72 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1391. 



were excessively developed and flattened, being about lh inches 

 broad. On the two flattened surfaces the flowers were crowded 

 together in great numbers, producing a very gorgeous effect. 



Though the normal inflorescence is generally simple and un- 

 branched, as shown in the figure, it very frequently happens, in the 

 case of vigorous plants, that the inflorescence while continuing to 

 grow towards its top also throws out several lateral branches. The 

 abnormal inflorescence shown may be supposed to have been destined 

 for a very large and branched inflorescence, which by some cause or 

 other, the nature of which cannot be easily guessed, has been sud- 

 denly stopped in its axial growth, whereby the growth of the lateral 

 branches has been so much accelerated, that they have not had time 

 to assume their natural divergence, and originating in close proximity 

 to each other, with their buds struggling to obtain the most favour- 

 able position for development, they have been so twisted and con- 

 torted, that they have all been united with the axis. 



A photograph showing the normal inflorescence is also given for 

 sake of comparison. 



G. CARSTENSEN. 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING IN NATIVE STATES. 



By G. Cakstensen, Superintendent, Victoria Gardens, Bombay. 



Very little seems to be generally known of the present state of 

 gardening in Native States, though there is no doubt that as rapid 

 strides arc being taken in this respect in those territories as in 

 administration and education. I have, therefore, ventured in the 

 following remarks to give a sketch of the more important gardens 

 I lately have had the opportunity of visiting. Though the last place 

 I visited, I shall first mention Baroda, because it undoubtedly 

 occupies the first place from the point of view of the landscape 

 gardener. The splendid new Luxmivilas Palace, now in the last 

 stages of completion, can hardly be surpassed in architectural beauty 

 or costilincss of interior decoration, and it is very rare in modern 

 buildings to meet witli so perfect and faultless a harmony of outlines. 

 A building of this extent and beauty deserves to be surrounded by 



