Indian Agric. and Hort, Society' s Transactions. 519 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Transactions of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society 

 of India. Vol.11. 8vo. Calcutta, 1836. 



We noticed the first volume of these Transactions^ which ap- 

 peared in 1828, in the Gardener's Magazine, some years ago; 

 the present comes before us with increased interest, from the 

 much greater number of contributions which it contains, and from 

 the superior style in which it is got up. From the introduction 

 it appears that a garden was obtained by the Society in 1827; 

 and an appendix contains the I'egulations of this garden, and re- 

 ports on its management. As matter of gardening history and 

 statistics, we might quote much that is interesting from these 

 reports, but we cannot spare room. One article, which we must 

 notice, as of considerable interest, is on the culture of the aspa- 

 ragus in the Mauritius, by J. Newman, Esq., superintendent of 

 the Royal Botanical Garden there. The essence of it has al- 

 ready appeared in this Magazine, vol. vi. p. 484. ; and the whole 

 shows a beautiful adaptation of practice to a particular purpose 

 and climate. 



In a paper in these Transactions, by Mr. Newman, on raising 

 plants from seed, he says : — 



" I find that all seeds, particularly those that have come a long voyage, 

 ought to be sown in moist, but not wet, earth, and not watered for three days 

 after sowing. In wet weather, it is advisable to have matting to cover the seed- 

 beds, until the plants have appeared above ground ; when they may be watered 

 as is usual. By this simple precaution, even many old seeds will vegetate ; 

 whereas seeds sown in wet earth, or watered immediately, 

 frequently rot, by having so much water at first. 1 have tried 

 seeds from the same packet, in a dry place and a wet one at 

 the same time; and it requires only one trial to prove the 

 superiority of the former. There are, of course, many large 

 seeds, as peas, beans, &c., that do not reqaire such treatment ; 

 however, I adopt the same plan even with them." (p. 76.) 



Though these remarks have reference to a warm 

 climate, yet the British gardener will know how to 

 extract some profit from them, even in hardy, but 

 more especially in hot-house, culture. 



The mango is generally propagated by inarch- 

 ing ; but side grafting is also employed, the end of 

 the graft being inserted in a phial of water, as in 

 grafting camellias in this country. See our Vol. IJ. 

 p. 33. and fig. 12., which we here repeat, viz. 

 fg. 102. 



On the whole, these Transactions bear testimony 

 to the intelligence and activity of European gen- 

 tlemen, in a country where the climate invites to 



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