Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 



155 



turned into pill -boxes, and it appears to be adapted for plugs, trenails, 

 and wedges. The wood is very heavy, and does not float ; it is liable to 

 split in the hot weather, and should be seasoned, and then stored under 

 cover. 



2. The Olive, Zaitoon, which has also been tested for wood-engraving 

 at the Madras School of Arts, is another plant of the Mediterranean flora, 

 which ranges from the coast of the Levant to the Himalaya. It varies a 

 good deal in the shape of its leaves and in the amount of ferruginescence, 

 hence the synonyms cuspidata and ferruginea, but it does not appear to 

 difler specifically from the Olea europcea (Mount of Olives), the emblem 

 of peace and plenty. The finest specimens I have seen are in the Kaghan 

 and Peshawur valleys, where the fruit resembles that of rocky sites in 

 Palestine or Gibraltar. The wood is much used for combs and beads — 

 and is found to answer for the teeth of wheels at the Madhopore workshops. 



3. Urtica heterophyUa, a kind of Indian nettle, is plentiful in Simla, 

 having followed man to the summit of Jako, attracted by moisture to an 

 elevation unusual for any member of the family. It is found within the 

 stations of Dalhousie and Dharmsalla, and at many intermediate points. 

 The quantity is surprising wherever the soil has become nitrogenous by 

 the encamping of cattle. The growth at this season (July) also is luxuriant 

 in shady ravines near houses, where there is abundance of black mould ; 

 but the sting being virulent, the plants are habitually cut down as a 

 nuisance, both by private persons and municipal committees. 



There are other plants of the nettle tribe, particularly the Boehmeria 

 salicifolia, " siharu," used for making ropes (to which attention has been 

 directed by Dr Jameson); this plant does not stiiig, and is abundant at 

 low elevations. The produce of this might be turned to good account, 

 though not yet recognised as merchantable fibre. 



4. Cultivation of Bamboo. — Mr ]\I'Leod, Financial Commissioner in the 

 Punjab, writes thus to the Commissioners of Umbulla and JuUundhur : — 



" As it is desired to extend the growth of the bamboo as widely as 

 possible throughout the Punjab, and some of the districts of your division 

 possess them in greater or less abundance, I have to request that you will 

 ascertain whether any of the four following varieties have borne seed 

 during the present year, and inform me of the result of your inquiries. 



1. The hollow Bamboo of the plains. 



2. Solid Bamboo of the lower hills, of which spear handles and clubs 

 are usually made. 



3. The Nirgali or small Bamboo of the hills, growing at elevations 

 from 5 to 8000 feet. 



4. The Garoo, or still smaller hill Bamboo, growing at higher eleva- 

 tions, probably up to 12,000 feet. 



" It would be interesting also to ascertain, if possible, from the people, 

 the intervals which lapse between the seasons of flowering of the several 

 varieties. A point on which the more observant might readily furnish 

 information, as, after flowering and yielding seed, the entire tract of 

 bamboo which has seeded, simultaneously dries up and perishes, fresh 

 plantations springing up from the seeds which have been scattered by 

 the old stock. 



IX. Dr Alex. Hunter, Secretary of the Agri-Horticultural Society of 

 Madras, transmitted reports as to the cultivation of Peruvian cotton at 

 Chingleput by Dr Shortt, and in the Kistna District by Mr E. B. Foord. 

 Both reports are satisfactory. The following is a statement which he also 

 transmitted : — 



