55 



Carolina rice m India. — An official report of a highly successful 

 experiment in cultivating Carolina rice in India is published. The ex- 

 periment was made in Punjab, on canal-irrigated land. From 3i seers 

 the yield was 17 mounds, "or about 5 mounds per seer." As there are 

 40 seers in a maund, this is two hundred fold. The experimenter states: 



The grain of the Carolina rice is much larger than that of the India rice, and, on 

 boiliug the two together, it was found that the former was done sooner, was niuch 

 larger, of a whiter coh)r, and possessed a sweeter flavor. The plant of the Carolina 

 rice is equal to that of good India wheat, but stronger, not being liable to be thrown 

 down by a strong wind or rain. 



Government gardens in India. — The following statements are con- 

 densed from a report for 1873-'74 of the superintendent of the government 

 gardens at Ootacamund, presidency of Madras, India. All newly-im- 

 ported vegetable-seeds are first tested in the gardens, and those specimens 

 which do not germinate well are destroyed. Hence, those distributed 

 during the year gave general satisfaction. Seeds received from Landreth 

 & Son, of Philadelphia, are noted as germinating well, and " some kinds 

 grew more rapidly than the English seeds." In July, 1873, the govern- 

 ment added to the gardens a new tract, to be " devoted to the cultiva- 

 tion of specimens of the choicest varieties of coniferous plants likely to 

 succeed in the climate of the Neilgherries." The soil upon trial proves 

 to be well adapted to the pine and fi^r tribes ; upward of 400 trees of 

 select varieties have been planted, and all are doing well. New varie- 

 ties, imported from Europe and Australia, were to be added the coming 

 season. Among plants cultivated in the gardens during the year were 

 eight new varieties of the flowering shrub, Cmnellia, imported from 

 England, and doing well — " easily propagated, either by cuttings or 

 layers, and require little care when once established." Several species 

 of oak, from Australia ; varieties of strawberries, also from Australia, 

 with very encouraging results; the Bhea, a valuable fiber-yielding 

 plant, and seedling potatoes. A large number of the latter were raised 

 from seeds imported from America, some of which promise to be valua- 

 ble for cultivating on the hills. With reference to frequent applications 

 from all parts of India, for trees from Australia, especially the Eucalyp- 

 tus globulus, the report states : 



For all purposes requiring strength and durability, few timbers in the world can 

 compare with those of Australia. This superiority over other timber lies in their 

 tougher and more closely packed tissues. Other advantages, possessed by such tim- 

 ber as the different species of iron-barli, are their flame-resisting qualities. Lately the 

 Eucalyptus globulus has attracted much attention, not only for the value of its timber, 

 but as possessing wonderful medicinal properties. 



The distributions during the year included 4,475 packets of flower and 

 vegetable seeds ; 6,877 flowering plants and shrubs ; 2,528 timber-trees, 

 and 471 fruit-trees. 



An important inquiry. — In Great Britain a prize of 25 guineas has 

 been offered for the best essay on " The application of sanitary science 

 to rural districts, with a view to insure the highest condition of health 

 and the prevention of disease." The successful essay is to be the one 

 which best presents the following points : First, means practicable and 

 easy of application for securing a supply of pure water and the dis- 

 charge and disposal of refuse; second, the most simple plan of rural 

 organization for securing cleanliness and pure air within and around 

 dwellings ; third, the best means of carrying out the objects specified 

 under the most varying circumstances. 



Illinois orchards and woodlands. — The State board of equali- 

 zation report that the number of acres in orchards returned by county 



