Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

3 io NOTES OF A BOTANIST
who live in a country of peace and plenty, but
above all of good roads, to appreciate the obstacles
that beset all undertakings in countries where none
of those blessings exist. . . .
[It only remains to say that Spruce's longcontinued
labour and extreme care were crowned
with success. The young plants reached India in
good condition, and the seeds germinated and
served as the starting-point of extensive plantations
on the Neilgherry Hills in South India, in Ceylon,
in Darjeeling, and elsewhere.
The latest reports from the India Office, which
I owe to the kindness of Sir Clements Markham,
seem to show that none of the districts where the
plantations have been made are really suitable,
either in climate or soil, to the natural requirements
of the trees. This is indicated by two facts. It is
stated that although the trees grow well when
young, yet they suffer from dryness of the soil in
the dry season, so that artificial watering sometimes
has to be resorted to. It is also stated that it has
been found necessary to resort to the application of
large quantities of stable manure and lime to keep
the plants healthy.
In Sikhim the rainfall of 125 inches is said to be
distributed over less than 150 days, so that the
larger part of theyear is rainless. In the Neilgherries
violent winds are said to be very hurtful and some-
times destroy the larger trees,
Now the great feature of the native Cinchona
forests as described by Spruce is the prevalence of
rains almost throughout the year, and especially of
a constantly moist soil, kept so in dry weather by