22
No. 350, REVENUE, 23RD JULY 1896.
effect to on the date last mentioned, and, in accordance therewith, Mr. W. M. Standen
was appointed Director of the newly constituted Cinchona Department.
3. The scheme referred to was decided upon after consultation with Brigade
-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel George King of the Bengal Cinchona Department, whose
interesting report on his inspection of the Government Cinchona Plantations and
valuable suggestions for their future management will be found printed as an appendix
to these Proceedings. From this report it appeared that the work, devolving in recent
years on the Government Quinologist, who was first entertained in 1884, was not
sufficient to justify the retention of a full-time chemist. It was accordingly decided,
with the permission of the Government of Indian, to abolish the appointment altogether
with effect from 23rd May 1897, the Director being from that date placed in immediate
and sole charge of the manufacture of quinine.
4. The several Government estates and the factory at Nedivattam being in
charge of a subordinate executive in which no change was contemplated, the delay in
coming to a decision in regard to the separation of the Cinchona and Botanical Depart
- m e n t s d i d n o t a f f e c t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e y e a r u n d e r r e v i e w . F i n a n c i a l l y
the year was a conspicuous success and the condition of the several plantations except
the " Wood " estate, which was given up towards the close of the year, was excellent.
5. The rainfall was good, being considerably above that registered. in the previous
year, and, though in January last a severe frost killed over 3,000 trees in the
D o d a - b e t t a e s t a t e , t h e s e a s o n a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n o n t h e w h o l e f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e c u l t i v a t i o n
of cinchona. The number of trees standing on the several estates at the commence
- m e n t o f t h e y e a r w a s 1 , 7 2 3 , 4 6 8 a n d t h e n u m b e r c o p p i c e d o r u p r o o t e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r
71,136, leaving a balance of 1,652,032 at the close of the year. From statement 7
appended to the present report, it appears that 21,034 of these were standing on the
" Wood " estate. They are not however taken into account in the totals given in
the last column of the statement, and in the body of the report, paragraph III (2), it
is stated that all the trees on this estate were cut down or uprooted. The Director
will accordingly be requested to state whether the 21,034 trees referred to were cut
down or are still standing.
6. From the same statement it appears that no trees were newly planted during
the year and a scrutiny of previous reports would seem to indicate that planting opera
- t i o n s h a v e b e e n a t a s t a n d - s t i l l s i n c e 1 8 9 2 . T h e G o v e r n m e n t o b s e r v e s , h o w e v e r , t h a t
in the body of the report, reference is made to the putting out of "8,000 renewal"
at Nedivattam, and 7,750 officinalis plants on the Hooker estate. It should be
explained why these figures are not entered in statement No. 7. Both Dr. King and
Mr. Lawson recommended that the plantation should be worked on a rotation of
twenty years from which it would appear that a considerable area requires annually to
be replanted. A special supply of fresh seed has recently been obtained from Jamaica
for this purpose and the Director will now be requested to report what action he pro
- p o s e s t o t a k e i n t h e m a t t e r o f p l a n t i n g f r e s h o r r e p l a n t i n g u p r o o t e d a r e a s i n t h e
several estates. In this connection, the Government notes that in his letter No. 52,
dated 23rd May 1896, Mr. Hooper reported that the quantity of seed received from
Jamaica was 8 lb. 5¾ oz., whereas in paragraph XI (a) of the report under review it is
stated that only " about two pounds " have been received. The discrepancy should
be explained.
7. The following statement shows the amount of Cinchona bark, quinine and
febrifuge in stock at the beginning of the year, the additions made thereto and the
quantities disposed of during the year and the balance on hand at its close :—
In stock at
the
beginnings„. made
of
1895-96.
Additions
m a d e d u r i n g
1895-96.
Total.
Disposed
of
d u r i n g , 1 8 9 5 - 9 6 .
B a l a n c e
LB.
LB.
LB.
LB.
LB.
Bark
195,129
229,700
424,829
234,457
190,372
Sulphate of quinine
* 4,984
3,600
8,584
5,644
2,940
Febrifuge
1,946
2,284
4,230
2,666
1,564
* T h e f i g u r e g i v e n i n t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r ' s r e p o r t w a s 4 , 9 8 5 .