The Penn's Grove record., 1889-02-09

4 writer describes the gathering OF
cinchona in South America as follows;
The party roam about until a sufficient
number of trees are found in the viein
ity to make it practicable TO settle
down and establish a camp in a suitable
place. A small house is built for sleep
ing purposes and for covering the
bark, that it may not be exposed to an
occasional shower of rain. The party
are 10Y ten or twelve days journey
from the starting point, and they claim
the forests for many miles around, no
other Dark-gatherers being allowed in
the neighborhood for the season.
When the rude shed or house is COM
pleted the major domo divides the cas-
cariller0s and sends out little parties
in different directions with sufficient
food for a long absence. From each
emiuence the surrounding forests are
scanned for Il sight of the cinchona.
Experience and observation have made
it possible for the men to distinguish
the tree at Il great distance, not only
from its greater height than surround
ing forest trees, but from the light
green, smooth leaves, with here and
there a yellow leaf. Speaking OF the
bark-gatherers in Peru, a traveller
says that standing on one side OF a
%rayine, the men count the cost OF the
opposite side, or they climb to the tops
OF Hottest trees and survey the country
around for e%inGhona."
The men are Judges of the proper
age at which a tree may be deprived
OF its bark, and know the best trees
for this purpose. Having selected a
tree, it is sometimes cut as near the
ground as possible and the bark taken
off; at other times the tree is made
barkless while standing. Cutting is
usually considered the better way,
that the stump may put forth more
leaves and grow up, while a barkiess
tree is sure to die.
After telling missions are made
through the trunk-bark, up 10 or ~
inches in length by 8 or Inches. broad,
and the pieces are removed by a knife
or other instrument. Sometimes the
bark is not separated for three or four
days after the cutting. When taken
from the tree the pieces are placed IN
some spot exposed to the rays OF the
sun, and are laid in piles, one over
another, TO dry, while a weight OF
some kind holds the pile in place, n
bark naturally inclining to roll while
drying. The bark from the smaller
branches is allowed to curl or become
''quilled as it dries.
When dry the ~cascarillero loads the
bark upon his own back. and picks his
way along; nov on dizzy nights, then
through painless woods, or up and
down the steep mountain sides, until
the distant camping-grounds are
reached, A woodman may be able 10
cut two quintals, 200 pounds, OF bark
per day, which will make about n
quintal after drying aud being made
ready for the market. The best BARK
is taken from the trunk, the second
quality comes from the larger branches,
and the least valuable is peeled from
the small branches; but different KINDS
OF bark usually get somewhat miAeo
IN the packages.
Before tho rainy season ommences
about the last Of September or IN Oc-
tober, the camp is broken up, n tne
whole party start for the ten days
journey home. The mules carry the
bark, three quintals being a iawiuI
mule-l0ad in the Andes. although IN
descending the steep eastern Stops
mules can lawfully carry put .
pounds each. -Nev York Independent