372 UTAKAMAND GARDEN. 



up in two or three years, by which time the Kunur garden will 

 be in a condition to supersede it. Mr M'lvor is mistaken in 

 supposing that I advocated its immediate abolition, as that 

 would involve the sacrifice of the plants in it before others could 

 be supplied from Kunur. 



Utakamand. — Mr M'lvor's application of moss is most impor- 

 tant, and he deserves great credit for it. It will prove a great 

 advantage to Government in economising space and soil in the 

 nurseries, and to 'purchasers in saving expense of transport. This 

 discovery will render it unnecessary to purchase additional land, 

 as proposed last year. As regards the supervision of all the 

 woods and plantations on the Nilgiris, I have already stated my 

 opinion in my report of last year (dated 13th November 1858), 

 that such an extensive charge would be beyond the powers of any 

 one man. I think Mr M'lvor's energy and zeal are already suffi- 

 ciently taxed with the charge of the gardens and two distant 

 nurseries, the planting of the Jackatalla road, and his voluntary 

 assistance in laying out the soldiers' gardens. As regards the 

 future, we have the prospect of endeavouring to introduce the 

 Cinchona next year; and, in fact, each year will bring with it 

 similar important duties requiring his skill and experience. 



Distribution of Plants. — Mr M'lvor's tabular statement shows 

 that plants, &c, to the value of about Es. 200 monthly have been 

 distributed, exclusive of exchange. On looking over his list of 

 applications I find that supplies have been sent to Ahmednuggur, 

 Saugor, Trevandrum, and other stations. 



Progress of the Garden. — The gardens, in common with other 

 Departmental works, have suffered from the great and sudden 

 rise in the rate of wages at Jackatalla, which has cost us 15 per 

 cent, extra, and, indeed, we have retained our labourers only by 

 the expedient of agreeing to employ their wives and boys in the 

 gardens, and to give them some increase of pay themselves. As 

 the Government grant for labour is only Es. 100 per mensem, this 

 is a serious matter to us. 



Cinchona. — The introduction of the Cinchona is a most im- 

 portant subject. A moderate grant will be required to prepare a 

 suitable site for the plants at the upper end of the gardens, 

 the nurseries, and perhaps in other localities. As regards the 



