

' 



Miscellaneous Intelligence. 137 



produce of our own dominions, will not only compete successfully with 

 that of China in the market of this metropolis, but add another to our 

 list of export articles. 



The next paper is contributed by Dr. Robert Wight, superintendent 

 of the government cotton-farms in the Coimbatore District, — On the 

 Culture of the American Cotton in India, and the proper time for sow- 

 ing it in various localities. We had expected a longer and more elab- 

 orate paper on a subject of such importance ; nevertheless, as the re- 

 marks of one having considerable experience of this staple, and pos- 

 sessing an intimate knowledge of physiological botany, we can scarcely 

 doubt they will prove valuable to those engaged in a similar pursuit. 

 Dr. Wight is of opinion, that in his district, as indeed throughout the 

 western coast of the Peninsula, where the N.E. monsoon is usually of 

 short duration, July is the most favorable time for sowing the Mexican 

 variety ; while August and September is the best season for localities 

 along the eastern coast, the same monsoon being there of greater force, 

 and extending over a longer period ; and that as respects districts sub- 

 ject to the S.W. monsoon, "the last week of May and all June will 

 probably be found the most suitable seasons, the exact time being de- 

 termined by the individual season and average durations of the rains at 

 each station." 



Dr. Campbell, the superintendent of Darjeeling, communicates, in the 

 third article, an experiment which he had instituted on the culture of the 

 tea-plant at that sanatarium, and which promises a favorable result. 

 He thinks it reasonable to expect quite as good tea to be produced there 

 as at Kumaon, and in that opinion he is supported by Dr. Jameson. 

 Darjeeling possesses an advantage over the Kumaon and Gurhwal pro- 

 vinces in point of elevation, being 7,000 feet above the sea. Dr. 

 Campbell promises to report progress. We shall watch it with atten- 

 tion. The introduction of this valuable plant within so short a distance 

 of the metropolis is a matter of no little interest, as connected with the 

 extension of its cultivation. 



10. Expedition into Australia, (Athenaeum, Oct. 7.) — A new expe- 

 dition into Northeastern Australia is projected for May next, to be un- 

 der the direction of Mr. Kennedy. The region is called the York Pe- 



ninsula, visited by Leichhardt, on his way to the Gulf of Carpentaria. 

 Mr. Kennedy proceeds in the Tarn O'Shanter to Rockingham Bay, in 

 *8° S., and thence to travel by land to Princess Charlotte's Bay and 

 J^ape York, keeping the most convenient distance from the coast. 

 Whence down to the east coast of Gulf of Carpentaria to the water 

 Plaets, to ascertain whether that is the estuary of Leichhardt's river 

 Mitchell, and if so, to follow it up to the junction of the Lynd. The 

 expedition then goes W.S.W. to the river Flinders, for the purpose of 

 ascertaining its source, and from it will attempt to connect the jour- 

 ney with Sir Thomas Mitchell's discoveries in 1846. 



H. Platinum. — Platinum having been discovered in the Alps by M. 

 Grueymard, the Conseil-General des Mines has authorized researches to 

 be made in that part of the Alps which is on the frontiers of the De- 

 partment of the Isere. From the nature of the soil, it is expected that 

 deposits of platinum will be found in several localities. 



Second Series, Vol. VII, No. 19, Jan., 184Sb 18 



