30 New application of grafting. [Jan. 



cocoa for example one of those introduced at Courtallum 

 may be transferred to a stock of bastard cedar (guazuma 

 tomentasa) one of the most common Indian trees, found in 

 every kind of soil and situation. The mangosteen (garcinia 

 mangostand) which also grows well, and bears fruit at Cour- 

 tallum, may be grafted on the common Pinny marum, (calo- 

 phyllum Inaphylluni) but still better on some of our country 

 species of Garcinia, which though not so common and hardy 

 plants as the Pinny, yet grow and bear fruit in our gardens, 

 indicating suitableness of the soil. 



The Pimento or all- spice also growing at Courtallum might be 

 readily transferred to any of our numerous myrtaceous plants, 

 with every chance of success, and possesses the additional re- 

 commendation of forming ahandsome tree, and so very fragrant 

 that it scents the air to some distance around. The orange which 

 rarely produces good fruit except in alpine or subalpine situa- 

 tions might be grafted on lime or pumplemose stocks, both of 

 which are known to bring their fruit to perfection, and parti- 

 cularly the last, even on the sea coast, with I think every 

 chance of success, as I cannot help thinking, from having 

 met with exceptions to the general rule, that the deteriora- 

 tion of the fruit on the plain is principally owing to the un- 

 favourable kind of soil. Of the olive tribe, which I am sur- 

 prised has not yet been introduced or even so far as I know 

 attempted, we have several indigenous species, on which the 

 true olive might be grafted, if found necessary, which I doubt, 

 as it is known to bring its fruit to the greatest perfection in 

 the driest and hottest parts of the south of Europe, and 

 thrives well in Egypt and Syria, and is besides of Asiatic 

 origin, though now best known as a European plant. Our 

 figs which are always greatly inferior both in size and flavour 

 to those produced in the south of Europe, the Levant and 

 Tripoli, might perhaps be greatly improved by grafting on 

 some of the numerous indigenous species of that genus. 



I have now I trust said enough in illustration of my recom- 

 mendation to induce the Horticultural Society to institute a 

 series of experiments on the subject. Should they succeed, 

 and I can see no reason to anticipate failure we may all in 

 the course of a few years enjoy the luxury of drinking cocoa 



