Ir ]' I
h
¡ t
li,
«' .
,• il
i .
. :tlt
I ' f 1
52 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE
Quinin and Cinchonidin. I t is this species, which is predominantly
cultivated on the mountains of Bengal. I t has
been found hardy in Lower Gippsland and the Westernport
district. I t grew iix Madeii’a at an elevation of 500 feet,
after having been planted two and a-half years, to a height of
20 feet, flowering freely. All these Cinchonas promise to
become of importance for culture in the warmest regions of
our forest-land, on places not readily accessible or eligible
for cereal culture. The Peruvian proverb that Cinchona trees
like to be “within sight of snow” gives some clue to tbe conditions,
under which they thrive best. They delight in the
shelter of forests, where there is an equable temperature, no
frost, some humidity at all times both in air and soil, where
tbe ground is deep and largely consists of the remnants of
decayed vegetable substances and where tbe subsoil is open.
Drippage from sbelter-trees too near will be hurtful to the
plants. Closed valleys and deep gorges, into which cold air
will sink, are also not well adapted for Cinchona-culture. In
our colony we ought to consociate the Perubark-plants with
naturally growing fern-trees, but only in our warmest valleys
of richest soil. The best temperature for Cinchonas is from
53° to 66° P.; but they mostly will endure in open places a
minimum of 32° F.; in the brush shades of the Botanic
Garden of Melbourne, where years ago already Cinchonas
were raised by the thousands, they have even resisted
uninjured a temperature of a few degrees less, wherever the
wind had no access, while under such very slight cover the
Cinchonas withstood also a heat of a few degrees over 100° F.
The plants are most easily raised from seeds, best under some
cover such as mats, and they are seeding copiously already
several years after planting. The contents of alkaloids in tbe
bark can be much increased by artificial treatment, if the bark
is only removed on one side of tbe stem and tbe denuded part
covered with moss, under which in one year as much bark is
formed as otherwise requires three years’ growth, such forced
bark moreover containing the astounding quantity of as much
as 25°/q alkaloids, because no loss of these precious substances
takes place by gradual disintegration through age. Tbe Cin-
cbona-plants are set out at distances of about 6 feet. The
harvest of bark begins in the fourth or fifth year. The price
varies in Europe from 2s. to 9s. per lb. according to quality.
Tbe limits assigned to this literary compilation do not
admit of entering further into details on this occasion, but I
may yet add, that in the Darjeeling district over three millions
of Cinchona plants were in cultivation in 1869, raised in
Government plantations.
FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 53
Cinna arundinacea, Linné.
North America. There recorded as a good fodder-grass;
perennial, somewhat sweet-scented. Blyttia suaveolens
(Fries) is, according to Dr. Asa Gray, a variety with
pendant flowers.
Cinnamomum Gamphora, Nees.*
The Camphor-tree of China and Japan, attaining a height of
about 40 feet. I t endures the occasional frosts of Port
Phillip, though the foliage will sufier. The wood, like all
other parts of the tree, is pervaded by camphor, hence resists
the attacks of insects.
Cistus creticus, Linné.
Countries at the Mediterranean Sea. This shrub, with C.
cyprins (Lam.) furnishes the best Ladanum i-esin. Other
species yield a less fragrant product.
Citrus Aurantium, Linné.*
The Orange (in the widest sense of the word). A native of
South Asia. A tree of longevity, known to have attained the
age of 600 years or more. Any specific differences, to distinguish
C. Aurantium from C. medica, if they once existed, are
obliterated now through hybridisation, at least in the cidti-
vated forms. In Central India a peculiar variety is under
culture, producing two crops a year. The blossoms of
February and March yield their ripe fruit in November and
December, whereas from the flowers of Ju ly mature fruits are
obtained in March and April. To prevent exhaustion only
alternate fruiting is allowed. As prominent varieties of C.
Aurantium may be distinguished :—
Oitrus Bigaradia, Duhamel. Tbe Bitter Orange. This furnishes
from its flowers the Neroli Oil, so delicious and costly as a
scent. I t is stated that Orange-flowers to the value of £50
might be gathered from the plants of an acre within a year.
The rind of the fruit is used for candied orange-peel. Bitter
principle : Hesperidin in the rind, Limonin in the seed.
Citrus dulcis, Yolkamer. The Sweet Orange, of which many
kinds occur. The St. Michael Orange has been known to
bear in the Azores on sheltered places 20,000 fruits on one
tree in a year. Neroli Oil is obtained from tbe flowers of
this and allied varieties.
Citrus Bergamium, Risso. Erom the fruit-rind of this variety
Bergamotte Oil is obtained, but also oil from the flowers.
The Mellarosa variety furnishes a superior oil and exquisite
confitures.
Citrus decumana, Linné. The Shaddock of Pompelmos. The
fruit will exceptionally attain a weight of 20 lbs. The pulp
and thick rind can both be used for preserves.
I
VI
i;
ÍI
i; 'I
! I
'■[! * . '