664 Foreign Notices: — Malta, India, Isle of Bourbon. 



and the tiovoH, the latter may be easily detached. The mother plant does 

 not seem to suffer the slightest injury by this operation, and continues to 

 vegetate and bear fruit just the same as before. — Luigi Manetti. Office of 

 the Administration of the Imperial and Royal Park of Monza, near Milan, in 

 Lombardy, Sept. 8, 1830. [Farther remarks by Signor Manetti in our next.] 



MALTA. 



Introduction ofB^'f'.sh Fruits, hy Captain Rainier. — Sir, I beg to acquaint 

 you, that, about a year and a half since, I visited the Island of Malta, on 

 my return to this country from Egypt, and was surprised to find (with their 

 fine climate) that they had so few of our fruits. I only noticed two or 

 three sorts of pears, the best of which is that known in this country as 

 the Kew Pear, or Williams's Bon Chretien, which, I was given to under- 

 stand, by an old inhabitant, had been on the island forty years. In Novem- 

 ber last. His Majesty's ship Rainbow sailed from Portsmouth for Malta; 

 and Captain Sir John Franklin, who commanded her, kindly offered a pas- 

 sage to a selection of our best pear, apple, and plum trees, which I had 

 ordered for the purpose of supplying the island with better fruit, together 

 with some of our best strawberries, currants, and gooseberries. These I 

 sent by him, and have just heard, not only of their safe arrival, but that they 

 are all doing well. My object in writing to you on this subject is not to 

 obtain for myself any credit for this act, but to stimulate, if possible, the 

 Horticultural Society of London to do their duty. What I have done they 

 ought to have done. Perhaps, by making public what I have said (in any 

 way you may think proper), this great horticultural body may be induced 

 to supply the wants, in this respect, of our possessions at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, New Holland, and others of our distant colonies, where the 

 fruits of Europe would flourish. They might even send European trees 

 and plants to China, considering how largely they have drawn on that part 

 of the world for plants ; and I am satisfied it would have a good effect, the 

 Chinese supposing (as they do with regard to every thing else) that they 

 are the first gardeners in the world. I brought a new Pancratium from the 

 foot of Mount Sinai, which is doing well. 1 am, Sir, yours, &c. — J. Rainier, 

 late F. H. S. Southampton, Feb. 18. 1831. 



INDIA. 



The Agricidtural and Horticultural Society of India have directed me to 

 request your kind attention to the present circular : — " The Society are 

 convinced that the freest possible exchange of the natural productions of 

 every country will be found in the end most conducive to the prosperity of 

 all ; and, guided by these principles, they desire to offer both to societies 

 and individuals in every quarter of the globe any of the agricultural and 

 horticultural products of India, or any information relative thereto, which 

 may be desired, in exchange for such as may be forwarded or communicated 

 to them. It will be most gratifying to the Society if you can point out to 

 them any desiderata which can be supplied from India, or if you can by any 

 means forward to them seeds, plants, useful communications, or suggestions. 

 The Society will feel much obliged by your giving every publicity in your 

 power to this communication. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — Henry Piddington, 

 Foreign Secretary to the Agricultural and Hortictdtnral Society of India. 

 Calcutta, Oct. 1. 1830. 



ISLE OF BOURBON. 



The Botanic Garden here has lately been very richly endowed by the 

 French king, and contains, besides the productions of the island, a splendid 

 collection of African and Asiatic plants. It is situated on a rising ground 

 in the middle of the town, and occupies 3^ hectares, or about 14 English 

 acres. Besides this, within the last three years there has been established 



