PROCEEDINGS. 899 



this side of India that the branch of Horticulture had been so woefully- 

 neglected, although in Agriculture we had the reputation of being in 

 advance of the rest of India. Mr. Millard said he had frequently been 

 beseeched to start a Horticultural Society for Bombay, but he could not see 

 how any material advantage was to be gained by such a Society without a 

 Horticultural garden in which experiments could be carried on. Once 

 possessing such a garden, he believed that the large amount of interest, 

 which was taken by residents of Bombay, would ensure a flourishing 

 Horticultural Society. 



He said from information he obtained, he believed that various persons 

 had from time to time made collections of the different varieties of 

 Hibiscus. Mr. Robert Campbell, many years ago, had a good collection at 

 Malabar Hill, and he remembered hearing of a Parsee gentleman living, he 

 thought, at Tardeo, who possessed some 25 different varieties ; some of these 

 varieties seemed to have disappeared, and as the European's residence in 

 India coidd never be more than a temporary one, it was greatly to be 

 desired that Native enthusiasts in horticulture should try and establish 

 collections of these and other flowers (which might almost be called indige- 

 nous now to India) and thus guarantee continuity. 



Mr. Millard said that his attention had been drawn to this subject by 

 Mr. O. V. Bosanquet, I.C.S., of Baroda, who was trying to start a collec- 

 tion there. He then referred to different varieties, of which 24 single and 

 7 double were shown. 



The following gentlemen were thanked for sending specimens : — 



Mr. C. M. Cursetjee, Dr. R. F. Seervai, the Superintendent, Victoria 

 Gardens, Mr. W. P. Pechey (Byculla Club), Col. K. R. Kirtikar, I.M.S. 

 (Retd.), Lt.-Col. J. G. Hojel, I.M.S., Capt. Haymes (R. A.) and Mr. John 

 T. Fry. 



