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country around, so that the result may be applicable to as large 

 an area of similar land as possible. This is certainly the case with 

 Panchgani. Its lateritic soil is practically the same as that of most 

 of the surrounding hills. It is, besides, on the one hand, naturally 

 not so rich as to call for no improvement, nor, on the other hand, so 

 poor and sandy that no one would think of farming it. Improvement 

 is certainly possible in this Presidency not only in the introduction 

 of new varieties, but also in that of new economic species, whether 

 these be entirely new to the country or merely new to the particular 

 district. If we consider that various millets, maize, tobacco, tea, 

 coffee, the potato and many other kinds of vegetables have been 

 introduced in India, there is no reason why other species should not 

 be imported also. As to Panchgani in particular we can confidently 

 say that, judging from the past fifty years, tangible results may be 

 expected, if men with scientific knowledge and skilled in agricultural 

 work would start an experimental station. As early as 1854 Mr. 

 Ohesson settled permanently at Panchgani, and he was the first to see 

 the importance of that place as a station for experiments. In 1862 

 he wrote about his results in the past and his hopes for the future : 

 " Visitors coming here for the first time have found something to 

 condemn in the general want of trees about the place : and when 

 compared with Mahableshwar, this seems deserved. But this stigma 

 will be removed in a few years, for our house-holders have been 

 spending their money unsparingly in planting trees of every variety. 

 The four quarters of the globe have been made to contribute in this 

 respect. We have brought potatoes from Australia and mountain 

 pines from the South of France ; mangoes from Mazagon and 

 coffee from the Wynaad ; plums from Scotland and grapes from 

 Boston ; and we are now promised tea from Assam and C'inchona 

 from Ootacamund. . . . Our coff'ee thrives luxuriantly and is 

 improving in ([uality. Our fruits and vegetables are abundant, 

 and equal to any in India. Europe vegetables grow all tlie year 

 round. Mango, jack, banyan, peepul, bamboo, casuarina and such 

 like, are springing up everywhere : and ten years hence will find 

 this place a dense jungle. I have a good show of fruit-trees, 

 and in great variety : apple, peach, pomegranate, grape, lemon, 

 orange, citron, fig, guava, plantain, mango and pear are the chief, 

 with strawberry, gooseberry and blackberry. I have been so 



