According to Low, the kulie lawang of Borneo is the aromatic bark of a wild species of " cinnamon," and is produced in abundance in all parts of the island. It much resembles the true oinnamon of Ceylon. A recent writer on the Indian Archipelago (Moore) states that " cinnamon " 'is the most costly product of Cochin China, and is an uncultivated article. It has a very pungent taste, and is far more aromatic than that of Ceylon. There are several qualities of it, sorne of whioh bear a most exorbitant price, and are solely appropriated for tbe royal use. The outer rind is never removed from it, and it is consequently much thicker than Ceylon cinnamon. It is in high demand among tbe Chinese, who export large quardities, and prefer it to the best cinnamon of Ceylon. Possibly it is this particular kind which is meant in the Consular Returns for Shanghai for 1879, where an export of 50i picals (of 1334 lb.) of "cinnamon " is stated, in addition to the figures relating to cassia. Hanbury and Fltiokiger doubtfully refer this thick " cinnamon," or more properly oassia, to C. Casskt and C. But/want' var. a. chinense.
The essential oil of cassia is described on p. 1419.
Chiretta or Chirayta.—This condiment consists of the entire plant of Ophelia Chirata [Gentiana Chirayita] collected when tbe capsules are fully formed, and tied up in flattish fagots, 3 ft. long and weighing lb., vvith bamboo slips. The plant inhabits the mountainous districts of N. India, from Simla tluough Kuniaou to the Murung district in S.-E. Nepal. It is much used iu India, and somewhat in England as A. tonic bitter, and substitute for gentian in cattle foods. An inferior variety, Ophelia angustifolia, is sometimes mixed with this drug as found in English commerce. It is less bitter, and is distinguishable by the absence of pith, and by the more woody stem.
Cinnamon (FE., Cannelle de Ceylan; GER., Zimmt, Ceylon Zimmt, Kaneel).—True cinnamon, with which cassia is often confounded, is produced by Cinnamomum zeylanicum, a small evergreen tree of many varieties, distributed tbrough the forests of Ceylon up to 3000 and even 8000 ft. The quality of tbe bark varies exceedingly with local conditions, sornc being so inferior as to be collected only for purposes of adulteration. The culture of the best kind seems to be restricted to strip of countay 12-15 miles broad on the S.-W. coast of Ceylon, between Negumbo, Colombo, and Matura, up to an elevation of 1500 ft. A sandy soil is generally selected, but others may be chosen, such as a mixture of sandy with red soil, free from quartz, gravel, or rock ; also red and dark-brown soils. Such land in a flat country is preferable to hilly spots. A rocky and stony subsoil is not adapted, as the trees would neither grow fast, nor yield a remunerative return. In making a plantation, the whole of the ground should be cleared, leaving a few trees 50-60 ft. apart. The felled trees should be well lopped, burned, and cleared away. The stumps and roots, after
burning, may he allowed to remain, in order to save expense of carriage, merely observing some degree of order in their disposition, by forming regular rows. Holes are dug 8-10 ft. apart and 1 ft. sq. ; the distance between the plants depends upon the nature of the soil : the poorer the soil, the nearer should the trees be planted, and vice versa% Should the holes be intended for cinnamon roots, or stumps, the latter must be carefully removed with as much earth as can be carried up with them, and placed in the boles, taking care not to return the earth removed originally in digging the holes, but filling them with the soil scraped from the surface, which has been previously burned, exposed, and formed into manure. Should no rain fall after placing the roots in the holes, the sturnps are well covered, and watered morning and evening, until the sprouts shoot out fresh buds, which will be in a fortnight or so from the time of transplanting ; watering may then be discontinued. In a month, the new shoots will be 3-4 in. high, much depending upon the weather. If the holes be intended for young plants or seedlings, the latter are removed with boles of earth from the nurseries, and placed in the holes, taking the same care as with the stumps, both in watering and covering, in the event of its being dry weather. The coverings should not be removed until the plant throws out a new pair of leaves from the bude, which is a sign of their having taken root. Wheu a plautation is formed of old stumps, all the branches are cut down to within 6 in. from the ground ; this should be done with one stroke of a sharp instrument, in order to avoid the splitting of the stem. From these stumps, cinnamon may be cut and peeled in 12-18 months from the time of transplanting. From seedlings, no crop can be expected before 2-3 years from the date of the transplanting, when there will be but single trees. These, when cut down as already observed to 4-6 in. above the ground, ought to be covered with fresh earth gathered from the space between the rows, and formed in u heap around the base. The next crop will be 3-4 times as much as the first, from the number of sprouts the stem will throw out, and so on every year, the crop increasing according to the number of sprouts each stem will throw out yearly from the cuttings. In the course of 7-8 years, the space left between the rows will only admit the peelers and weeders, as the branches frorn opposite bushes will almost touch each other. The plantation must be kept clean and free frorn weeds. Cinnamon requires no manuring ; but when weeding, the roots of the bushes should be covered and heaped up with the surface soil, this being done as soon as the cinnamon sticks are removed for peeling. The plantation requires weeding 3-4 times a year during the first 2-3 years, then twice a year will answer the purpose.