dry  bulb. 

Wet  buib. 

shade. 

shade. 

Inches. 

April  1868... 

66 

58 

82 

61 

0-70 

2 

28 

May  „ ... 

68 

58 

82 

62 

5-80 

8 

23 

June  „ ... 

58 

57 

69 

55 

279 

27 

3 . 

July  „ ... 

57 

56 

59 

52 

18-97 

30 

1 

August  „ ... 

59 

59 

62 

56 

30-22 

1 

to 

to 

9 

September  „ ... 

59 

58 

67 

53 

9-17 

22 

8 

October  „ ... 

60 

60 

70 

57 

5-24 

10 

21 

November  „ ... 

60 

57 

70 

56 

2-20 

7 

23 

December  „ ... 

60 

56 

74 

55 

... 

31 

January  1869  ... 

59 

50 

76 

51 

... 

31 

February  „ ... 

58 

53 

73 

54 

0-4 

1 

27 

March  „ ... 

66 

64 

80 

58 

0-57 

3 

28 

Ootacamund.  W.  G.  McIVOR, 

Supdt.  of  Govt.  Cinchona  Plantations. 


72 


APPENDICES. 


Ootacamund,  I ' W.  G.  MclVOR, 

\st  April  1871.  / Supdt.f  Govt.  Cinchona  Plantations. 


APPENDICES. 


73 


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1^  April  1871.  J Supdt .,  Govt.  Cinchona  Plantations. 


Abstract  of  Meteorological  Observations  at  Rungbee  for  1 866. 


74 


APPENDICES 


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November 

December 

76 


APPENDICES 


APPENDIX  J. 


RAINFALL,  CINCHONA  PLANTATIONS. 


British  Sikkim. 


1872. 

1873. 

Rungbee, 
3,332  feet. 

Rishap, 
2,000  feet. 

Rungbee, 
3,332  feet. 

Mungpoo, 
3,400  feet. 

Rishap, 
2,000  feet 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

January  ... 

0-7 

113 

0-4 

0 23 

0-27 

February  ... 

... 

March 

1-50 

1-53 

2-80 

2-54 

2-15 

April 

... 

4-8 

4-67 

7-90 

4-75 

4-84 

May 

... 

... 

8-8 

3-79 

9-80 

9-25 

6-50 

June 

29-7 

27-08 

25-80 

18-46 

15-31 

July 

40-2 

33-87 

3510 

29-94 

27-47 

August 

34-8 

20-14 

41-85 

25-62 

23-90 

September 

... 

33-75 

1907 

1615 

11-32 

1017 

October  . . . 

11-30 

9-33 

November 

... 

... 

0-09 

0-09 

0 09 

December  „ 

... 

... 

Total 

165-55 

120-61 

139-89 

102-20 

90-70 

APPENDIX  K. 


Abstract  of  Observations  taken  at  Langdale  Estate , Lindula,  Ceylon , at  4,600  feet  elevation. 


KaINEADL. 

Shade  Tempebatube. 

Exposed  Thermometers. 

No.  of  years  observed.  | 

Days  rain. 

Total  fall  in  inches. 

Most  in  24  hours. 

Years  observed. 

Mean  maximum. 

Years  observed. 

Mean  minimum. 

Mean  temperature. 

Highest  temperature. 

Lowest  temperature. 

Years  observed. 

Mean  maximum. 

Years  observed. 

Mean  minimum. 

Highest  temperature. 

Lowest  temperature. 

January  

6 

11 

391 

2-48 

5 

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732 

6 

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o 

64-85 

O 

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O 

45* 

3 

O 

105-8 

2 

48-0 

o 

128* 

o 

33- 

February  

6 

8 

2-28 

1-47 

5 

75-9 

6 

555 

65-70 

81- 

45-5 

3 

110-0 

2 

50-8 

126- 

42- 

March 

6 

9 

2-10 

1-50 

5 

78-1 

7 

655 

66-80 

84- 

465 

3 

113-8 

2 

491 

126- 

39- 

April 

6 

15 

7-04 

2-96 

5 

78-2 

7 

68-1 

68T5 

89- 

49' 

3 

114-8 

2 

62-4 

136- 

42- 

May  

7 

19 

6-87 

249 

6 

75-7 

7 

60-2 

67-95 

83-5 

50- 

4 

106-0 

2 

68-1 

133- 

46- 

June 

7 

26 

18-40 

510 

5 

70-2 

7 

610 

65-60 

78-5 

66- 

4 

92-1 

2 

58-4 

118- 

43- 

July 

7 

26 

17-32 

377 

5 

68-7 

7 

59-9 

6430 

78- 

64- 

4 

88-6 

2 

67-6 

120- 

48- 

August  

7 

24 

9-32 

1-60 

6 

70-6 

7 

69-9 

6525 

79-5 

64- 

4 

98-8 

2 

66-8 

134- 

48- 

September  

7 

24 

1529 

6-85 

6 

70-0 

7 

69-5 

64-76 

80- 

60- 

4 

96-4 

2 

663 

132- 

46- 

October  

7 

24 

13-07 

3'14 

6 

70-7 

7 

68-9 

64-80 

79- 

51- 

4 

1001 

2 

66-3 

132- 

46- 

November 

7 

19 

7-71 

2-36 

6 

732 

7 

68-2 

65-70 

79- 

48- 

4 

107-9 

2 

63-8 

132 

46- 

December  

7 

15 

4-41 

2 '75 

6 

734 

7 

67-4 

65-40 

79- 

44-5 

4 

108-1 

2 

51-7 

133- 

41- 

Means,  Totals  and 
Extremes 

220 

107-72 

6-85 

... 

73-2° 

58"4°j 

65-8° 

00 

CO 

6 

■14 '6° 

103-5° 

... 

64-1° 

136° 

33° 

ns 

v 

> 

o 

J. 

o 

rt 

£ 

3 

3 

3 
8 

4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 


60 

57 

54 

66 

71 

81 

82 

78 
80 

79 
74 
69 

71 


5-4 

4'9 


3 3' 

3 6' 

3 66 

4 8'9 

4 8’6 
4 7'8 

4 8'3 
4 7-2 
4 71 

4 5-9 

..  66 


APPENDICES. 


77 


APPENDIX  L. 


Table  of  Plants  per  acre  according  to  'planting  distance. 


Distances  apart 
in  feet. 

Plants  in  one 
acre. 

12  by  12 

303 

8 by  8 

681 

6 by  6 

1,210 

5 by  5 

1,742 

6 by  4 

1,815 

5 by  4 

2,178 

6 by  3 

2,420 

4 by  4 

2,722 

4 by  3 

3,630 

3fby3* 

3,555 

3 by  3 

4,640 

APPENDIX  M. 


Reports  on  the  action  of  the  mixed  Cinchona  Alkaloid  supplied  from  the  Government  Cinchona 

plantation,  British  Sikkim,  by 


Norm  an  Chevebs,  Esq.,  M.D., 

Principal,  Medical  College,  Calcutta . 

Joseph  Ewart,  Esq.,  M.D., 

Surgeon  Superintendent, 

General  Hospital,  Calcutta. 


Robert  Bird,  Esq.,  M.D., 

Civil  Surgeon,  Howrah. 

John  Gat  French,  Esq.,  M.D., 

Late  Civil  Surgeon,  Burdican. 


Dr.  Chevers. — “ It  is  a rule  strictly  observed  in  hospital  that  none  but  severe  cases  of  Dr.  chever’i 
paludal  fever  are  admitted  to  my  wards.  It  is,  however,  self-evident  that  a new  remedy  can-  report- 
not  be  subjected  to  a perfectly  convincing  test  in  such  cases  as  these,  as  its  failure  might  fairly 
be  attributed  to  the  presence  of  organic  complications  which  too  often  resist  the  action  of 
Quina  itself.  Consequently  I determined  to  try  the  alkaloid  in  none  but  simple  uncomplicated 
cases  of  intermittent  fever.  It  may  be  mentioned  here  that  the  whole  of  the  eighteen  cases  em- 
bodied in  this  report  were  those  of  patients  suffering  from  quotidian  intermittent  fever. 

“ I explained  my  intention  to  Dr.  McConnell,  the  Resident  Physician,  who  devoted  great 
care  to  the  selection  of  simple  cases  in  his  out-patient  room. 

“ As  the  type  of  fever  is  constantly  on  the  change,  I was  anxious  to  try  the  experiment 
in  cases  which  were  as  nearly  as  possible  identical  in  type.  I succeeded  in  doing  this  to  my 
satisfaction — the  eighteen  cases  fairly  representing  the  autumnal  intermittent  of  September  to 
December  1874. 

“They  were  all  marked  cases  of  fever,  the  highest  thermometrical  readings  ranging  from 
101-2  to  106Fht. 

Both  the  alkaloid  and  Quina  were  tried  in  several  cases,  which  have  not  been  tabulated  on 
account  of  the  existence  of  splenic  enlargement,  bowel  complaint,  or  some.other  complication. 

“ The  table1  embodies  twelve  cases  in  which  the  alkaloid  was  used,  against  six  in  which 
Quina  Was  employed. 

“ My  practice  in  intermittents  has,  for  many  years,  been  to  give  Quina  to  adult  males  in 
full  doses  of  6 grains  before  and  after  every  paroxysm,  and  in  half  doses  of  3 grains  through- 
out the  interval. 

“ Having  no  data  by  which  to  judge  the  strength  of  the  alkaloid,  I made  7 grains  the  full 
dose,  and  4 grains  the  half  dose.  These  doses  of  both  drugs  answering  well,  I continued 
them  throughout  the  trial.  In  a young  patient,  nine  years  old,  I gave  the  alkaloid  in 
due  proportion. 

“ It  was  arranged  from  the  first  that  the  course  of  treatment  in  the  whole  of  the  eighteen 
cases  should  be,  as  nearly  as  possible,  exactly  the  same.  Castor  oil  was  used  as  the  aperient, 
and  liquor  ammoniac  acetatis  as  the  chief  ingredient  of  the  fever  mixture. 

“ A very  large  experience  in  the  treatment  of  quotidians  and  tertians  in  Bengal  has  con- 
vinced me  that,  when  treatment  is  commenced  immediately , certain  fixed  doses  of  Quina  are  almost 
invariably  sufficient  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  the  second  paroxysm.  The  operation  admits  of 

1 Table  omitted  for  the  sake  of  brevity. 


78 


APPENDICES. 


almost  as  great  precision  asdoes  the  loading  of  a gun.  Thirty  grains  are  sufficient  in  a European  male 
adult ; twenty-fire  in  a European  woman  or  native  man  ; twenty  in  a native  woman.  In  hospital 
practice,  however,  we  cannot  begin  to  treat  our  cases  immediately ; and  in  proportion  to  the  loss  of 
time  are  generally  the  severity  of  the  disease  and  the  uncertainty  in  the  action  of  the  remedy.  It 
will  be  observed  that,  in  what  I term  the  alkaloid  cases,  there  had  been  from  two  to  eleven 
paroxysms  before  treatment  was  commenced ; and  that  in  the  Quina  cases  treatment  had  been 
preceded  by  from  one  to  five  paroxysms. 

“ An  intermittent  fever  may  be  said  to  be  arrested  immediately  the  natural  temperature 
of  the  body  becomes  permanently  re-established.  In  the  twelve  alkaloid  cases  the  number  of 
grains  which  had  to  be  taken  before  the  natural  temperature  was  re-established  were  19  (boy 
of  9),  19  (adult  male),  21,  30,  30,  42,  46,  48,  56,  72,  83  and  117. 

“ In  the  six  Quina  cases  the  numbers  of  grains  required  to  produce  the  same  effect  were 
30,  31,  34,  41,  41,  and  42.  Hence  the  average  quantities  needful  were,  of  the  alkaloid,1  a 
fraction  less  than  45  grains ; of  Quina,  a fraction  more  than  36  grains.  The  result  of  my 
trial  appears  to  be  that  the  Cinchona  alkaloid  is  a very  useful  antiperiodic  ; but,  as  might  be 
expected  from  its  composition,  somewhat  less  powerful  than  pure  Quina.  I would  note  the 
strength  of  Quina  as  being  one-fourth  greater  than  that  of  the  alkaloid. 

“ I observed  all  the  cases  most  carefully.  I noticed  nothing  unpleasant,  or  in  any  way 
to  be  objected  to,  in  the  operation  of  the  alkaloid.  I invariably  gave  it  in  solution.  The 
taste  appears  to  be  nearly  that  of  Quinine/'’ 


Dr.  Ewart’s 
report. 


Dr.  Ewart2. — “ About  the  middle  of  September,  20  ounces  of  ‘Cinchona  alkaloid/  obtained 
from  the  Government  Quinologist  at  Rungbee,  near  Darjeeling,  were  forwarded  to  me  by 
the  Surgeon-General,  with  a request  that  a careful  trial  of  it,  in  malarious  fevers,  should  be 
made  at  the  General  Hospital,  and  the  result  reported  for  the  information  of  Government. 

“ The  substance  consisted  of  a mixture  in  the  precipitated  form  of  all  the  alkaloids 
present  in  the  Succirubra  bark.  The  proportions  of  these  are,  according  to  Mr.  Wood,  as 
follows 


Quinine 
Cinchonidine 
Cinchonine  ... 
Amorphous  alkaloid 
Colouring  matter 


1 5'5 
29'0 
33-5 
17-0 
5'0 


parts 

» 

D 


100  parts 

“ Thus  this  mixed  prepai’ation  is  of  known  composition,  and  is  chiefly  constituted  of 
three  alkaloids,  the  antiperiodic  powers  of  which  have  already  been  more  or  less  auchorita- 
tively  determined.  On  the  receipt  of  the  mixed  alkaloids  it  was  resolved  to  adopt  the  solu- 
tion recommended  by  Mr.  Wood  : — 


R. 

Alkaloid  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  2 ozs. 

Acid:  Sulph : dil.  (Ph.B.)...  ...  ...  ...  2|  „ 

Water  to  make  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  20  ,, 


to  be  divided  into  thirty-two  doses,  giving  half  a drachm  of  the  alkaloid  for  each  dose  for 
an  adult.  It  was  also  arranged  that,  in  all  cases  where  there  might  be  any  uncertainty  as 
to  the  nature  of  the  fever  in  which  the  alkaloid  was  to  be  tried,  the  antiperiodic  treatment 
was  to  be  postponed  until  the  diagnosis  could  be  made  free  from  fallacy  or  error.  Prior  to 
this  having  been  accomplished,  the  same  preliminary  measures  were  adopted,  wherever  they 
were  indicated  as  necessary,  as  are  frequently  employed  to  pave  the  way  for  the  administra- 
tion of  Quinine.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  exhibition  of  mild  aperients,  refrigerants, 
&c.,  with  easily  digestible  articles  of  food.  When  in  this  manner  the  system  had  been  pre- 
pared for  the  speediest  possible  absorption  of  the  drug,  and  the  diagnosis  had  been  accurately 
pronounced,  full  doses  of  the  mixed  alkaloid  in  solution  were  given  during  or  near  the 
termination  of  the  sweating  stage  of  intermittents  when  practicable,  or,  where  this  period 
had  passed,  during  the  intermission,  to  forestall  and  prevent  a recurrence  of  the  paroxysm. 
It  may  further  be  premised  that  the  utmost  care  was  taken  never  to  have  the  mixed  alkaloid 
administered  in  any  case  where  Quinine  or  any  other  antiperiodic  remedy  had  been  previously 
used,  so  that  it  might  be  shewn  conclusively  whether  the  results  obtained  were  fairly  attribu- 
table to  the  power  of  the  mixed  alkaloid  and  no  other  drug.  I think  after  careful  trial,3 
there  is  good  reason  for  believing  that  the  mixed  alkaloid,  which  has  been  furnished  by 
Mr.  Wood,  Government  Quinologist  at  Rungbee,  is  an  excellent  antiperiodic.  The 
preparation  is  an  elegant  one  and  so  soluble  that  it  can  always  be  given  in  a convenient 
quantity  in  solution.  It  is  tolerated  with  considerable  ease  by  the  stomach,  becomes  rapidly 
absorbed,  and,  when  given  in  large  doses,  speedily  produces  all  the  symptoms  of  einchonism. 
Unlike  its  representative  in  Madras,  its  composition,  as  given  at  the  commencement  of  this 
report,  ean,  I am  informed  by  Mr.  Wood,  always  be  guaranteed  with  certainty.  I have  done 
my  best,  in  conversation  with  Mr.  Wood,  to  impress  upon  him  the  absolute  necessity  of  his 
being  able  always  to  provide  a drug  of  a standard  composition,  and  I am  glad  to  find  that  he 
is  fully  alive  to  the  necessity  of  affording  such  a guarantee  to  the  medical  profession  in  India. 
With  such  a guarantee,  I am  confident  that  the  demand  for  the  mixed  alkaloid  in  India  will. 


1 In  this  calculation  I omit  the  case  of  the  boy,  and  also  that  of  the  man  who  took  117  grains,  his  being  one 
of  rather  exceptional  severity.  Consequently  ten  alkaloid  cases  are  placed  in  comparison  with  six  Quina  cases. 

2 An  extract  from  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Presidency  General  Hospital  for  the  year  1874. 

3 Vide  cases  in  the  Annual  Report. 


APPENDICES. 


79 


for  a long  time  to  come,  far  exceed  the  supply.  In  half-drachm  doses  the  mixed  alkaloid  is  an 
efficient  and  safe  antiperiodic,  and  only,  in  my  opinion,  second  to  Quinine. 

“ The  best  time  to  be  seized  for  its  administration  in  intermittent  fever  is  during  some  part 
of  the  sweating  stage.  Failing  this,  ten-grain  doses  three  times  a day,  during  the  intermission, 
answer  admirably  in  a large  proportion  of  cases.  In  five-grain  doses,  three  times  a day,  it  forms 
a good  bitter  tonic,  sharpening  the  appetite,  improving  the  digestion,  and  expediting  the  com- 
pletion of  intestinal  digestion  and  the  primary  process  of  assimilation.  I shall  endeavour  to 
introduce  it  into  the  practice  of  the  General  Hospital,  both  among  the  in-and  out-door  patients, 
as  I feel  convinced  that  a preponderating  majority  of  cases  of  malarious  fever  will  be  found  to 
be  perfectly  manageable  under  treatment  with  the  mixed  Cinchona  alkaloid.” 


Dr.  Robert  Bird. — 11  Mixed  Cinchona  alkaloid. — This  remedy  has  been  successfully  used  by  Dr.  Bird’s 
me  in  the  cure  of  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers.  report. 

“ Intermittent  Fever. — In  the  ordinary  fever  and  ague,  five  grains  of  the  alkaloid  adminis- 
tered thrice  daily,  during  the  intermissions,  has,  in  most  instances  in  my  hands,  proved  suffi- 
cient to  break  the  disease  and  restore  the  patient. 

“ Suppressed  Intermittent  Fever. — This  condition  is  very  common  here  in  Bengal,  and  it 
apparently  differs  from  the  ordinary  type  of  the  disease  in  not  coming  to  the  surface.  There 
may  be  a sense  of  cold  about  the  spine  for  a little,  but  there  is  no  ague;  and  the  daily  increase 
in  the  temperature  is  perceptible  about  the  back  and  belly,  rather  than  on  the  extremities  and 
head,  and  is  often  so  slight,  that,  if  not  specially  looked  for,  it  may  escape  observation  alto- 
gether. The  patient  is  listless  and  irritable  for  an  hour  or  two  daily,  but  at  other  times  he 
seems  fairly  well.  His  relatives  cannot  say  he  is  sick,  yet  they  admit  he  is  not  well ; and  he 
daily  grows  weaker  and  thinner,  until  it  is  suddenly  discovered  that  the  spleen  and  liver  are 
enlarged,  and  the  blood  much  wanting  in  red  corpuscles.  Quinine,  as  a rule,  fails  to  check  the 
return  of  the  febrile  symptons,  or  to  alleviate  the  general  sickness  : it  is  not  so,  however,  with 
the  Cinchona  alkaloid.  In  two  cases  of  this  condition,  when  Quinine,  Arsenic,  Cinchona,  aud  even 
Warburgh's  Fever  Tincture  had  failed  to  exercise  a beneficial  influence,  I achieved  a cure  through 
the  administration  of  the  Cinchona  alkaloid.  Further  experience  of  the  drug  will  probably  shew 
that,  in  the  cure  of  this  most  intractable  disease,  it  is  the  most  powerful  remedy  we  at  present 
possess. 

“ Remittent  Fever. — In  the  management  of  this  disease,  I have  found  the  drug  useful  in 
lengthening  the  remissions,  and  I also  think  in  lowering  the  temperature.  But,  to  bring  about 
these  results,  it  is  necessary  to  give  the  remedy  in  large  doses — in  doses  say  of  30  to  40  grains — 
and  these  induce  such  grave  nervous  symptoms,  that  the  physician  is  scarcely  warranted 
in  administering  them,  while  he  has  at  hand  remedies  which  are  more  efficacious  in  a 
pleasanter  way. 

“ Hemicrania. — In  the  cure  or  alleviation  of  this  disease,  the  drug  in  my  hands  has  proved 
almost  valueless,  and  in  efficiency  infinitely  inferior  to  Bromide  of  Potassium. 

“ Physiological  Action. — In  most  instances  the  drug  at  first  causes  nausea,  occasionally 
ending  in  vomiting  and  vertigo.  These  symptoms  are  produced  by  doses  of  five  to  seven  grains. 

When  doses  of  30  or  40  grains  are  administered,  the  heart's  action  becomes  slower  and  weaker, 
and  the  temperature  of  the  skin  is  lowered.  Even  in  remittent  fever,  perspiration  is  promoted, 
and  semi-stupor  is  induced. 

“ Conclusion. — The  drug  is  not  so  easily  borne  by  the  stomach  as  is  Quinine:  it  cannot 
therefore  altogether  take  the  place  of  Quinine.  In  the  cure  of  cases  of  ordinary  fever  and 
ague,  its  virtue  is  equal,  or  nearly  equal,  to  that  of  Quinine.  In  the  cure  of  cases  of  suppressed 
fever,  it  is  superior  to  Quinine,  and,  judging  from  a limited  experience,  I am  inclined  to  say 
it  is  superior  to  any  drug  known  to  me.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  its  disagreeable  action  on  the 
stomach  excludes  it  from  the  list  of  useful  tonics.  The  experiment  was  made  on  four  cases  of 
remittent  fever,  27  of  intermittent  fever,  four  of  suppressed  intermittent  fever,  aud  four  of 
hemicrania, — and  these  were  mostly  all  of  a typical  character.” 


Dr.  French. — “ Owing  to  some  mistake  or  oversight,  the  medicine  did  not  reach  me  Dr.  French’s 
until  the  beginning  of  January,  at  a time  when  the  fever  season  in  Burdwan  was  coming  reP°rt- 
to  an  end,  and  admissions  from  severe  malarious  fever  were  rarely  met  with.  Some  of  the 
drug  I brought  to  the  Police  Hospital  in  order  to  try  it  under  my  own  dye,  and  the  remainder 
I divided  out  among  the  most  active  and  intelligent  of  my  assistant  surgeons  and  native 
doctors,  with  the  object  of  having  it  carefully  tested. 

“ In  order  to  make  my  report  full  and  clear,  I beg  to  forward  abstracts1  of  the  twenty-one 
cases  which  were  treated  in  the  Burdwan  Police  Hospital,  and  where  the  observations  were 
daily  entered.  The  reports  on  these  cases  shew  clearly  that  the  alkaloid  is  an  antiperiodic ; 
that  in  most  cases  it  is  a very  good  substitute  for  Quinine;  and  that  in  some  it  acts  just  as 
well,  and  nearly  as  quickly  as  that  remedy. 

“ If  attention  be  first  paid  to  the  slate  of  the  bowels,  no  gastric  irritation  follows  its 
administration  in  small  or  ordinary  doses.  In  continued  or  large  doses,  it  produces  head 
symptoms  like  Quinine.  The  chief  of  these  is  giddiness. 

“ In  mild  or  ordinary  cases  the  dose  ought  to  be  about  five  grains  eveiy  two  or  three  hours 
during  the  intermission.  For  severe  cases,  doses  of  ten  or  fifteen  grains  every  third  or 
fourth  hour  act  best. 


1 Omitted,  as  they  are  too  long  for  publication. 


80 


APPENDICES. 


“ Of  the  twenty-one  cases,  seven  were  mild  quotidian  ague,  four  were  ordinary  quotidian 
ague,  three  cases  were  doubtful,  but  most  probably  they  were  fevers  of  malarious  origin,  two  were 
chronic  quotidian,  one  was  chrouic  quartan,  one  mild  quartan,  one  mild  tertian,  one  was  obstinate 
chronic  quartan,  and  one  was  obstinate  quotidian  ague.  In  two  cases  there  was  enlargement  of 
the  spleen.  Allowing  for  a few  days'  convalescence  in  hospital  after  the  last  attack,  one  case 
was  under  treatment  for  21  days,  one  for  If  days,  one  for  11  days,  and  the  remainder  for  periods 
varying  from  3 to  9 days.  Taking  the  21  cases,  the  average  number  of  days  spent  in  hospital 
was  only  6*57,  or  about  the  time  cases  remain  when  treated  by  Quinine.  In  no  case  had 
the  drug  to  be  discontinued  and  Quinine  substituted,  and  in  all  it  effected  a cure  — in  some 
cases  very  quickly,  and  in  others  after  repeated  doses." 


Government  Central  Press.— No.  265,  R.,  A,,  & C.— 27-6-76.— 700,