CULTURE OF FLAX IN THE PUNJAB. 191 
for the purpose. But there is a great difference in the moisture 
of the different months, as the rains come on in the middle of 
June, and are excessive for three months. But it would be 
interesting to ascertain the effects of such moisture on the 
growth of a fibre like that of Flax. It is probable that the 
plant would require to be supported, to prevent its being laid. 
CULTURE OF FLAX IN THE PUNJAB. 
The Punjab, so recently acquired, is already as settled as 
any of the older provinces, in consequence chiefly of the energy 
and intelligence of the Service being applied to devising 
methods of Government suitable to the people and country, 
instead of attempting to introduce English institutions among 
foreigners who are unable to appreciate or to take advantage 
of them. In the Punjab, we see some of those who were 
fighting against us, now employed in the far East with our 
own troops; but many being necessarily left without employ- 
ment, are ready to take to or return to agricultural pursuits, 
The vigorous measures which have been adopted, while they 
give security and freedom of communication, will also greatly 
facilitate agricultural pursuits ; especially as some of the public 
works in course of execution are canals of irrigation. 
There, the Kote Kangra valley teems with Chinese Tea 
shrubs, the first of which were planted in the year 1848, that 
is, immediately after the conquest of these hills by Lord 
Hardinge; and the Tea which has been prepared from these 
plants is considered to be of the first class of China Teas, by 
such excellent judges as the Messrs. Thompson. The culture 
of Silk has lately been introduced by the Agri-Horticultural 
Society of the Punjab—the first specimens having been 
sent to Calcutta and to this country, were considered to be 
naturally of good quality, but very indifferently reeled. Mr. 
W. H. de Verinne having been sent up by the Government 
with an establishment of silk-winders and -reelers from Mor- 
shedabad, and some samples of silk of their winding having 
been sent to Calcutta and to the India House, the former was 
pronounced by Mr. E. Kilburn, on 1st September, as “requiring 
only a little more attention to rank with the product of the 
best Bengal Filatures,” and which would have been worth in 
