6 No. 578, REVENUE, 16TH JULY 1897 .
grown in baskets. During the year 17·75 acres were coppiced, the yield of dry bark
being 65,066 lb. The number of plants put out during the year was 15,801. but
these cannot be considered as additions to the estate as they served only to supply
vacancies in the plantings of previous years. The estate has been well cultivated
during the year, the different works have been carried out efficiently and at a moderate
cost, and there is ample testimony in the satisfactory condition of the plantation to the
good work done by the present Superintendent Mr. H. V. Ryan.
(b) Nedivattam.—This estate which presents a very uneven appearance as com-
pared with Dodabetta, owing to the want of uniformity in the species grown and to
the fact that a considerable proportion of the total area has been replanted after the
uprootal of the original trees, has certainly improved in condition during the year.
This improvement though due in some measure to the favourable season may also be
attributed to more liberal cultivation. The area under original planting, which at the
beginning of the year was only 137·21 acres, was still further reduced during the
year by the uprootal of 20 acres, leaving 117·21 acres of the original planting standing
at the end of the year. Of the remaining area of this estate 165·01 acres carry a
second crop of trees ranging from 9 months to 16 years of age and 69·88 acres are
lying fallow. It has been found advisable as a general rule to allow land which has
grown cinchona for 30 years and upwards a period of at least six years fallow, and
as there is no doubt that the natural recuperative power of soils can be increased. by
judicious treatment while under fallow, it is proposed to work the soil deeply after a
plot has been uprooted and grow crops of leguminous plants which will be worked
into the soil annually until the plot is again planted with cinchona. This treatment,
supplemented by a dressing of lime and cattle manure before a plot is re-planted,
should prove effectual in restoring the elements of fertility to soils which have grown
cinchonas for a considerable number of years.
During the year plot No. 24 was re-planted with 55,000 Officinalis plants and
7,900 plants of the same species were put out in plot No. 23 to replace failures in the
planting of the previous year.
At the close of the year these young plants were looking well and it is antici-
pated that the percentage of failures will be comparatively small.
(c) Hooker.—Of the total area of this estate, i. e ., 196·48 acres, there are only
10·59 acres under original planting while 185·89 acres are growing a second crop of
cinchona. In exposed situations and where the soil is poor the growth of the trees is
not satisfactory, but where the conditions are more favourable, the cinchonas are look-
ing very well. It is intended to plant up the most exposed ridges and fields on this
estate with Eucalyptus as it has been found that such land will not grow a second
crop of cinchona successfully.
During the year under review 10,400 crown bark plants were put out to supply
vacancies in the plantings of previous years.
IV. UPKEEP.—All the roads, drains and bridges on the estates have been kept in
good order, and at Dodabetta the cart road to the lower part of the estate which was
commenced last year was completed.
V. MANURE.—The estates have been well supplied with manure as usual.
1458 cart-loads were put out at Dodabetta, 558 at Nedivattam and 255 at Hooker.
VI. NURSERIES.—Particular attention has been paid to the nurseries during the year
in view of the fact that the successful re-planting of land from which cinchonas have
been uprooted is a matter of considerable difficulty. At Dodabetta 38.000 and at
Nedivattam 53,940 plants were transplanted into plant baskets filled with a mixture
of manure and rich soil. It is anticipated that by the use of these plant baskets the
percentage of failures in next seasons planting will be considerably reduced. In addi-
tion to the number of plants mentioned above, the nurseries on all the estates were
kept well stocked with seedlings raised from seed gathered from carefully selected
crown bark trees. The seed received from the Director of the Public Gardens and
Plantations. Jamaica, was handed over to the Curator of the Government Gardens,
Ootacamund, who kindly undertook to raise the plants. 3,940 seedlings were sent out
to Nedivattam where they were transplanted into baskets ready for next season's
planting and 14,767 were sent to Dodabetta where they received similar treatment.
There still remain a number of small seedlings which will be sent out to the estates
when they are more advanced.