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duces a great quantity of lamp oil, and inquired whe- 

 ther on certain localities of Mauritius, where the su- 

 gar cane succombs before the attacks of the Borer, it 

 would not be more profitable to substitute the cultiva- 

 tion of the cocoa nut. , 



Referring to the plan of replanting the island, now 

 talked of, this useful tree might be planted in several 

 places on the sea coast, where it naturally delights. 

 In less than ten years, the trees would be in full bear- 

 ing, rather a long time, it is true, but the thing once 

 done, would be, if not for ever, at least for a very long 

 time. 



The growth of the sugar cane is not so slow, and its 

 produce is sooner realised than that of the cocoa nut, 

 but to how many enemies is it not exposed, and what 

 does- it yield in most of the dry districts on the sea- 

 shore, after eighteen months of care and cultivation ? 

 Yet, after a little longer time, in the same soil and in 

 the same conditions, the cocoa nut tree would thrive 

 vigorously and form a certain sheltering from the sea 

 breeze to the cane itself or any other plantations within a 

 certain distance. 



The archipelagoes which are dependencies of Mauri- 

 tius, supply her with a quantity of oil, the consumption 

 of which can but increase with her wants and her in- 

 creasing Indian population. Besides, the oil fresh from 

 the nut, is palatable, of a pleasant flavour, and supe- 

 rior in quality to certain oils said to be olive, which 

 are sent out from France adulterated, and which might 

 be replaced by the oil from the cocoa nut. 



The quantity exported from Ceylon in 1857, was 

 1,767,413 gallons. 



The Secretary informed the Society that he had found 

 in the forests of the colony, a plant which is described 

 no where, he sent specimens to London, to be examined 

 by Sir W. Hooker, and his son, Dr Hooker read a des- 

 cription of it to the Linnean Society. 



The Secretary also stated that he had given to this 

 plant which constitutes a new genus, the name of one 

 of the Vice-Presidents of our Society, for whom he has 

 entertained for maiiv years past, sentiments of esteem 

 and afTcclion, and who has endeavoured to promote the 



