THE ILLUSTKA n<L\ ll<> 



August , 



HORTICULTURAL CHRONICLE. 



— Letter prom D r Hooker. — A short time ago we j 

 received an interesting letter from D r Hooker, from which 

 we extract the following items of news relating to Kew I 

 Gardens. 



" The arboretum and fructicetum at Kew increase in 

 importance from year to year. We are rapidly progressing 

 and I hope to complete them next year. Afterwards the 

 nomenclature must be thoroughly revised, the numerous 

 vacant places, caused by the death of various species. 

 filled up , and certain desiderata obtained from some of the 

 Botanic Gardens of Europe. The new Pinetum is also in a 

 satisfactory condition. 



" Hitherto I have been too busy to finish my report for 

 1874 , but you will get it in the course of a few days. The 

 Government has associated Mr. Th. Dyer with me as assis- i 

 tant director, so that I hope soon to work up all arrears. 



8 We have lately sent off 16 Wardian cases to various 

 parts of India, containing plants off the best varieties of 

 Coffee, procured from Cape Coast, where the best sort 

 known are cultivated. ., 



This last sentence embodies some valuable information, 

 which colonial Governments should not be slow to utilise. 

 The superior varieties cultivated in Liberia and on various 

 parts of Cape Coast, in equatorial western Africa, might 

 be advantageously employed to replace the older ones in 

 the West Indies , and other regions where coffee is exten- 

 sively grown. 



— Congress of Geographical Science. — The Exhibi- 

 tion in Paris of objects connected with the science of geo- 

 graphy was opened with great ceremony on the fifteenth 

 of July. The rich and varied display indicates the enormous 

 strides that geography has made of late, and the importance 

 of this grand science in its relations to all other branches 

 of learning. 



The opening meeting of the International Geographical 

 Congress was held on the first of August , in the large state 

 saloon of the Louvre. The ceremony, at which we were present 

 as a member of the Congress , was very imposing. Monsieur 

 de la Eonciere lc Noury, minister of the marine, presided. 

 The delegates from various countries each spoke in his own 

 language , giving an account of the progress of geography 

 in different parts of the world. On the morrow and following 

 days the Congress was divided into seven sections, pro- 

 ceeding with their several labours. At the time we are 

 writing they arc actively engaged, and we postpone until 

 next month a summary of their labours which bear upon 

 the natural sciences. 



- Exploration oe Paraguay. - News of the expedition 

 conducted by Keith Johnston has reached Europe. With 

 Mr. Johnston are associated Mr. Ch. Twite, a geologist, and 

 Mr. Balansa, a botanist. Notwithstanding that the Para- 

 guayan government has failed to fulfil its promises, these 

 gentlemen will carry out their project. In the first place 



