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Page 48 · DO #478 · 204_Popenoe_Bx33FF48r
- Collection
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Wilson Popenoe (1892–1975) family papers
- Item/Folder
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Cinchona Cultivation in Guatemala - manuscripts, notes, copies, n.d.
- Digital Object
-
DO #478,
page 48
- Collection-level dates
- 1882–1975
Page transcription
-16-
is cut off several inches above the graft. In about one year's time the
graft is ready to be transplanted to its permanent place in the field.
It may be mentioned here that the art of grafting is something
which can be learned by experience much better than by written description.
During the past year, several young Guatemalan agriculturists have been trained
by Jorge M. Benitez to do this work and have been practicing it very successfully.
Those who desire to learn the art will probably save time and disappointment
by spending a few weeks working with an experienced man, rather
than attempting to master the art by themselves.
The best months for grafting Cinchona in Guatemala seem to be
June and July, though the work can be carried out successfully at any time
between the onset of the rains in May and the season of heavy rains in
September. The main thing is to remember that grafting is most successful in
moist weather, but not during the period of heavy rains.
FIELD CULTURE
Obviously we still have much to learn in Guatemala regarding the
treatment to be given Cinchona trees in the field. As yet there are no
commercial plantings on which to base recommendations. At the start we must
be guided largely by experience in other regions.
Here as elsewhere few difficulties attend the transplanting of trees
from the nursery (almacigo) to the field. They can be moved with bare roots
provided that they are not kept out of the ground more than a day or two.
Proper spacing in the field requires further experimentation here. In Java it
is customary to plant from three to four feet apart. As the trees grow and
begin to crowd one another, they are thinned out and the trees which are
removed in this process are used for the extraction of quinine. This is
continued year after year until the entire planting is dug up at the end of