52 Account of the Botanic Garden at Sehardnptir. [Feb. 



shows the number of plants from which the natives of India derive the 

 means of increasing the supply of food. The rabi crop is sown about 

 November, and reaped in April, while the kharif crop is sown in 

 June, and cut in October. 



As instances of what may be effected, it may be noticed, that the 

 barley of the hills called ooa, from an elevation of 10,000 feet, has 

 become naturalized in Seharanpur; and a singular species of wheat 

 from Kanawar, at an equal elevation, succeeds remarkably well. Of 

 plants affording fodder for cattle, which have been introduced, and are 

 in a thriving state, Guinea, and Fiorin grasses may be noticed, as 

 well as lucerne, soccory, and clover. All have become naturalized, and 

 the three latter are valuable as affording green food when there is little 

 or no grass in the country. 



The Horticultural catalogue exhibits a large proportion of the plants 

 used as vegetables both in European and Indian climates. Of the 

 former most have been introduced since the British ieign, many by 

 means of the garden ; and of native vegetables, pains have been taken 

 to bring together those which are common in different parts of the 

 country. The list of fruit-trees displays, collected in one place and 

 naturalized in the open air, the various fruit-trees of very different 

 countries, as of India and China, Kabul, Europe, and America. A view 

 of the list of annuals and of flowering shrubs will prove the variety 

 which are always ready in the different nurseries for general distribu- 

 tion, and of which, as well as of fruit-trees, many thousands are yearly 

 distributed, together with packets of seeds, to all those who are inclined 

 to send for them. 



In the list of medicinal plants will be observed many which form the 

 most powerful articles of the European materia medica, while others, 

 perhaps not less valuable, are known only to native hakims. So much 

 time has been occupied in preliminary investigations, that it is not easy to 

 give an idea of the results that may finally be obtained. But it may 

 at present be stated in general terms, that the materia medica in use 

 among the natives of India, is very extensive in the number of its arti- 

 cles ; and which, according as they have derived their knowledge from 

 the Greeks through the Arabs and Persians, or from the Hindus, are 

 the produce of both European and Asiatic countries. To one unac- 

 quainted with the subject, it will appear surprising to be told, that the 

 natives are in the habit of administering, or rather of prescribing such 

 medicines as hemlock, hellebore, henbane, and colchicum. 



Having derived much of their knowledge of medicine from the 

 Greeks, they are naturally anxious to prescribe that which they find 



