July i, 1S84.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



67 



THE AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY OF INDIA. 



A recent report of this Society is not encouraging 

 as some of the previous ones. The fact is reiter- 

 ated, that, while education is rapidly spreading 

 throughout India, the large body of intelligent Hindus 

 and Muhammadans have not, with very few exceptions, 

 shown that interest in the proceedings of the Society 

 which might naturally be expected from a class who 

 would derive the most benefit. The report alludes 

 to the efforts made to reach the large number of 

 native noblemen and wealthy influential landed pro- 

 prietors to join. It is shown that there were eighty 

 of them addressed by circular letters, and that out 

 of that number three only responded favorably. 

 Might not the Agricultural Society here take a lesson 

 from this? The President in his opening speech, 

 animadverted to this matter in the following terms : — 



Surprise only at such a result does not convey my feel- 

 ing, which is also one of great regret that such indiffer- 

 ence characterizes those who should be foremost in foster- 

 ing a Society whose aim aud object are the furtherance 

 of Landholders' interests, in the improvement of their 

 estates, by a higher and better cultivation of their land, 

 by the use of well selected seeds, and as a natural result, 

 a better and larger yield of crops, and a richer harvest 

 to themselves and to their tenants. 



It is doubly disappointing when we think that among 

 such gentle men there is no lack of leisure, means and 

 ability, and doubtless in many cases, the taste and applic- 

 ation needful to devote to such subjects with successful 

 results; and although I am at a loss to understand such 

 apathy, I still look to that wealthy community with a 

 feeling of confidence that, amongst their fixed resident 

 ranks, many may be yet influenced to join us and take 

 an active part in the great and good work initiated and 

 prosecuted with zeal by a few, whose good example should 

 be followed, for they have comparatively but a passing 

 interest in this country, whilst those to whom I allude 

 are in their native laud, and with every inducement to 

 come forward and take an active part. 



This is the more necessary, for socially, a great change 

 has taken place. The European has become more than 

 ever a bird of passage than formerly. With some excep- 

 tions, men are less public spirited and have less time at 

 their disposal. The battle of life is greater, competition 

 is keen, and they have less time to give for the benefit 

 of public Institutions but independently of these facts 

 there is certainly much less public spirit generally, and 

 not that inclination to devote a portion of what is taken 

 from the country for the benefit of the country. This I 

 think, hold good with few exceptions, among the higher 

 classes of the official community, who draw so largely 

 from the State. The more rapid communication with 

 Europe has no doubt greatly contributed to this state of 

 things. In former years a young man entering the serv- 

 ice of Government commenced life under the impres- 

 sion that he would probably have to work for a certain 

 length of time in the country undisturbed, and that he 

 should give a portion of such time independently of official 

 work, towards the benefit of those among whom his lot 

 was cast. This feeling was shared by many military men 

 in civil and political employ, as well as by civilians 

 generally. Now the object appears to be to endeavour to 

 accumulate wealth and to retire on as early a date as 

 possible, and all our public Institutions suffer more or less 

 from this state of things; hence the greater necessity for 

 the native wealthy landed proprietors and others to come 

 forward aud take their place and stand in our ranks, 

 and become interested in such work as would redound to 

 their own credit, and whilst forwarding their own interests 

 they would benefit their country at large. 



REPORT OV THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, 

 CALCUTTA, FOR THE YEAR 1883-84. 



The following is the Resolution of the Bengal Gov- 

 ernment on the report on these Gardens foi'Jl8S3-84 :— 

 The completion of the general scheme for improvements 



last year left little to be done in the way of original 

 work. The planting out of the palm-house, the erec- 

 tion of which had been completed during the previous 

 year, was the most noticeable work carried out in the 

 Garden during IS83-84. For this purpose, plants that 

 had outgrown the limits of the former low-roofed con- 

 servatories were transplanted, while the interspaces 

 between the larger plants were filled in by lower-grow- 

 ing species of various kinds — aroidn, marantas, saleg- 

 hifltas and the like. The palm-house already presents 

 a handsome appearance, aud the general effect of it 

 will be greatly enhanced as the plants continue to 

 grow. The steam-pump, which was lately erected 

 to keep the river water in the Garden tanks at a high 

 level throughout the year, has proved a success. These 

 ornamental lakes, besides improving the appearance of 

 the Garden, have also conduced to its healthiness. The 

 distance and inaccessibility of the Garden from Calcutta 

 greatly impair its value as a health and pleasure resort. 

 A service of passenger steamers has recently been 

 established, which call at several points within the 

 port, one of the calling places being the Mattiibrujghat 

 opposite the Garden. Mr. King has suggested that, 

 if a landing stage was erected by Government on the 

 Howrah side of the river, at some places close to the 

 Garden, the steamers might be induced to call there 

 and thereby render it much more accessible to the 

 public. The Lieutenant-Governor would be glad to see 

 this done if it does not involve a large expenditure. A 

 communication on the subject will be addressed to the 

 agents of the steamer service. The economic plants 

 which engaged the Superintendent's attention during 

 the year were the Sabai yruss, the paper mulberry 

 [Brouesonetid pjapyrife.ru). the cinnamon plant yielding 

 the casia bark of commerce, aud the soy beau. The 

 fiabai grass was extensively distributed in various parts 

 of the province, and its suitability as a paper fibre has 

 been established beyond doubt. The bark of the paper 

 mulberry, which has an easy aud rapid growth, was 

 reported on by a paper- manufacturer, pronounced to 

 be "an admirable paper material. Dr. King believes 

 that the plant is capable of producing one of the very 

 best paper fibres known — a fibre at once strong and 

 fine, and requiring very little bleach. Experience his 

 shown that the plant grows as well in the drier climate 

 of Durbhunga as in the lower parts of Bengal ; and 

 with a view of extending the cultivation of the tree, 

 Dr. King is having a large number of plants prepared 

 for issue and for planting out in vacant spots along 

 the Garden boundary. A further consignment of the 

 cinnamon plant was received from Hongkong during 

 the year. The plants, though healthy, are quite young; 

 and as they seem to grow slowly, it will be sometime 

 before their suitability to the -oil of Bengal can be as- 

 certained. The Soy beau, of which Dr. King had ar- 

 ranged for a supply from Japan, wai distributed dur- 

 ing the year among planters and others for experi- 

 mental cultivation. The result, as was anticipated, 

 has been a failure. The experiment of utilizing the 

 ornamental lakes in the Garden as a breeding ground for 

 Gourami fish has also proved a failure. One of these 

 lakes was stocked with a quantity of this fish, which 

 had been supplied by the Hon'ble H. S. Thomas of the 

 Madras Civil Service ; but on the lake being dragged 

 some months after, not a single fish could be found. 

 The Superintendent, however, proposes to make a 

 further trial. Owing to the insufficient accommodation 

 afforded by the old herbarium, it had not been possible 

 to arrange and name a large collection of dried plants 

 received during the past few years ; but since the com- 

 pletion of the new building, this work has made con- 

 siderable progress under Mr. Brace's supervision. A 

 beginning was also made in classifying the large number 

 of botanical pamphlets which the Garden library con- 

 tains. Very valuable contributions were received in 

 the herbarium during the year from the Royal Gardea 



