1GO 



but no management at all, and things will g\> 

 on much in the hap-haz-ml vyay they have done 

 hitherto, experiments being taken up vigorously 

 while a Governor General interested in their success 

 holds the helm, and as quietly dropped in the reign 

 of his successor. I have not the slightest doubt that 

 the archives of the Indian Government, could pour 

 forth folios of reports, replete with most valuable 

 information regarding the natural products of India, 

 called for, but never used. Hence it is that the 

 same blunders, as remarked by Dr. Royle, are 

 committed over and over again and the Govern- 

 ment in time of need, is so often found running 

 here and there for information, which sometimes 

 it has paid very large sums of money to obtain, 

 and which might be found f shelved ' in the dusty 

 pidgeon holes of some Secretary's office close 

 by. Under all circumstances there surely ought to 

 be some one at hand, better informed on these 

 matters than any one else in the country, whose 

 business it should be to counsel and advise the 

 Government. As I write the Calcutta Chamber 

 of Commerce is deliberating on its reply to a 

 solicitation from the Government of India for 

 advice regarding the packing of seeds and cultiva- 

 tion of cotton. I doubt not that tLe Chamber's 

 reply will contain as much information as could be 

 expected from any respectable body of ten or 

 twelve Englishmen of common sense whose business 



