200 GARDEN PLANTS. PART 11. 



Plants have "repeatedly been introduced into the gardens 

 about Calcutta, but they have never risen to more than about 

 three feet in height, when they have uniformly died off, the 

 climate of that latitude being quite unsuited to them. 



MALYACE^]. 

 Hibiscus sabdariffa. 



ROSELLE INDIAN SORREL. 



Putwa Mesta. 



An annual, native of the West Indies, but now cultivated in 

 most gardens in India. 



The part of the plant made use of is not the fruit itself, but 

 the large thick succulent sepals which envelope it. Of these 

 most delicious puddings and tarts are made, as well as a remark- 

 ably fine jelly, hardly to be distinguished from that of the Eed 

 Currant, for which in every respect it forms an excellent sub- 

 stitute. 



There are two kinds, the red and white, much the same, 

 except that the white seems a trifling degree less acid. 



The seeds are sown about the end of May, and the plants are 

 put out in the ground at the distance of four feet from each 

 other. It grows to the height of three or four feet, and bears 

 a large handsome yellow flower, with a dark crimson eye. The 

 gathering for use may be made in November or December in 

 Bengal, but it must be somewhat earlier in the Upper Provinces, 

 before the plants are destroyed by the cold. 



It seems to thrive best in the damp climate of Lower India. 

 In Ferozepore I found the full-grown plants very apt to perish 

 before coming into bearing. 



TILLAGES. 



Grewia Asiatica. 



Phdlsa. 



A coarse-looking, unattractive shrub, somewhat resembling 

 the Hazel in foliage ; native of India, and common in all parts 

 of the country. 



