168 HOOKER’S JOURNAL OF BOTANY, 
their green colour, he is of opinion that this important manuring prin- 
ciple otherwise acts beneficially on the plants. It must, however, be 
used with caution, or it may do more harm than good. Mr. Gordon 
applies it in the evening, just before the house is steamed.” 
HOOKER’S JOURNAL OF BOTANY. 
In the Number for May there is a continuation of ‘‘ Extracts from the 
Private Letters of Dr. J. Hooker,” and from which we transcribe the 
following :— 
“* March 4.—Started for Mr. Felle’s Bungalow, at Shahgungh. 
The Acacia Arabica is common here, and I believe rare to the east- 
ward of this meridian, for I saw little of itin Behar. It is a plant 
very partial to a dry climate, and indifferent in a great measure to the 
soil. Its distribution seems governed by the same laws as affect the 
camel, its constant companion over some thousands of leagues of longi- 
tude. Neither of them flourishes east of the Soane river (to the south 
of the Himalaya, at least), below the mouth of which, on descending 
the Ganges, a marked change in the humidity of the atmosphere is 
experienced. Mango, which is certainly the fruit of India, as the pine- 
apple is of the Eastern Islands and the orange of the west, is now 
blossoming, and a superb sight it is. The young leaves are purplish 
green, and form a curious contrast to the deep lurid hue of the older 
foliage, especially when the tree is (which often occurs) dimidiate, 
one-half the blue and the other the red series of colours ; when in full 
blossom all forms a mass of yellow, diffusing a fragrance rather too 
strong and peculiar to be pleasant. 
“« Mr. Felle’s house occupies a hill on the plain, and is in fact built 
upon the site of an old fort, still surrounded on three sides by a moat. 
A neat garden, adorned with Mignionette, Sweet Peas, and Roses, 
was a pleasant sight in the wilderness, though not so attractive to me 
as the water plants which filled the moat. In this, which is half sup- 
plied by spring water, grew the Nymphza Lotus Damasonium indicum, 
three species of Potamogeton (one is P. natans?), Aponogeton, Vil- 
larsia cristata (the flowers small, and not crested), Chara Zannichellia, 
and two species of Naias. These three tufted aquatic genera are used 
indifferently or together in the refinement of sugar by the natives.” 
Under the head ‘ Botanical Information” is an interesting paper, 
being the notes by Mr. B. Seamann of the voyage made in H.M.S. 
‘* Herald,” which proceeded last year to Kamtschatka, in order to effect 
the discovery and rescue of Sir John Franklin :— 
‘* Great was my surprise, when first I beheld the vegetation of 
Awatscha Bay, to find, instead of naked hills and sterile plains, as I 
had anticipated, a luxuriant herbage, reaching as high as to the line of 
perpetual snow of the numerous volcanoes, a brilliant green presented 
itself, for it was August, the height of summer. Nearly everything 
was in flower, and beautiful it was to see the roadside covered with 
blue Geraniums, Kamtschatka Roses, and Lilies, intermixed with Pedi- 
cularis and the white blossoms of Spireeas and Acteas. Only two 
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