MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL SOCIETY. Proceedings of a Meeting of the Medical and Physical Society, Calcutta, held at the Asiatic Society's apart ments, the 1st June, 1839. |ed with their ingredients, no one could safely recommend his patients to take them; and many instances were related of the dangerons consequence of taking them in large doses. It was shewn that individuals sometimes take Drs. Bermont and Fairdridge, proposed at the last as many as hundred per diem, and that the uncertain meeting, were duly elected, The following gentlemen were proposed as Members. K. W. Kirk, Esq., M. D., by Dr. Martin, seconded by Dr. Colvin. and irregular manner in which these pills are made, collected in one box and the milder articles in another, often causes the more powerful ingredients to be all so that people taking these enormous doses with compara. tive safety from one parcel, might be destroyed by the -Eddin, Esq., M. D., by Dr. Brassey seconded by violence of a similar quantity taken from the next parcel Mr. R. O'Shaughnessy. they purchased. Instances of this kind were related. It was also shewn by many of the members present, that the continued use of such powerful purgatives, tended at length to produce great irritability, and finally, inflammation of the intestinal canal and often established inveterate and fatal bowel complaints of various kinds. Dr. Goodeve called the attention of the society to a native managogue of great power, which had lately been brought to his notice.-Hurkaru, June 12. AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF INDIA. ▲ General Meeting was held at the Society's Rooms, Town | GRANT OF FIve Hundred RupEES FOR THE PROMOTION Hall, on Wednesday, the 12th June, 1839. The Hon'ble Sir Edward Ryan, President, in the chair. (TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT.) OF THE USE OF ERI SILK IN THE ARTS. The Society first entered into the consideration of the motion made at the last Meeting by Mr. Watson relative to the propriety of adding the sum of 500 rupees, The Proceedings of the last Meeting were first read to the coutribution of a similar sum by Captain Jenkins, and confirmed. MEMBERS ELECTED. The gentlemen proposed at the last Meeting were elected Members; viz. Messrs. Chas. Fraser, Geo. Remfry, J. H. Ferguson, H. G. French, Owen Potter and Major Halfhide. FOR ELECTION. The names of the following gentlemen were read as candidates for election at the next Meeting. W. F. Stewart, Esq., of Mirzapore-proposed by Mr. W. Storm, seconded by Mr. D. W. H. Speed. J. W. Laidlay, Esq.,-proposed by Mr. Robt. Watson, seconded by Dr. Spry. A. K. Lindesay, Esq., (Civil Surgeon, Benares,)— proposed by Dr. Spry, seconded by Dr. Wallich. H. Falconer, Esq., M. D., (Supt. of the H. C. Botanical Garden at Saharunpore,)-proposed by Dr. Wallich, seconded by Dr. Spry. Lieut.-Colonel D. Presgrave, proposed by Dr. Spry, seconded by Mr. W. Storm. Archd. Sconce, Esq., (Collector at Chittagong,)-proposed by Dr. Spry, seconded by Mr. Jas. Colquhoun. L. J. H. Grey, Esq., C. S, (Berhampore,)-proposed by Mr. W. G Rose, seconded by Mr. Wm, Storm. R. C. Halkett, Esq., (Magistrate and Collector of Dinagepore,)-proposed by Mr. Jas. Grant, seconded by Dr. Spry. for the purpose of encouraging, by money prizes, the best means of promoting the use of the Eri Silk in the Arts. Mr. Robison and Dr. Spry severally addressed the The proposition made by the President at the last for the valuable services of M. Bedier in assisting the Meeting, to mark the sense which the Society entertains efforts of the Society to introduce the Cochineal insects into Bengal that the Society's Gold Medal be awarded, was carried unanimously. LIBRARY. 1. A History of English Gardening, Chronological, Biographical, Literary and Critical, tracing the progress of the Art in this country from the invasion of the Romans to the present time. By George W. Johnson, 1 vol. 8vo. Presented by the Author. Manure. By Cuthbert William Johnson, Barrister at 2. A Pamphlet on the use of crushed Bones as a Law, Corr. Member of Maryland Hort. Society. 3. A Pamphlet containing Observations on the Employment of Salt in Agriculture, with directions for its application, founded on practice, By Cuthbert William Johnson, 4. A Pamphlet on Liquid Manures. By Cuthbert W. Johnson, Esq, The three foregoing brochures were presented by George 5. Proceedings of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Madras. By the Society, medal, but the letter which accompanied the sample en tering into few of the details which are required by the 4th Rule of the Conditions, the Committee did not feel themselves justified in recommending that an award should be made, and that whatever the nature of the The Society, in presenting this brochure to the Meeting, sample of Silk sent in may be, that unless the quality of directed the attention of the Meeting to an error which the soil in which the Mulberry trees grew, the precise the General Committee of the Agricultural and Horticul- mode of cultivation, manufacture and cost of production tural Society of Madras has fallen into similar to the one be given, so that the public may be instructed, the comlately made by the Bombay Agricultural Society. The petitor ought not to be distinguished by the grant of Madras Society consider that the Agricultural Society a medal. From a like cause, coupled with the ordinary of India receive an annual donation from the Govern character of the other five competitors' samples, the Com ment of 2,675 a year, whereas it only receives 1000 rupees.mittee did not consider the specimens of a character to 6. A Pamphlet on the cultivation of Flax in Indianerit any medal from the Society. Of the five, and next to that of Mr. Rose, the Committee regarded the Presented by Alexander Rogers, Esq. sample submitted by Mr. F. W. Campbell, residing at Commercolly, as the best. Adverting to the very beauti ful specimen of Silk submitted by Mr. Rose, who was awarded the Society's gold medal last year, and to whom the gold medal would be justly due, now for a second time, had he entered into more details, the President pro posed, Colonel McLeod seconded, and it was resolved, That Mr. Rose have the gold medal awarded to him, on his furnishing the requisite information to the satisfaction of the Silk Committee." MUSEUM AND NURSERY. 1. A specimen of Cotton grown in the Mymunsing District, presented by Mr. Hudson, Deputy Collector. Note.-Mr. Hudson, in a note to Dr. Spry,mentions that the sample now submitted was the one he originally designed for the Museum and not the former sample, condemned by the Society as bad, which was nothing more than the pad. ding of his elephant guddee and sent by the mistake of his The Cotton now submitted is short in staple but servant. a useful Cotton. 2. A few Bootan Walnuts, the produce of Aleuritis trilooa, Presented by Lieutenant James Wemyss. 3. A specimen of Brown Muscovado Sugar, manufac tured from Cane, grown in the Soonderbunds. Present ed by Mr. A. G. Harris. 4. Twenty-five bags of Brazil Cotton Seed; present. ed by Mr. C. J. Richards. Particular allusion was made to the value of this contribution of Mr. Richards, and Dr. Spry stated that he had already forwarded a quantity of it to Tirhoot, Chittagong and Kishnaghur, 5. A small supply of acclimated Mauritius Black Bean, (Pois noire") an excellent fodder for cattle; grown in the Society's Nursery. 6. A bunch of grapes, from a vine growing in the garden belonging to the Vicarage of the Roman Catholic Church at Moorgheehutta. Presented by Mr. Crow, on behalf of the Vicar. 7. A Squash, grown from American seed, in the gar den of Mr. Wm. Storm. a 8. A specimen of Tobacco from Sandoway, and quantity of Cashew Nuts from Hidgelee, presented by Dr. Spry. 9. A few Capsules of the Rock plant, (a species of Didymocarpus) presented by Captain William Barnett. This elegant little flower is indigenous to the cold range of the Himalayas; during no season but the rains are then visible. Their cultivation, Captain Barnett writes, would repay any trouble to an enthusiastic person. This plant has been named by Dr. Wallich in his list of Nepal plants. The climate of Bengal is uncongenial to its growth. This being the first Meeting after the completion of the different Reports by the Standing Committees on the different specimens of staple Agricultural produce sub. mitted for the Society's Medals, the President called attention first to that of the Silk Committee. AWARD OF THE GOLD MEDAL OF THE SOCIETY TO MR. But one specimen of Sugar had been sent in to com. pete for Society's Medals. This was from Mr. Balestier, the American Consul at Singapore, whence sugar for prizes by all the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, is now excluded, as the Straits at present possess an Agricultural Society of their own; but by a special resolution of the Meeting, held on the 12th September, 1838, Mr. Balestier was declared to be entitled to be a competitor for premia offered for the best samples of Sugar under existing conditions. The Committee deem the sample submitted as a strong grained, useful sugar, which would answer well for refin ing; and that it might be classified "as brown to good brown." Notwithstanding therefore only one sample was offered, the Committee recommended that the Society's Gold Medal should be presented to Mr. Balestier, as an encouragement to the manufacture of this useful Sugar. Dr. Spry mentioned that the paper on the mode of preparation, and other details of a practical character, which accompanied this Sugar, was deemed of so much valss by the Committee of Papers, that it had been printed in the volume of the Transactions which had just appeared. NURSERY-FORTHCOMING DISTRIBUTION OF SUGAR CANES. A report by the Nursery Committee next followed, wherein the Committee state that they had, during the previous month, visited the Society's Nursery at the Botanical Garden, and that in deference to the suggestion of several Members offered at the last Meeting the period of the annual distribution of canes, should commence on the 1st of October. Moreover, the Report mentions that the entire stock of the last year's growth had been distri buted, amounting in number to no fewer than forty two thousand. That as a rule of guidance in future, every Member of the Society be permited to claim 250 canes for his own use, and any number beyond that to be paid for at half an anna each. The Committee in this Report state, having made a The Committee allude particularly to the luxuri careful inspection of all the samples (twelve in num-ance of the Guinea Grass cultivation, and Mauritius ber, submitted by six candidates) and selected what they black bean, and also allude to the healthy and promising deemed the best; they then broke the seals of the differ-condition of "Nopalerie," with the late importation of ent letters which accompanied the parcels, and found that Cacti with the Cochineal insect alive on them. The Mr. Rose, of Ramnaghur Factory, in the district of Moor extent of nursery is encreased by upwards of an acre shedabad, was the successful competitor for the gold since last year, and altogether amounts to six acres of INTERCHANGE BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE OF THE TREES AND PLANTS, THE PRODUCE OF EACH OTHERS SOIL. land. Mr. Fergusson considered that Members so wish | 4 With regard to the collection of seeds for transing, should be supplied with canes at an earlier period mission to this Country, we are of opinion that the ex. than the 1st October, and it was decided that power pediency of bearing in mind the nature of the climate should be given to the Committee to distribute them to which they are to be exposed, should be impressed earlier if practicable. upon those to whom the task is to be committed. Dr. Lindley, (copy of whose letter forms a number in the Packet) has pointed out a very good test of capacity to bear an English climate, in the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the Deodar Cedar. His observations on the kinds of plants to which attention should princi pally be directed, appear to us especially valuable, and though we would not entirely prohibit the transmission of seeds of plants of a more delicate habit, it will be desirable that they should form a small proportion of those hereafter forwarded, and that they should be regarded as being of secondary importance. The above reports having been disposed of, the President stated, that he had much pleasure in calling the attention of the Society to a most important despatch from the Court of Directors, which he held in his hand, connected with the interests of the empire of British India, and it was one which it required should be read in full to the Meeting.. To H. H. SPRY, Esq., M. D. 5. In addition to the letter of Dr. Lindley, we enclose copy of two from Dr. Royle, which form at Secretary to the Agricultural and Horticultural Society.number in the Packet. Gent. Dept. the accompanying Copy of a letter No. 1, of 1839, from the Hon'ble the Court of Directors in the Public Department, dated the 13th February, and of its enclosures on the subject of the interchange of Vegetable productions of India and Europe, and to ob serve that the Seeds, and lists of Plants, referred to therein, have not reached this Presidency. On their arrival the necessary steps will be taken to give effect to the Court's Orders. I am, your obedient Servant, H.T. PRINSEP, We are, &c. (Signed by the two Chairs and thirteen of the Court of Directors.) London, 13th February, 1839. PROFESSOR LINDLEY'S LETTFR. Horticultural Society of London, January 16, 1839. J. W. MELVILL, ESQ. &c. &c &c. SIR,-With reference to your letter of the 20th ult., and my acknowledgement of it of the 221, I beg Secy, to the Govt. of India seeds which have been received by the Honorable Court now to state that I have very carefully examined the Council Chamber, the 22d May, 1839. Forwarding copy of Circular address ed to Officers in charge of Districts in or Dear the Himalayan range, relating to the collection of Plants for transmission Home; andcalling attention to the interchange of the vegetable pro. ductions of India! and Europe. 2. We have forwarded to the Government of Bom bay, some varieties of Seeds (sixteen in number) with instructions to transmit them as rapidly as possible to the Superintendent of the Garden at Seharunpore. We shall continue, at the proper seasons, to send supplies. of the other varieties, and it is our wish that the greatest care should be bestowed, with a view to their naturalization for the benefit of the Country. Our future supplies will consist of the Seeds of Plants of more rare and curious character-some of those now forwarded are however highly important, either as affording articles of food or as possessing medical virtues, and they will deserve all the attention that can be afford. ed to them. 3. We have also forwarded some Cotton seed from Naples, furnished by Dr. Royle, and which he thinks deserving of being made the subject of experiment. of Directors, by the overland conveyance from Bombay, and that I shall with pleasure undertake the duty of distributing them, provided the Court approves of the manner in which I propose to do it. The collection in question consists of about fifty Packets of various sizes, containing seeds of plants inhabiting the hot plains of India a part of these are species of no importance whatever, viz. Bixa, Ovellana,* Amaranthus, Santana, Gypsophila perfoliata, Stachytarpheta mutabilis; a few are Medicinal plants, viz. Butea frondosa, Cassia fistula, Cinchona excelsa, Mimosa Arabica, Suietenia febrifuga, Sterculia urens, Mimo a Catechu, and the remainder with the exception of a bag of seeds of the Teak, are hot-house plants of no known use, but some of which are objects of ornament, and all of which have, I believe, been long since introduced from India to the gardens of this country. The whole appear to be in good condition. The quantity of each kind of seed is generally small, and in some instances will not bear to be divided: in others there is sufficient for several persons. But as there is little in the collection sufficiently rare or curious to interest those private individuals who are cultivators of store plants for the sake of their beauty, it does not appear to me desirable to offer them to any except public botanical institutions I would therefore advise the Honorable Court to direct the distribution to be made as follows. The Seeds of Medicinal plants to the Garden of the Society of Apothecaries of Chelsea. and the remainder of the collection to be sent to the Duplicates of the foregoing, where any can be divided, Botanic Gardens of Kew, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cambridge and Oxford. After these institutions have been supplied, there will still remain a small quantity of seve ral kinds. Those might be useful in some of the British Colonies in the West Indies,and as a Society has lately ❤ Sic in M. S. been established in the Bermudas, for the express pur- situations, should be a special object of importation. The pose of improving the resources of those Islands, it Rhubarbs called Rheum Webbianum Spicatum, and might be advisable to place them in the hands of Lieut. Moorcraftianum, are also much wanted, and it is Colonel Reid of the Royal Engineers, who is now about most desirable that constant supplies should be to proceed to the Bermudas as Governor, In the event forwarded of the seed of the Deodar Cedar, of the of a further surplus a small supply might be forwarded Huttron and Pindron firs, and of the Neoza Pine; to the Bahamas, where the Government is also anxious none of which can be expected to bear cones in to obtain the plants of other Countries. this country for a great many years and which most therefore remain confined to the possession of a few per sons, unless supplies of seed are forwarded in abundance from their native places. The nurserymen contrive indeed to multiply such species by grafting, but the plants so procured will probably be short lived, and are not suited to the purpose of forming woods. It will be obvious from the statement already made, that no part of the present collection is of that degree of importance which could justify my recommending to the Hon'ble Court a further despatch of such seeds by the overland conveyance to this Country. It appears to me that the introduction of plants which are mere objects of curiosity, or only useful in distant Colonies should be With regard to the Seeds which can be transmitted, left to the ordinary and private modes of communication, with the best hopes of success, from England to India, unless they are made a subject of special requisition. And for distribution to public officers and other residents in as the species found in the tropical climates of India are the Himalayan range of Mountains, it is impossible for all of this description, the general rule might be adopted one who is personally unacquainted with the country, of excluding all such plants from the overland dispatch. to advise the Honorable Company with so much conf There is no hope of their being naturalized or made in dence as another person might who has himself resided any way to conduce to public advantage in this country, in the Provinces referred to-I would therefore take the for they are without exception uncultivatable except in liberty of suggesting to the Honorable Court, the prohot-houses. It is the mo e desirable to limit the supplies priety of obtaining a report upon the subject from Proof Seeds from India to those which come from the cold fessor Royle, who was so long in the Himalaya, and whe Provinces, because in those Districts there is a great must be intimately acquainted with the wants and abundance of species, the introduction of which is an wishes of the residents there. In the mean while as the object of national importance. The similarity of the Governor General has been pleased to do me the honor climate of Great Britain and of many parts of the Hima. of signifying his wish that I should be consulted upon layas is well known, and has been very particularly the subject, I beg leave to lay before the Court the fol illustrated by Professor Royle, late Superintendant of lowing general Memoranda. the Hon'ble Company's Botanic Garden, Sabarunpore, in his "Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalaya Mountains and consequently it has always been expected, that the noble vegetation of the North of India, might be successfully transferred to this Country. That this opinion was well grounded has lately been proved by the effects of the severe winter, in 1837 8, when a large proportion of all the Himalayan trees and other plants now in this Country, exposed suddenly and under very unfavorable circumstances to a temperature of from 44° to 1249 Fahr. resisted the intensity of the frost as well as our native species. The Deodar and other Himalayan Coniferous plants in particular, are evidently as hardy as the Larch and the Spruce Firs. I would therefore advise that the authorities in India be directed to confine themselves to the transmission by the overland despatch, of the ornamental and useful trees and other plants inhabiting the districts in which the climate resembles that of England. There can be no doubt that the fine varieties of European fruit trees of all descriptions are desirable objects of export; but as the varieties cannot be propagated with certainty by seeds, and as trees are too bulky for the overland route, it is necessary to ascertain whether cattings will travel with any prospect of success. This experiment is now in course of trial, a packet of small Gooseberry, Currant, and Raspberry plants having been sent some weeks since to Simla, at the particular desire of Lord Auckland, and the overland ronte having bei used by permission of the Right Hon'ble the President of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, Should this experiment have, as I expect it will, a good result, there will then be no doubt that all our European fruit trees may be readily conveyed to the Himalaya Mountains. But it will be previously ne cessary that the Saharanpur Garden should be provided with stocks, on which to bud or graft them; f such stocks do not already exist there, they should be of the country will answer this purpose as well as those provided; the wild pears, plums, quinces, and crais, of Europe. European Vegetable seeds, are, in general, objects af importance in India, where many of the races soon de generate, but they would probably be thought too bulky for an overland despatch except in a few cases. It is difficult at this distance to define with any precision the limits of such districts, but perhaps a good, and certainly a very simple guide, may be found in the Coniferous tribe, of the habits of all which, we have suffi cient information. The Deodar Cedar, is hardy, the Pinus longifolia not. It therefore might be directed that all those Districts in which the Deodar occurs. or which have a colder climate, should generally furnish England can, I fear, contribute in no great degree to the supplies to be forwarded by the overland convey the introduction of other plants to India, unless it were ance, that the species belonging to the Pinus longifolia thought advantageous to procure our forest trees and regions should be either excluded, or at least form a natural shrubs-what seem the most desirable, are those subordinate object, and that all plants from yet warmer which inhabit Countries warmer than our own, and districts should be entirely exc uded. which are too impatient of a Northern winter to produce In the Deodar region and colder localities are nume. seeds with us. In order to procure them, it would be rous species of Birch, Alder, Chesnut, Pyrus, Sycamore, necessary to communicate specially with persons staOak, &c. &c., valuable astimber trees; and a profusion tioned in many different places; perhaps the British Conof herbaceous plants, and bushes strikingly beautiful. Of sular Agents could be employed for the purpose. Supcourse there is also an abundance of plants of no posing that the Hon'ble Court thought fit to take such beauty nor any known use, all which should be omitted, measures, it is difficult to estimate too highly the advanas they are only interesting to systematical Botanists, tages that would accrue to the Natives of ludis. Among who may be safely left to discover for themselves the the plants of which seeds should be procured, I would best method of procuring them. It is unnecessary to particularly name the following. give any more precise directions than this, except in the following cases. The Prangos Hay Plant, which furnishes valuable food for sheep in cold and barren The Carob tree, Cercis Siliquestrum, a native of Syria, and the hottest parts of the South of Europ❤ This forms a large tree, which bears in abundance, pods I have the honor to be, Sir, your very obedient Servt. (Signed) JOHN LINDLEY, Vice Secretary: PROFESSOR ROYLE'S LETTER. led with a nutritious substance. It is tenacious of life where they are of any importance as objects of cultivain a singular degree, and seeks its nourishment far from tion, they may be brought to all the perfection of which the surface of the ground, on which account it suffers theyare susceptible in other countries, provided proper little from the long continuance of drought. The pods skill and care are shewn in the selection of their situare a common article of food in the Countries where ations. the tree is found, and are by some supposed to be the "locusts" on which St. John fed in the Wilderness; they are sometimes sold in the fruiterer's shops of Lon don. During the Peninsula War, the pods were found of great value as food for Cavalry horses, and I entertain no doubt that if the tree could be extensively introduced into the milder parts of Northern India it would render the famines we read of almost impossible Seeds of this might be obtained conveniently in Egypt. From the same Country, at the same time, the Egyp tian Wheat, which succeeds in dry and sterile soil, and the Cassia Acutifolia or Alexandrian Senna, might be procured. To J. C. MELVILL, ESQ. East India Company. SIR.In acknowled ging the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, in'orming me that the Governor General of India with a view to the introduction of the "useful and ornamental plants of England into India," Scammony is a drug which is consumed in large quan-had suggested to the Hon'ble the Court of Directors tities in Medicine All that comes to the market is obtained from Smyrna and Aleppo, and is so much adul. terated as to be materially diminished in value; seeds of this plant could be procured from either place, along with the seeds of the valuable tobacco of Latakia. Colonel Chesney found at Suvadia, at the mouth of the Orontes, Silk Mulberries of a finer quality than any which he had seen elsewhere; these could be easily procured. Cotton Seeds should be procured from every country where the Cotton of the West is of superior quality. Botanists know that the varieties of this plant are extremely numerous; and it is hardly to be doubted that however great the influence of climate may be upon the quality of this substance, special peculiarities in par ticular varieties are also deserving of the most careful investigation. The Hon'ble Company's Botanical Officers in India have I presume already made numerous reports of their experiments upon this subject, but still it is one of such great commercial importance, that further investigation is most desirable on an extensive and varied scale. The Olive, for which there is not a sufficient substitute in India, must be obtained from the Olive districts of Italy, rather than from those of Spain. From North America the Magnoliaceous plants are well worth introduction, not only for their beauty but because of their Medicinal importance; the same part of the world might be made to supply the Hickories, Black Walnuts, and other valuable forest trees, and most especially the seeds of Acer Secharinum or Sugar Maple, the Sugar of which is of good quality, and which Dr. Royle thinks "might be a valuable gift to the people of the hills who are too poor to buy sugar. These and all other North American seeds should be bought at New York as early in the season as possible, and forwarded by a Steamer. Upon their arrival in England they should be opened and carefully repacked according to their several natures, and immediately afterwards despatched to India. Such precautions are ne cessary, because in most cases the seeds of North American trees retain their vegetating principle for but a short time, and die very early as well as quickly. With regard to the introduction to India of American and African Medicinal plants, it would be necessary to make a special report upon that subject, in case the Hon'ble Court should be of opinion that it deserves to be considered; and it would embrace a large range of details which some of the officers of the Company will readily furnish. I believe I have nothing further to add, except that from the great extent of the British Possessions in India, and the infinite modifications and combinations of soil and climate to be found within them, there can be no doubt whatever, that almost every production of every climate, except the Arctic, may be so completely naturalized, that the propriety of my being consulted on the subject, allow me to express my gratification at the honor that has been done me. The subject is one upon which I have frequently expressed and published my opinions, and feel well assured that great benefit would accrue to useful plants and even animals of different countries India by the judicious introduction into it of the various which are suited to its various climates and wide spread territories. Engaged as is the Committee of Commerce and Agriculture of the Royal Asiatic Society in making some of the Natural Products of India known to the manufacturers of Europe, it will be highly gratifying to those interested in the prosperity of India, to know that the other great branch of the subject included in the attempt to improve the resources of India, is to be prosecuted under the auspices of the Hon'ble the Court of Directors and of the Governor General of India. With the necessary attention to principles as well as to details, success in a great variety of instances is as certain as will be the eventual benefit, and the expence need be but small with two such establishments as the Hon'ble Company's Botanic Gardens at Calcutta and Saharun pore, situated at opposite extremities of the Great Gangetic Plains, with 1,000 miles of intervening territory and with considerable difference of climate. The subject is not a new one, though it does no appear in recent times to have been prosecuted with the zeal it merits. But numerous useful Plants have been introduced into India by the Calcutta Botanic Garden, and others by that at Saharunpore. More might have been introduced into the former from the new world, had different parts of S. America, Africa and India, and the there been more frequent direct communication with Northern Garden might have acclimated many S. of Europe and N. American plants, had it not been remote, both from Calcutta and Bombay. But as different ages of the world have been memorable for the different routes of commerce, as well as for the interchange of the useful plants of different countries, so may the present time be distinguished by the more numerous introduction into India of useful plants, in tion. The Romans, we know, introduced into Europe, consequence of the facilities afforded by Steam Naviga many of our fruit trees from Armenia and Persia, as the Peach, Apricot, Nectarine. Quince, Cherry, &c. while the Turks introduced plants into Constantinople, which thence spread over Europe, as the Lombardy Poplar, Thorn Apple, Hyacinth and others--so the discovery of America and of the passage round the Cape of Good Hope, introduced into India, many of the productions of the new world, as the Tobacco, Capsicum, Indian Corn, and more recently the Potatoe, now also universally diffused, together with such fruits as the Custard and Pine Apples, Guava and Passaya. But few plants have been introduced from the North into India. The |