411 



the varieties of human races, difference of vegetable and animal 

 life, meteorological and other climatic conditions, than the north- 

 western plains of India, and the stupendous chain of mountains bj 

 which they are bounded on the north. Here, in comparative prox- 

 imity, are found the vegetable productions of the Torrid and the Tem- 

 perate Zones, while the traveller, as he ascends through a belt of 

 Alpine character, reaches at length the region of perpetual snow. 



When Lieutenant Madden first visited these interesting regions, 

 lie appears to have been totally unacquainted with systematic botany. 

 But he brought with him a vivid recollection of the vegetable forms 

 which he had noticed at home, and a tendency and capacity for ob- 

 serving every affinity or contrast to these in the objects which sur- 

 rounded him in India. These observations were regularly noted 

 down ; and though necessarily very imperfect, they were of material 

 service to him when afterwards he prepared and published his me- 

 moirs " On the Plants of the Turaee," and " On the Coniferae of the 

 Himalaya." 



A few years after this tour, Colonel Madden revisited the Hima- 

 laya, and was there fortunate in making the acquaintance of Dr 

 Falconer, at that time Superintendent of the Botanic Garden at Sa- 

 harunpore, a station very near the foot of the Himalaya. It was here 

 that his mind was formed to the systematic study of his favourite 

 science. Here he had access to a rich collection of plants, to a well- 

 stored herbarium, to a good botanical library, and to the society of 

 experienced and friendly instructors. Of these advantages he 

 made the most ; and the fruits of his studies were shown in his first 

 publication of any importance, entitled, " Brief Observations on 

 Himalayan Coniferse." This was first published in an obscure local 

 journal, but reprinted in the " Journal of the Agricultural Society 

 of Calcutta," and through that channel found its way into general 

 notice among the botanists of Europe. A supplement to this paper, 

 more extensive than it, was printed in the latter journal in 1850, 

 after the author had left India. These memoirs are of such striking 

 merit that they were transferred in extenso by Dr Lindley into the 

 Journal of the Horticultural Society of London. 



Soon after leaving Saharunpore, Colonel Madden was removed to 

 a station in the hill province of Kumaoon. He was there fortu- 

 nately brought into co-operation with the two brothers. Captains 



