Feb, I, 1886.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



5'-0 



NEW SPECIES OF PRIMULA FROM THE 



MOUNTAINS OF TtJN-N.VN, AVESTERN CHINA. 



The genus Primula is uow in the ascendant, and 

 the number and diversity of the species in certjiiu 

 regions, especially in the mountains of Asia, seems 

 almost iuexhaustible. "When that part of Sir Joseph 

 Hooker's Flora of British India^ containing the 

 Primulace^i. appeared some three years ago, it afforded 

 a great surprize iu the large number of new species 

 of Priunjla described, chietiy from the Himalaya 

 Mountains. After the reduction of a largo number 

 of forms that had previously been described as 

 independent species to P. obtusifoUa, P. Stuartii, P. 

 petiolaris, and others, there stitl remained, including 

 one iu the addenda, forty-four admitted species. And 

 every fresh district visited since has yielded some- 

 thing new, so that the publication of additional new 

 species from the Himalayan region may be expect- 

 ed at any time. It is noteworthy that no species 

 of Primula has hitherto been detected, either on 

 the moxntuius of the western peninsula of India, 

 or on those of Ceylon. One very fine and distinct 

 species, P. imperialis, inhabits the mountains of 

 Java, and the familiar P. prajnitens (sinensis) and 

 P. japonica are the most conspicuous of the few 

 species inhabiting the extreme east of Asia. But 

 lying between Eastern India and 'Western China is 

 a vast tract of country, the interior of China, con- 

 cerning the vegetation of which comparatively little 

 is known. '\'arious French missionaries, notably 

 David and Delaway, have, however, made consider- 

 able collections in the western j)rovinces of China, 

 and M. A. Franchet has tleseribed a great many of 

 their novelties in various publications. 



His latest contribution * to Chinese botany is a 

 synopsis of the species of Priunila colb'cted iu the 

 mountains of Yuun.-in by Delaway. The collection 

 comprises twenty species, nearly all found around 

 Lake Tali ; and of these twenty species, sixteen are, 

 according to Franchet, absolutely new ; throe are 

 referred to Himalayan species, and one is treated as 

 a remarkable variety of P. auriculata, a native of 

 the Caucasus and Siberia. The greater number of 

 the Primulas of the lofty mountains of Yunnan, 

 Franchet says, are singularly remarkable for the 

 beauty of their flowers, surpassing even the Himalayan 

 species in brilliancy of colouring. — Uanleners' Cliranicle. 



EEPOBT ON THE HORTICULTURAL GARDENS, 

 LUCKNOW. 



Fruit CuUurt. — There appears, on the whole, to 

 have been a fair crop of fruit. A number of English 

 varieties of vine and an English variety of fig fruited 

 in the gardens for the first time this year. It is 

 expected that when thoroughly acclimatised these 

 varieties will prove superior to those hitherto cultiv- 

 ated. Considerable advance has been made in the 

 knowledge and cultivation of the Arabisn date palm, 

 and it is hoped to overcome the difficulty incident to the 

 lat*- rijiening of the fruit by observation, selection, and 

 hybridising with the native variety. The demands 

 on the garden for fruit trees, especially of the orange 

 tribe, has been in excess of the supply, and the 

 ar«a tor nursery work has therefore been considerably 

 enlarged. 



t'egetaUe and Farm Culture. ~lt was in this pro- 

 vince that the effects of the hail-storm were, 

 perhaps, mo.st severely felt, all the vegetable crops 

 being much injured. The experiments with rnusk- 

 mi'lun and white Belgian carrot were thus checked. 

 On the other hand, American table corns have 

 succeeded better than in the previous year, and 

 further success has been achieved with Dwarf French 

 and I'olc beans and " Queen " onions. Of the cottons, 

 the China and Arabian seed of Nankin cotton failed 

 here as eLsewhere. The cro.ss obtained between New 

 i)rleans cotton and acclimatised Nankin was so far 

 encnnraging, that the plants flo urished in a season 



* Bulletin de la Socwte Botaniqut de France fl885), '. 

 xxxii., p. 2W. I 



67 



i when cotton of every description was elsewhere 

 I comparatively a failure, but iu point of colour the 

 , results are not yet satisfactory. Further sowings will 

 '■ be tried. Prickly Conifrey, introduced in l.sM.'i, will 

 be a valuable addition to our fodder plants if it 

 succeeds, of which there seems good hope. The hail- 

 storm however has temporarily checked the record. 

 Withunia ctnigulatis and Salt bush (Atri/)h\r Xtimmul' 

 arr'ir) continued to do well. The vlemand foraccliniatised 

 i seeds continues to increase, and that for imported 

 seeds to decrease, an evolution which is distinctly 

 satisfactory. 



Flower Culture. — There is little under this head 

 to note beyond general progress. Is was at one 

 time hojied that Hippeastrum bulbs would find a 

 sale with English Florists, but it now appears that 

 Auslralian custom promises better appreciation. 



Arboriculture. — Of the stock of seedling mangoes 

 raised for gratis distribution, 7.080 were disposed of 

 without effort, and the distribution of all kinds 

 amountcrl to 12,400. There are 27,<)6il young trees 

 now in the nursery. 



E.voti c Plantation. — The acre of Divi-divi, grown 

 for the purpose of practically testing the commercial 

 value of this tree, continues to flourish. A kbarif 

 crop grown between the lines paid for aU charges on 

 this acre tluring the year and left a small profit. 

 This eNperiment, while testing the profit from Divi- 

 divi, will secure a double purpose in exemplifying 

 how inexpensively a grove may be formed. Of other 

 trees in this plantation the table gives particulars, 

 which, owing to the hail-storm, must this year be 

 considered inoperative. 



Datr rhintoiion. — This appears to be making 

 fair progress. The plants have done well. The 

 plantation has been fenced in, two wells have been 

 siuik, and a good deal of surface levelling accom- 

 plished. It is yet too early to discuss the prospect 

 of the scheme. 



J/)/jrriitires. — There are 15 boys on the roll, 

 some of whom are fpialified to take o\itsitle appoint- 

 ments.* Ten applications for mails were received 

 during the year. 



TEA CULTURE IN NATAL. 



TO THK muTOH OF THK " COLONICS ANIJ rNDIA." 



Sir, — I have great pleasure in haniling you the 

 oiclosed slip from the Natal press, which I will 

 thank you to publish at foot of this, for the inform- 

 ation of the public desirous of fiudiug an outlet for 

 capital and labour. 



Mr. Hulett writes us that the industry may be 

 pursued with a commencing capital of 500/. upwards, 

 the occupation being agreeable and interesting. In 

 a condensed form I have furnished the Field with a 

 general outline of this communication, and I shall 

 be hapi)y lo afford your readers any further inform- 

 ation in my power they may desire. Mr. Jtulett is 

 preparttfl to purchase the leaf as picked from the 

 plant from beginners at an agreed price, thus 

 obviating the need of machinery and want of 

 knowledge in manufacture or preparing the tea for 

 the market, antl he will give every assistance 

 possible, advice, iic, to those desirous of such. 



From broker's report on samples I brought home 

 last year, I i|Uote the following values in the London 

 market in bond: — No. 1. 1.5. Xrl. to 1». 4(2.; No. 

 2, Is. Orf. to Is. 10»/.; No. 3, 2s. 3d. to 2.< 5d. 

 per lb. ; ami wouhl have been worth more if leaf 

 had not b(^eu so lirokeii. Samples were brought home 

 in ray portmanteau, and freely handled on the 

 voyage. I am, A:c., 



MottTON OilEEN. 



Brixton Rise, S. W., Aug. 29, 1885. 



TO THE EDITOn OF THE " NATAIi WITNESS. 



Sir, — For the benefit of all those who take any 

 interest in productive development, allow me to give 

 results of last season's yield of manufactured tea on 



