The Agricultural awl Hortiadtural Saddy. of India. 143 



fit; they neglect the forests ; they could convert into pastures 

 the jungles of long grass, which only afford them at present ma- 

 terials for covering their houses ; in the winter they could have 

 crops of wheat, barley, flax, mustard, and different kinds of 

 pulse, in the immense districts which they altogether neglect, 

 because they are inundated during the rainy season. Even the 

 grasses that cover them, namely Andropogon muricatus and 

 two or three kinds of Saccharum, would make a valuable hay, 

 if mowed in the spring. In cultivating these districts, they 

 would drive away the dangerous animals with which they are 

 infested *, and which at present prevent their amelioration. 

 The President shows himself adverse to the proposed establish- 

 ment of experimental farms , and horticultural gardens, being 

 convinced that the society would be obliged to support them, 

 and that the operations carried on there would not be applica- 

 ble at present to India. He wishes that they could engage the 

 principal proprietors to make experiments on agriculture, at 

 their own expense ; and he believes that their example would be 

 profitable in the end. This opinion we consider a sound one. 

 The following passage of his discourse has struck us as applica^ 

 ble to the amelioration of agriculture in Europe as well as that 

 in India. " Conviction respecting the most obvious things, 

 must, however, be expected to make but a slow progress among 

 a people who are the slaves of custom, and whose want of cu- 

 riosity and energy are such as to prevent their inquiry into the 

 advantages and disadvantages of any new thing proposed to 

 them, and which operate so powerfully as to keep them in a 

 state of stupid contentment with their present miserable condi- 

 tion. The Society must not, therefore, expect too much at 

 first ; but must patiently labour in hope. It must not be dis- 

 couraged by disappointments, but reiterate and increase its ef- 

 forts ; and, when the effects of its labours once begin to appear, 

 it may be reasonably expected that the adoption of the means 

 recommended will proceed with a gradually accelerated force, 

 until the result shall finally exceed the expectations of its.most 

 zealous friends.'" 



• Tigers, which abound in the jungles, humid districts, covered with 

 coarse grass and shrubs, in the environs of C&bnitta. 



