Calcutta Garden. 293 



The 12th paragraph affords additional proof of the success of transmit- 

 ting plants by sea in closed boxes, and of the kindness of commanders 

 of ships, in conveying boxes gratuitously to and from India, for the 

 Garden, which makes us regret that it is not richer in objects worthy 

 of such liberality. 



The 13th paragraph refers to the number of boxes of plants imported, 

 from Europe, of which there have been in five years 115 ; deduct from this 

 13 boxes in which the plants were found dead — leaving 102 boxes of living 

 plants. A list of donors is given, but nothing stated as to the number 

 of plants received alive, or how many of them are likely to turn out an 

 advantage to the country. Ten or a dozen plants are mentioned, but 

 so vaguely, as with one or two exceptions, to leave the reader at a loss 

 to know when they were introduced. Dr. Wallich here compliments Dr. 

 O'Shaughnessy, whose most important researches connected with the 

 medicinal drugs of the country are well known to the Government, and 

 who has found Crinum Asiaticum taxieorium to be a valuable substitute 

 for squill. " The Palo de vacca," Dr. Wallich says, " does not like this 

 climate at all," and " he should long since have attempted its removal 

 to a more congenial one, if he had not feared that the transport would 

 have endangered its safety." 



In the 15th paragraph Dr. Wallich observes, that there must be many 

 medicinal and otherwise useful plants in existence, which it would 

 be desirable to introduce into India, and he is only waiting for the 

 establishment of steam communication with the tropical parts of Ame- 

 rica, and other countries, which are to a certain extent closed to us. 

 " It is not so much by means of seeds," says Dr. Wallich, " as by an 

 interchange of living plants, that the introduction of the woody species 

 can be expected to be accomplished." We do not quite agree with him 

 in preferring the introduction of woody species by plants to that of seeds, 

 which may be so well and easily packed, and in general are possessed of 

 greater powers of vitality ; but the success of extensive interchange 

 now going on between Dr. Royle and Dr. Falconer, proves the import- 

 ance of the transmission of seeds overland, and has altogether super- 

 seded Dr. Wallich's Ship Agency via the Cape, both in the success and 

 the convenience of their arrangements. 



In paragraphs 18 and 19, Doctor Wallich regrets the reduction of the 

 establishment of collectors formerly placed under him ; but why were 

 former collectors discontinued ? We are not aware of any reduction of 

 the establishment on ill-judged grounds. In all large establishments 

 it is easy to modify the employment of a few of the servants, and 



2 P 



