BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 407 
the hills that regular woods exist. These at a distance 
appear to be composed of very small trees, but on nearer 
approach, we are soon undeceived, as many of them attain a 
very great size. 
Dr. Wight’s house is very pleasantly situated, and being 
considerably elevated above the plain, commands a fine view: 
except where a clearing has been made for a flower and 
kitchen garden, it is surrounded by native jungle. Some of 
the trees are highly ornamental, as you may judge from the 
following list of what occur in the immediate vicinity. The 
first enumerated must be the splendid Rhododendron roseum, 
. hot only from its being the Queen of Beauty, but one of the 
commonest. Only figure to yourself a plant of the Rho- 
-~ dodendron arboreum, now so commonly cultivated in the 
. green-houses of England, becoming a densely branched tree 
from 30 to 40 feet high, and then you wil gain some 
idea of the appearance of the many thousands which adorn 
. the hills and valleys of the Neelgherries. It is never found 
_ below an elevation of 6000 feet, and reaches to the highest 
summit of the mountains, or nearly 8500 feet above the 
level of the sea. On exposed hilly places, it becomes 
. very gnarled and stunted, and then much resembles some 
_ of the beautiful forms now cultivated in the open air 
— With you. The next in beauty is the Agapetes arborea, 
and a new species which will shortly be published by Dr. 
Wight under the name of A. rotundifolia. Then come 
— Cleyera gymnanthera, Turpinia Nepalensis, Eugenia densi- 
flora, Sapota elengoides, Ilex Wightiana, and Ilex den- 
— liculata, both the latter are immense trees, often attaining 
the height of from 60 to 90 feet, with fine umbrageous heads ; 
- Gordonia obtusa, Cinnamomum ovalifolium, and Myrsine 
_ Capitellata. Besides these there are others of smaller size, 
: ‘Such as Stemonurus fetidus, Berberis Leschenaultii, and tinc- 
toria, Viburnum Wightianum and hebanthum, and Pavetta 
— breviflora. The Berberis Leschenaultii is a very handsome © 
2 plant indeed, belonging to the Mahonia division of the genus. 
