1836.] 



New application of grafting. 



27 



scientific journal, and the formation of a Horticultural 

 Society ; the one fitted, inter alca, to diffuse a knowledge of 

 the useful discoveries made by the other, as well as of useful 

 suggestions to be acted upon, either by the society as a 

 body in its experimental garden, or by individuals favourably 

 situated for conducting such inquiries. 



It would appear from their selecting horticulture, a science 

 both useful and ornamental, as the starting post of their re- 

 forms, that the society of this presidency have wisely deter- 

 mined, to commence with objects of a practically useful kind, 

 in which all take an interest, and can with a clear conscience 

 unite in forwarding, whatever his political opinions may be, 

 objects in short about which " Whig and Tory all agree." 



This is wise, as all may now with one accord, unite in an 

 effort to shake off that lethargic indifference to local improve - 

 mentjwhich has so long clung to us, and procured for us, among 

 our, soi- disant, enlightened neighbours, the not very flatter- 

 ing cognomen of benighted. The time has now arrived 

 for making such an effort, and I trust the presidency mem- 

 bers will be ably seconded by their brethren in the provinces, 

 who surely cannot remain indifferent spectators of attempts 

 made to augment their individual comforts, by extending the 

 commercial resources of the country, and thereby advancing 

 national prosperity. In the belief that many of your readers 

 are Horticulturists, and desirous of actively co-operating with 

 the society in the good cause, I send you the following sug- 

 gestions, in the hope of seeing them speedily and successfully 

 acted upon. I expect they will have another good effect, 

 that of pointing out the Madras Journal as an excellent chan- 

 nel, through which to make known the result of experiments 

 undertaken for the advancement of the science, whether suc- 

 cessful or otherwise. If this course was generally adopted it 

 would in the course of a few years become as it were a store- 

 house, in which might be found recorded, every important 

 fact, tending to the improvement of horticulture on this side 

 of India, to which compilers might always have recourse, 

 with the certainty of being able to cull from its pages many 

 a choice flower not to be found elsewhere. But it is time to 

 proceed with the immediate object of this communication^ 



