No. 578, REVENUE, 16TH JULY 1897.
X. The report of the Government Quinologist is appended.
XI. MISCELLANEOUS—( a ) General.—During the year under review, the separation
of the Cinchona from the Botanical Department was effected pending the sanction of
the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for India, the Director being placed in
charge of the cinchona plantations and factory ; and the Curator in immediate charge
of the gardens and parks. Under G.O., No. 3433, Revenue, dated 25th August
1896, the services of Mr. D. Hooper, the Government Quinologist, were placed at the
disposal of the Government of India in the Revenue and Agricultural branch. Mr.
Hooper officiated as Reporter on Economic Products to the Government of India from
the 1st September to the 2nd December 1896. He returned on the 7th December
and left on three months' privilege leave on the 23rd February.
( b ) Issue of quinine powders to Collectors .—There has been a marked decrease
in the number of indents received from Collectors during the year as compared with
previous years, only 1,385 packets having been supplied as against 2,399 packets sent
out in 1895–96. This falling off in issues to the Revenue officials is no doubt
largely due to the fact that, during the year under review, the scheme for the sale of
quinine at all Post offices in the Presidency was given effect to. Of the two
agencies now at work for the sale of quinine to the poorest classes, it would seem,
as might be expected, that the Post office is the more successful ; and if there be no
improvement in the sales effected by Revenue officials during 1897–98, it will be a
matter for consideration whether it would not be advisable in the future to rely
entirely on the Post offices for the distribution of quinine. The packets sent out to
Collectors during the year were distributed as follows :—
Anantapur
..
...
...
...
...
600
South Canara
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
75
Malabar ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
110
Tinnevelly
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
450
Trichinopoly
... • • •
...
...
...
...
...
...
150
Total ...
1,385
The Collectors of districts have been requested to submit returns showing the
sales effected during the year, and on receipt of this information, a full report will
be submitted to Government in accordance with paragraph 2 of G.O., No. 224,
Revenue, of 7th March 1893.
(c) Sale of quinine at Post offices .—The sale of quinine in five grain powders,
which was first started on a limited scale in July 1895, has now been extended to all
the Post offices in the Presidency with the exception of those in Madras and
Chingleput. There are now 1,550 Post offices throughout the Presidency which
serve as depôts for the sale of quinine. The number of packets, each containing 102
five grain powders, sent out as permanent advances to Postmasters during the year
was 4,450, while subsequent indents, which represent sales effected amounted to
4,180 packets as against 664 packets sold last year. It is satisfactory to note
that the average number of packets sold at each Post office during the year was 2.70
as against an average sale of 2 . 10 packets during the previous year.
A special report on this subject will be duly submitted to Government in accord-
ance with paragraph 3 of G.O., No. 578, dated 8th August 1894.
(d) Quinine powders sold in Coorg .—Indents for 343 packets of quinine powders
from Postmasters in the province of Coorg were complied with during the year.
The average number of packets sold at each Post office in Coorg was 15.59.
(e) Plantation books .—These books have been introduced on the three estates
with the object of keeping an accurate record of the cost of the various works done
and the yield of bark on each plot. As far as possible, the past history of each plot is
given, but in the absence of detailed records, the expenditure to date cannot be shown.
These books will not only serve as a useful check on the cost per acre of work done,
but will show whether money spent on manuring and high cultivation is recouped by
10