THE CULTIVATION OF THE CINCHONA PLANT, &c.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2667, 14 April 1868, Page 5

THE CULTIVATION OF THE CINCHONA PLANT, &c.

THE EDITOIt OJ? TUB INDBl'amHSnT.f Sib, — It might prove useful to persons having plants of the species mentioned in my last letter, if you would permit me to give a fow directions as to their treatment, kindly furnished by Dr Mueller, Melbourne : — " The cinchona requires deep, rich, and rather loose soil, which though under any circumstancos must be well drained, should nevertheless not be too dry, or at least capable of being irrigated j shelter against strong wind and the too powerful rays of the sun are also requisite, fern tree gullies would be most ■ likely to answer. They can be propagated by layers or cuttings (if no seeds are available), but in either case they foar too much moisture. It has been found very useful to rest the end of the cutting on bitsof brick, or for layei sto insert a small piece of brick in the Blifc, as this prevents the shoot from rotting. In India a small quantity of hark is obtained from aorae of the branches after five or six years. It remains to be seen whether here the trees will grow with the same celerity. The plant will not stand frost, though in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, some plants of the cinchona which were exposed did not die, though often during last winter the thermometer stood at 29£ deg. Tea, will grow best in similar localities, but it is a groat deal more hardy, the severest frosts never injuring it. The same is the case with the cork oak and mahogany. Capers like a damp rich soil, and in winter they frequently die down to the roots. Coffee appears rather doubtful. It may live, but perhaps would not flourish." My experience of the coffee plant inclines me to think that; it will succeed in many portions of the North Island, as in the largo plantations around Handy, Ceylon, the thermometer ranges from 40 to 90 deg., and on a first-class coffee plantation, I have seen the following plants growing beside the coffee plant, viz, bringal, pumpkin, cucumber, bean, spinach, tomato, sweet potato©, yai'n, cauliflowers, cabbage, peas, potatoes (English), peach, and strawberry, the most of which would grow on any good land in this island. In the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, the coffee plant, as far as my observations went, 6tood some 6harp nights and keen winds, and though alittle weatherbeaten, soon recovered and bore abundance of berries. The first coffee-planters in Ceylon lost money in the experiment, but those who porsovered, are now as a class, wealthy men. We might also try the cinnamon plant and citronella grass, by and bye, as they are very easy of cultivation, and do not require first-class soil. The famed cinnamon gardens around Colombo are situated on a coarse gravelly soil, and would not excite attention save from the aromatic scent which floats around. — I am, &c, Lanka.