HORTICUL. 

 TUKE. 



574 MANUAL OF THE NlLAGIRl DISTRICT. 



CH. XXXI. limes, citrons, nutmegs, loqnats and plantains. On this spot the 

 delicious Chirimoyas, the seeds of which we brought from Peru, will 

 hereafter ripen and enable the people of India to taste the ' master- 



piece of nature.' 



* * * * * 



*' These gardens are self-supporting." 



Mediciual Up to the year 1856 the only medicinal plant which had been 



plants. largely cultivated was the digitalis, but on a suggestion of tbe 



Medical Department that more attention should be given to 



this branch, it was suggested that a special garden should be 



made for this purpose at Melkunda. Whether this project was 



ever carried out or not is uncertain, but it was probably found 



that the gardens at Ootacamand, Burliar, and another nui'sery or 



branch garden established shortly afterwards at Kalbatti on the 



Segur ghat offered sufficient varieties of soil and climate for 



experiments in the growth of medicinal plants. 



Mr. Jamie- Government experiments in the rearing of chinchona plants from 



BOii 3 appoint- . ' 1 • 1 1 1 1 • 1 • • • lo,^.,^ 



ment. seeds and cuttings, which had their beginning in iooU, soon 



occupied a large proportion of Mr. Mclvor's time, and it was 

 found necessary to give him a European assistant. The pre- 

 seot Superintendent, Mr. Jamieson, from the gardens at Kew, 

 was accordingly engaged as Deputy Superintendent of the Chin- 

 chona Plantations, but his work was mainly confined to the 

 gardens. He began his duties at Ootacamand in 1868, continuing 

 as assistant to Mr. Mclvor until 1871, when he was promoted to 

 the appointment of Superintendent on Mr. Mclvor becoming 

 Superintendent of the Government Chir.chona Plantations. 

 Gardens Soon after the Commission was formed the gardens were 



placed under placed under the Commissioner, and this arrangement has 



Commissioner ^ .»-tt-i lo- c ^ -i 



continued. An Agri- Horticultural Society ^ was formed mainly 

 Agri-Horti- through Mr, Breeks' influence, which did good service in encour- 

 Society, ^o^'^o the native growers by distributing seeds and offering prizes 



for vegetables, which were awarded by a Committee appointed to 

 inspect the vegetables brought for sale to the local market. 

 During Mr. Breeks' life agri-horticultural shows were held from 

 time to time in the gardens, but since his death only one has 

 taken place. Though its affairs were never finally wound 

 up, the Society seems to have virtually died out, and it is much 

 to be regretted that it is not revived, for although the show of 

 Howers and vegetables was never so good as might reasonably 



' In June 1869 the Government sanctioned the transfer of tlie gardens to the 

 Agri-Elorticnltural Society, the Commissioner being President of the Committee 

 of Management. Mr. Mclvor, who was relieved of the superintendence of the 

 gardens, being an er-officio member of the Committee, whilst Mr. Jamieson, as 

 Superintendent, was to work under the orders of the Committee. The transfer 

 was not carried into effect, as Mr. Jamieson decli:"ed to act as Superintendent 

 under the orders of the Cuuimittue. 



