Nov. I, 1886.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 



293 



Ftmcer cidt'i.ri'. — A good demand for acclimatized 

 peeds exists. The improvement of Hippeastrums by 

 hybridizing is beiag carried on with continued success. 

 A large number of the best kinds of annuals were 

 imported and grown with satisfactory results. Of 

 new introductions may be named Kri/thvnxj/lon coca 

 and a timber tree (unnamed) from Bhutiui. Distri- 

 bution was nearly equal to that of the previous 

 year. 



ArhoricuHure. — Owing to the ravages of the hailstorm 

 distribution was limited. A large number of young 

 trees (23,700) were raised during the year, and the 

 stock now in hand will admit of extensive distribution 

 in the rains. 



Exotic ^)?«?ita<iOH. — The acre of divi-divl. planted 

 as a test for profits continues to flourish and a few 

 trees have begun to pod. No irrigation was given 

 and cultivation was continued in the open spaces; 

 though, owing to the heavy rains, there was not 

 much of a crop. There is no tree more suitable 

 than this for covering the waste soil on lines of 

 railway. Its low growth obviates all the disadvantages 

 to be found in higher timber in regard to obstruction 

 of air and danger from windfalls to passing trains ; 

 its dense shade kills down the coarse grass and 

 lessens to danger to villages and stackyards from 

 fire; and lastly, there is the profit, which is known 

 to be good. We have large numbers of young trees 

 in the nursery. 



The paper mulberry (Brousaonetia papi/rifera) is 

 likewise being planted out on a scale sutficient to 

 test its potentiality for profit. It appears to grow 

 freely aud is well worth attention. As lately stated 

 at the Society of Arts by Mr. Baden-Powell, i. 1. 1:., 

 this plant seems likely to become one of the best 

 sources of paper-making material in India and can 

 be commended for waste lands. 



Date plantation. — In this plantation Eucali/ptus citrio- 

 dora and date-palm are beiug reared intermixed on 

 Dr. Bonavia's plan. The date-palms are flourishing, 

 but the Eucalyptus plants are proving difficult to rear 

 owing to the persistent attacks on them by white 

 ants. 



Anmtal flower show. — As the weather for the year 

 had been "on the whole favourable for gardening, the 

 flower show, which h id been stopped in the previous 

 year, was held as usual. In exhibits the results were 

 not .so satisfactory as they usually are, but the .show 

 was managed with economy and success. 



Ap'iireniirc^ and nppUca.tioux for walls — Eight applic- 

 ations were received for trained malis, and, from 

 amongst the apprentices, one has found a good 

 post at Ghiizipur. This branch of the garden work, 

 rtr. training boys, is a very useful one. 



Mr. Ridley remained in charge of the garden 

 throughout the year and has had very hard work 

 to restore order after the damage caused in .lanuary, 

 1885. It is submitted that the results as now 

 reported are most satisfactory and creditable to his 

 management. 



Krom the detailed report we copy the paragraph 

 regarding the attacks of white ants on Eurrdi/pti/s 

 Gitriodora : — "I greatly regret having to record 

 very limited success with Eucalyptus citriodora. Out 

 of 2,.350 seedlings planted out only 380 have 

 survived, or. more correctly, escaped the ravages of 

 white ants. The tree appears to have peculiar attrac- 

 tion for this pest, as I have never known any . other 

 plant so persistently preyed upon as these Eucalj'ptus 

 trees have been, both in small and advanced stages 

 of growth, and all efforts to find a remedy or protective 

 have equally failed. Kerosine and soap emulsion, 

 phenyle, decoction of madar leaves and asafrotida 

 were all tried as remedies, but without success. 

 Other substances are being experimented with in the 

 hope of finding a protective". There must be some- 

 thing very attractive to the termites in the Australian 

 tree, and the tenacity if life in the insects seems 

 marvellous. 



THE MADRAS GOVERNMENT CENTRAL 

 MUSEUM, 



which under Dr. Bidie became so complete and interest- 

 ing, continues, under Mr. Thurston's supervision to 

 be attractixe, over 25,000 persons having visited the 

 building in one daj'. We quote as follows from Mr 

 Thur.stou's report: — 



MrsKiT!\r Gkoi'nos. — The Mhoganies mentioned in 

 the last annual report were planted out, and the ex- 

 periment is being tried of planting the faster-growing 

 rain tree Pithero/obiiuii saman by the side of them to 

 act as nurses of the tender seedlings. Some seedlings of 

 the giant Bamlmm l-atany, Bixa orellana and Eri/thro.xi/lon 

 coca were also planted, but the last are not thriving. 

 The iVdticlea cddnniha which was planted in 1881 

 dowered for the first time, but bore no fruit. Several 

 of the palms which were set down a few years ago 

 also flowered. The Andaman' trees, presented by (y'ap- 

 tain Torrie, are all making satisfactory progres.s. I 

 purpose planting some fruit trees— mango, jack ami 

 coconut— iu the grounds over several barren areas, 

 which are not pleasant to look on. 



Artist. — The artist was mainly occupied with making 

 a series of drawings of impressions of seals attached 

 to copper grants. These he did neatly and accurately. 



Ethnology and Antiquities. — Some Buddhist sculp- 

 tures (174 pieces) were presented to the Museum 

 through Major H. H. Cole, being a portion of the 

 sculptures discovered at two small Buddhist topes near 

 Mian Khan, Eusofzai. The excavations were made for 

 the Piuijab Government. The sculptures were con- 

 veyed by rail to ]Vfadras at the rate of 6 pies a mile 

 per truck and some of the finer pieces will be set up 

 in the sculpture gallery of the Museum. 



It having been desirable to make a collection as 

 complete as possible of impres.sions of the seals of 

 the South Indian dynasties, an appeal was made 

 to the various Collectors for copies of any which are 

 to be found in their districts. In response to this 

 appeal a numlier of copies in wax, and other m.iterial, 

 were received and have been figured by the artist. 



The Museum is indebted to His Excellency the 

 Governor for the donation of an old Dutch manus- 

 cript and His Highness the Maharajah of Travancore 

 for four shields. Herbariuji. — The Herbarium was 

 repeatedly visited in the early morning by His Ex- 

 cellency the Governor between the months of 

 Movember and March. The work of the Herbarium- 

 keeper, j\lr. T. Abboy Naidu, was retarded by the 

 collection of raw products for the Indian and Colonial 

 Exhibition. He, however, .systematically arranged, 

 according to Hooker's Flora of British India, natural 

 order Acanthacero to Amaranthacea? and natural order 

 Kanunculacere to Labiat.t (extra Indian plants) accord- 

 ing to the Genera Plautarum. Iu addition sixty- 

 one plants were collected iu Vellore, 59 plants 

 mounted, and 150 Indian and 220 Britifh Plants 

 poisoned. 



LinRAny. — The total number of visitors who came 

 to consult books was Zfi(!>?, against 5,172 in the pre- 

 ceding year, being a monthly average of 46.3. That, 

 if their duties allowed it, many more would use the 

 books is shown by the greater number of visitors 

 during the Christmas holidays thau at anj other time. 



Madras Harbouu and Beach.— Through the kind- 

 ne.ss of F. N. Thorowgood, E^q., Superintendent of 

 Harbour Works, I have received many interesting 

 specimens which were picked up during the diving 

 operations. These include a red incrusting sponge, 

 two other sponges, a zoanthus, several species of coral 

 (gargoniiUe) and a holothurian (sea cucumber). I have 

 also obtained from the surface water ia the Jiarbour 

 specimens of Salpa, ^'olella and Phy.salia (Portugese 

 man-of-war) and from the beach a shell of Ostrse.i 

 perforated by a boring sponge (cliona), a shell of 

 Pinna .Tapanica with hydroids attached to it, and 

 various other mollusean shells. Pieces of pumice 

 stone have been repeatedly picked up on the shore, 

 and I incline to the theory that they have drifted 

 hither from Krakatoa. Similar pieces have been sent 

 to me during the year, picked up on the shore of 

 the West Ooast at Calicut and Tellicherry, 



