330 



Notices of Books, 



[AriiiL 



XII.— Notices of Bgoks. 



Transactions' of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, 

 Vol. 3d".— Printed at the Serampore Press, 1837.— pp. 320, Svo. 



We hail with no ordinary feelings of satirsfaction, the appearance of 

 the third volume of the Transactions of the Agricultural and HorticuU 

 tural Society of India-, presenting us with a detailed account of its pro-' 

 ceedings, during the pasl ye ar. The unequivocal evidence which it af- 

 fords, of the recent, rapid rise in public estimation of the sister sciences of 

 agriculture and horticulture, must prove highly gratifying to every 

 philanthropic mind, on the reflection how intimately their advancement 

 is connected with the welfare and prosperity of the people, in a country 

 so essentially agricultural as this is. 



In this view we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure, which the present 

 opportunity affords, of congratulating the country at large, on the pos- 

 session within its metropolis of such an enterprising association ; enjoy- 

 ing as it does the full confidence and liberal patronage of the Indian 

 government ; collecting, from all quarters, the accumulated experience 

 of numerous labourers in the same field, to diffuse it, through these 

 volumes, to every part of the civilized world; while, at the same time, 

 it is generously aiding, with its unrivalled means, the formation of nume- 

 rous other associations, under the same denomination and having simi- 

 lar objects in view, in all parts of the country, all of which are endea- 

 vouring, but at a humble distance, to diffuse, within the more contracted 

 limits of their respective localities, the benefits which it is Conferring on 

 all India. That the metropolitan societies of the sister presidencies, are, 

 as yet, far from being competent to enter the lists with the parent insti- 

 tution, in the honourable and friendly rivalry of doing good, is a subject 

 rather of regret than of wonder, when it is borne in mind, that they are 

 both comparatively in their infancy, with few members, limited means, 

 and one, at least, (the Madras Society), as yet unaided by any share of 

 government patronage, which has been so liberally extended to the 

 others.* We would not, however, have our agricultural friends in this 

 quarter to despair of having their application for assistance ultimately 

 attended to, since it has not been refused, and we venture to think is only 

 withheld until by its acts the Society has established its claim to the 

 indulgence. Let it prove itself worthy, and we think w r e may safely 

 predict that it will not be kept long in suspense as to the result of its 

 application, and we think we may with equal safety adduce the two 

 last reports of its proceedings as favourable examples of how much 



The Calcutta Society- hag receive 1, nearly from Its commencement, 100G rupees annu- 

 ally, which lias latterly been increased, by a monthly donation to about 2,800, exclusive of 

 20,000 formerly contributed. The Bombay Society we understand received a donation of 

 10,000 in aid of its funds. This is as it ought to be, these societies are formed for the 

 good of the country, much more than for any benefit which can accrue to the members, 

 and have a claim on the country's support in aid of their exertions for its benefit. 



