APRIL — JUNE 1857.] Observations on Provi?icial Fxliihittons. 79 
rather than a Botanical Garden, though it might be appropriately 
placed under the superintendence of the Professor of Botany with 
the aid of a well educated gardener who would more readily learn 
the peculiarities of Indian culture than any one not so educated. 
This is well evidenced in the case of Mr. Mclvor, now in charge of 
the Garden at Gotacan'Aind, and whom I selected out of several 
candidates, as he combined in the highest degree, a knowledge of 
the principles with the practices of Horticulture. 
Though fresh Botanical investigations do not seem to me to be 
necessary at present, it is very different with Mineralogical and 
Geological enquiries, for the Madras Presidency is filled with 
mountainous ranges which abound in Geological treasures, a cor- 
rect knowlege of which as of the Rock formation, is greatly re- 
quired. For this purpose one or two qualified persons might well 
be appointed ; and if one excelled as a Geologist, the other should 
be well qualified as a Mineralogist, having sufficient knowledge of 
Chemistry, to be able to give a good account of the various soils 
which might be met with. All such information would be practically 
useful by affording data for the improvement of the Agriculture of 
the several Provinces. 
