Miscellaneous 



352 



[October, 1909. 



Situated some three or four miles 

 down the Hooghly River they are not 

 so easy of access as one could wish, 

 though recently the facilities for reach- 

 ing them have been much improved. 



The grounds are large and studded with 

 beautiful and varied botanical treasures 

 from many tropical lands. Both the 

 nursery and plant houses abound with 

 useful and decorative plants, aud an 

 herbarium of first-class botanical import- 

 ance is at the disposal of botanists for 

 purposes of study and research. 



An object of much interest is the 

 large Banyan Tree in the gardens, on 

 which is the following label :— 



"FlCUS BENGALENSIS" (BAN YAN), NA- 

 TIVE of India.— "This tre6 is about 

 139 years old. Its circumference 5i feet 

 from the ground is 51 feet. Circum- 

 ference of crown 997 feet. Height 85 

 feet. It has 562 rerial roots naturally 

 rooted in the ground." 



The Director, Dr. Gage, kindly sup- 

 plied me with a large collection of seeds, 

 and later, a case or two of various plants 

 desired will be obtained from the same 

 source. 



The tastefully laid out and well-kept 

 pleasure grounds around the Viceroy's 

 residence and various muncipal gardens 

 in Calcutta were inspected in company 

 of the Superintendent in charge. 



The Zoological Gardens in Calcutta 

 are well stocked with beasts and plants, 

 and attract ruauy visitors. 



Agricultural Research College, 

 Pusa, — On no account should anyone 

 interested in agriculture and general 

 research work omit to see Pusa during 

 a visit to India. 



The extensive establishment is well 

 equipped with laboratories aud general 

 research facilities, and is conducted on 

 the most up-to-date principals. 



I was courteously accompanied through 

 the various scientific sections by the 

 Director, Mr. Bernard Coventry, aud 

 was afforded much information on 

 several interesting subjects. 



I also had the pleasure of meeting Mr. 

 Maxwell Lefroy (Government Entomo- 

 logist) and Mr. Albert Howard (Economic 

 Botanist) two of my former colleagues 

 in the Imperial Department of Agri- 

 culture, West Indies, 



Much valuable work is being done in 

 the experimen tal grounds. Many wheats 

 are under trial and form a striking 

 feature of the place. 



The fruit tiial grounds are also of 

 much interest, and include peach, plum, 

 loquat, litchi, orange, fig, etc. 



Various methods of treatment are 

 carried out, and much of the success of 

 the good bearing qualities of the several 

 trees is secured by a judicious exposure 

 of the roots, careful pruning and manur- 

 ing. A complete system of irrigation 

 extends over the whole of the experi- 

 mental grounds. 



Seed of several economic plants was 

 secured with the promise of further 

 additions. 



Mr. Maxwell Lefroy showed me his 

 simple device for ridding rooms of mos- 

 quitoes. It consists of an ordinary box 

 about 18 inches high by a foot in breadth 

 and width. The inside is lined with adark 

 coloured material and the box is made 

 practically airtight by means of a close- 

 fitting door. When required for use it 

 is placed in the darkest corner of the 

 room, and every night and morning a 

 small quantity of benzine is placed inside 

 the box, the lid closed and the mosquitoes 

 which have settled therein are killed. 

 In this way Mr. Maxwell Lefroy captured 

 upwards of 2,000 in a single month. 



Pusa and the country for many miles 

 around was the centre of the thriving 

 Indigo industry until the manufacture 

 of artificial dyes made indigo growing 

 unprofitable ; planters have difficulty in 

 finding a suitable alternative industry. 



Tobacco does exceedingly well, many 

 fine fields of carefully tended plants 

 being seen. 



Pulses iu general do well, also several 

 kinds of oil-seeds. Fibre cultivation is 

 being considered and is likely to be 

 largely taken up. 



Darjeeling.— This proved to be one 

 of the most interesting journeys of my 

 tour. The scenery is of the grandest 

 and is constantly changing as the tiny 

 train gradually winds its way by curves 

 and loops up the slopes of the Hima- 

 layas, where many tea plantations are 

 established. 



At the time of my visit> which was 

 about the height of the cold season, 

 the weather was mostly wet, foggy and 

 cold. 



Judging from the climatic conditions 

 and the appearance of the country as 

 well as the condition of the tea bushes 

 I am led to believe that tea growiug 

 should prove successful on parts of the 

 Molo aud surrounding country of the 

 Protectorate. 



The well-kept aud interesting garden 

 known as "Lloyd's Botanic Gardens" 

 at Darjeeling was visited and many 

 plants new to me were seen. 



Madras.— On arrival here I called on 

 Dr. C. A. Barber, Government Botanist 

 in charge of the experimental farms. 



