II. 



HISTORY OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN.* 



(WITH SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF 

 SOME DISTINGUISHED BOTANISTS). 



The founding of the Botanic Garden in Calcutta 

 was the beneficent act of a noble mind. Colonel 

 Robert Kyd of the Honorable Company's Engineers - 

 was an ardent horticulturist, and had gathered 

 together in his private garden at Shalimar, a large 

 collection of exotic plants. Deeply sensible of the 

 benefit of an institution which might be made a source 

 of botanical information for the possession of the Com- 

 pany, and a centre to which exotic plants of economic 

 interest could be imported for experimental purposes, 

 Colonel Kyd suggested the desirability of forming a 

 Botanic Garden in Calcutta. His suggestions having 

 been adopted by the Honorable Court of Directors, and 

 practical effect having been given to it by the 

 Government of India, he was appropriately appointed 

 the first Superintendent of the Botanical Garden, which 

 was founded at his suggestion. The earliest efforts of 

 Colonel Kyd were directed towards the introduction of the 

 trees which yield nutmegs, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper 

 vines. It was however soon proved that the climate of 

 Bengal is quite unsuited to these tropical species. The 



* Compiled from the "Guide to the Royal Botanic Garden Sbibpore." 

 by Dr. George King, L.L.D., F.R.S., C.I.E. 



