618 Foreign Notices: — India. 



plants less adapted to the climate than themselves. The first two crops coulil. 

 therefore, scarcely be looked upon in any other light than for the purpose of 

 clearing the ground. A considerable space of the ground was, also, taken up 

 by a |ihuitation of sugar-cane, which remained, by agreement, for some time 

 after the garden had been given to the Society, and which, of course, exhausted 

 the soil of that part most materiall}'. These circumstances, together with the 

 fact tiiat the whole garden had been for a long time over-cropped, without 

 receiving sufficient manure in return, will make it evident that the principal 

 efforts of the committee ought to have been directed (as they have) towards 

 rendering the soil in a fit state for the successful cultivation of exotic and 

 Indian vegetables, &:c.; as, by attem|)ting it in a poor soil, and obtaining poor 

 productions, the natives would be dissuaded from following our system of 

 uardening ; whereas a first successful result would be of great consequence, 

 and mii;ht be the means of etfecting one of the principal objects of the So- 

 ciet}' ; namely, inducing the natives to come into the garden to observe and 

 adopt their methods of cultivation. 



" The Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India have supplied us 

 liberallv with cotton seeds of various descri[)tions. Part of these have been 

 sown, and have succeeded, in the garden ; and the remainder have been sent to 

 the chief commissioner, who has kindly promised to circulate them in the 

 different talooks of Mysore ; and from whom, together with the assistant 

 commissioners, the Society have always received great assistance. A consi- 

 derable quantity of American cotton seed sent by the same Society is now on 

 the road from Madras for distribution to any wishing to cultivate it : an early 

 application for it to the secretary is recommended, as the best season for 

 planting it, the beginning of the rain, is fast approaching. A considerable 

 quantity of Cape vegetable seeds were also sent from Calcutta. Part of these 

 have been sown, and proved to be excellent : the remainder has been kept for 

 distribution to any members applying for them. Some flower seeds were also 

 selected, and sent by Dr. Waliich. They have all been sown : most of them 

 have thriven, and are now in flower. The thanks of the Society are also due 

 to the Madras Society for some English seeds, which, unfortunately, did not 

 prove to be good ; a basket of English plants, out of which the cherries only 

 are thriving, and some New South Wales potatoes (now exhibited), which, 

 althouch allowed to obtain their full size, are not likely to displace the variety 

 at present cultivated in Bangalore. Colonel Williamson lately kindly sent 

 some Scotch red apple potatoes : they have all been planted, and a few have 

 already sprouted. The Society is also considerably indebted to Mr. Fisher at 

 Salem for his welcome present of 1000 coffee plants, and some fine mango 

 grafts, all of which have prospered. Many ornamental plants received from 

 CoortT have succeeded admirably. The secretary has introduced, by seed or 

 plants, about 50 or 60 species of Neilgherry plants : they have not been 

 generally, if at all, cultivated in any part of India. Most of these plants will 

 be propagated in the ensuing season, sufficient for distribution to a small ex- 

 tent. Two of the fruits amongst the Neilgherry plants will prove worthy of 

 consideration : one a yellow raspberry, which, with moderate care, is capable of 

 becoming an excellent fruit ; and the other the small but well-tasted alpine 

 strawberry. The good success of these plants, as well as two of the Scotch 

 pine, and two of the Himalaya firs, and a very luxuriant plant of the f/'lex 

 europae^a or common furze, and one of an alpine anemone, are sufficient 

 proofs of the mild climate of Bangalore, and the advantages it possesses over 

 most parts of India. A considerable quantity of seed has been saved from 

 some Bourbon cotton plants, placed in the garden by Captain Hunter, which 

 have thriven in a most remarkable manner, giving a great produce, declared by 

 good judges to be as fine as they had ever seen. From the success of the 

 plants, the committee is inclined to recommend the transplantation of the 

 Bourbon plants, being convinced, from experiment, that the labour is more 

 than coiniterbalanced by the increased produce. The manager will wilUngly 

 coxnmunicatc to those who may wish it what he considers the best mode of 



