( 14^ ) 



The Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India. 



JVoTwiTHSTANDiNG the fertility, in some degree historical, of 

 the borders of the Ganges, and the nnnlferbus cottages of the 

 indigenous population, surrounded by verdure, which give to 

 Beno-al the aspect of a garden, it appears that agriculture is 

 still very little advanced in that country, and that it has much 

 to gain from the judicious influence of Europeans. " To over- 

 throwj" says De CandoUe, " a blind routine, founded in the ig- 

 norance of the Indians and their division into castes ; to shew 

 them that they can cultivate otherwise than they have done 

 during 2000 or 3000 years ; to engage the principal among 

 them to occupy themselves with agriculture, which they des- 

 pise ; to introduce more perfect agricultural instruments, and 

 species and varieties of useful plants, with which they are un- 

 acquainted :" — such are the objects that the Society of Agricul- 

 ture and Horticulture, founded some years ago at Calcutta, pro- 

 pose, and whose first volume of Memoirs is now before us *. 



This Society, patronized by the preceding Governor-General, 

 the Marquis of Hastings, as well as by his successor Lord Amherst, 

 is composed of British residents at Bengal, and of natives of rank. 

 The total number of the members in the first of July 1828 

 was ninety-seven, and it has probably increased since that pe- 

 riod. However barbarous such names as these may be to our 

 ears, -Prusunnukoomur Thakoor, or Ubhuyachurun Bariojya, 

 whichfigure in the list of members, we mention them with plea- 

 sure, for they augur well concerning the future influence of the 

 society on the native population. 



In an Introductory Discourse by the President, he points out 

 the utiUty of societies in general, and their influence on English 

 agriculture. He represents the Indian Agriculture as much in- 

 ferior to what it was in England two centuries ago ; and the in- 

 struments employed by the natives as miserable. They have 

 done nothing, he says, towards the cultivation of different and 

 abundant species of plants which might be cultivated with pro- 



• Transactions of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, 

 "Vol. I. 8vo. Serampore, 1829. 



2 



