FRUIT-BEARING TREES IN INDIA. 81 



glad of as extensive a collection of ornamental gar- 

 den seeds as can be conveniently procured for us. 

 The addition of the seeds of such plants as have 

 been introduced into England from America, will 

 also be very thankfully received. 



I have in my hurry overlooked a very material 

 point in our prospects, viz. the consideration of 

 fruit-bearing trees. It is certainly true, that India 

 produces very many kinds of, and those very excel- 

 lent, fruits ; but as variety and improvement is the 

 grand desideratum in every department which may 

 be said to come within our sphere, we wish, after 

 paying the attention the subject most undoubtedly 

 requires to the cultivation of the indigenous fruits 

 by means of grafting, &c. and the introduction of 

 fruits from our neighbours of Kabul, Kashmeer, 

 Persia, and the Indian Archipelago, further to en- 

 deavour to raise some of those fruits so deservedly 

 admired for their excellent flavour in Europe. The 

 progress made with the apple and the pear has 

 been very trifling ; the cherry is scarcely known ; 

 the almonds and the apricot are all in their in- 

 fancy ; the chesnut, which I am sure would thrive 

 here, I have never heard of ; the many bearing 

 shrubs that abound in Europe, have scarcely been 



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