CHAPTER XXIX.
CHINCHONA-CULTIVATION.
Ceylon—Sikkim—Bhotan—Khassya Hills—Pegu—Jamaica—Conclusion.
The complete success which has attended the cultivation of chinchona-plants in the Neilgherry hills, encourages the hope that similar happy results will follow their introduction into other hill districts of Southern India, which have been described in more or less detail in previous chapters. I have no doubt of the suitability of the Pulney hills, the Koondahs, the Anamallays, and Coorg for such experimental cultivation; and trials should hereafter be made on the Mahabaleshwurs, the high hills east of Goa, the Baba-bodeens, Nuggur, Wynaad, the Shervaroys, and the mountains between Tinnevelly and Travancore.
The hill districts of the island of Ceylon, which have the necessary elevation, and are within the region of both monsoons, also offer peculiarly favourable conditions for the cultivation of chinchona-plants, probably equal to the best localities on the peninsula of India. Mr. Thwaites, the Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradenia, takes a deep interest in this important measure, and under his auspices there can be no doubt of its ultimate success. It was from the first determined to send a portion of the chinchona-seeds to Ceylon, although the whole expense of the undertaking has been borne by the revenues of India, and no assistance whatever has been given by those colonies which will thus profit by its success.
The gardens at Peradenia are 1594 feet above the level of the sea, and the following table will give a correct idea of the climate:—
| Observations taken at Peradenia, in Ceylon, in 1857. | |||||
| MONTH. | Thermometer. | Rainfall in inches. | REMARKS. | ||
| Max. | Mean. | Min. | |||
| 1857. | |||||
| January | 82 | 79.3 | 74.7 | 1.8 | Fine and sunny. Cold dewy nights and foggy mornings. |
| February | 82.5 | 79.8 | 76.5 | 1.3 | Do. do. do. |
| March | 84.2 | 82 | 77.5 | 5.8 | A few showers of rain in the evenings. |
| April | 86.5 | 81.9 | 77.5 | 8.4 | Rain in the latter part of the month. |
| May | 82.5 | 81.5 | 75 | 4.7 | Showery, with occasional gales of wind. |
| June | 82.5 | 81.1 | 75.5 | 6 | Showery. |
| July | 80.5 | 77.1 | 75.5 | 9.8 | Continued rain. |
| August | 81.5 | 79.2 | 77.5 | 6.4 | Showery, with high winds. |
| September | 82.5 | 78.8 | 75.5 | 7.2 | Rainy. |
| October | 81.5 | 78 | 74.5 | 14.9 | Rainy, with occasional sunshiny days. |
| November | 82 | 77.9 | 73.5 | 22.3 | Heavy rain. |
| December | 81.5 | 78.6 | 75.5 | 2.8 | Fine. Cold nights and hot days. |
| 96 | |||||