J3 •N HEMP AND 



diTcovery will prove acceptable not only (o the inventor, bui 

 . to feveral of your readers who are ar lifts and mechanical ge- 

 ometricians. 



JOHN GOUGH. 



IX. 



On the Culture, Properties, and comparntive Strength of Hemp, 

 and other Vegetable Fibres, ike Groiith of the Eaji Indies, By 

 Dr, William Roxburgh, of Calcutta"^, 



Dear Sir, 



Y< 



OUR letter of the 1 6th of May, 1799, I received on my 

 return to Bengal in October laft ; but that from the Society 

 eftabiiflied in London, for the Encouragement of Arts, &c* 

 of which you are a member, is not to be found. 

 Ill advlfed ex- I was rather furprlfed, on my return to Bengal, to find tlie 

 perimeats for directors had fent out a perfon (Mr. Sinclair) to eftablifh the 

 fcemp ia India, cultivation of hemp, a thing I had begun fome time before. 

 Even on the coaft of Coromandel, ten or twelve years ago, 

 I made a moft fuccefsful trial, the refult of which was laid 

 before that government, to be fent to the Honourable Court 

 of Directors; and again in Bengal, fince my appointment to 

 the ftation I now hold, Mr, Sinclair is dead, and the ex- 

 periment is dill carried on in a raoft expenfive manner; whereas 

 jt could be continued where it was firft begun, in the botanic 

 garden, at no expence, and with more profpe61 of fuccefs. 

 Sliould government continue to be the cultivator, the price 

 will be enormous. Eighty pounds weight is all, I believe, 

 that is yet forthcoming, and cofts from J 0,000 to 20,000 

 rupees. Such experiments throw a complete check in the 

 way of all attempts to introduce new, or improve old, branches 

 Beft method of of agriculture and commerce. A fmall premium fliould be 

 l>ro:noting its olfered to the natives, and honorary rewards to Europeans, 



after the example is fet on a fmall and not expenlive fcale. 

 Botanic garden The botanic garden was at firft made very large, four times 

 at Calcutta* more than was neceflary for fuch a garden, the intention of 



* Communicated to the Society of Alts, 1S04. 



which 



