362 



Dr. Wight's Remarks oji the culture, tyc. 



[April 



country, and, from its greater purity, give it a decided advantage in the 

 highest market where it now brings a very high price. 



In conclusion, I beg to add, that, though these notes are somewhat 

 hurriedly written, they are not the suggestions of the momenr. It is 

 now a year since I had an opportunity of inspecting the Tinnevelly 

 plantations, and I have since then repeatedly thought of drawing up a 

 much more elaborate account of this cultivation than the present. 

 Brief, however, as these hints are, I believe them amply sufficient, the 

 simplicity of the culture of the plant, and of the preparation of the 

 leaves, rendering more detailed instructions unnecessary : while the 

 mere circumstance of having called attention to the subject, pointing 

 out the advantages likely to accrue, will I hope prove an adequate sti- 

 mulus to those who have the opportunity of extending the cultivation 

 of this article of almost general consumption. India now importsperhaps 

 not less than between three and four hundred thousand pounds weight 

 of Senna annually, of which in 1S3I she re-exported to England upwards 

 of 200,0001bs., the whole of which she might, with ease, produce within 

 her own territories, and mostly from lands now lying waste, and with 

 the additional advantage, that the collection and preparation would 

 afford employment to all classes of cultivators, at those seasons when 

 most other field labours are at a stand. 



With respect to the indigenous Senna (Cassia Burmanni fVall.) I 

 fear it is not so well known as it ought to be among Europeans, since 

 it possesses very considerable medicinal properties, and is much used 

 by the natives ; who, to increase its activity, add a small portion of 

 castor oil to the infusion, much in the same way as we addEpsom salts. 

 It is a common and widely distributed plant in arid pastures and 

 wastes, but by no means a conspicuous one, from the circumstance of 

 its lying flat on the ground. In the hope of making it somewhat better 

 known, I shall endeavour to procure recent specimens, and prepare a 

 figure for your next number, which is the more desirable, as it may 

 generally be procured in almost any part of the country, and might prove 

 a useful substitute for the more approved lance-leaved species ; or 

 may perhaps be advantageously combined, as in Egypt, on the well 

 known principle, that two medicines, possessing similar properties, act 

 better in combination than either separately. Leaving this point, how- 

 ever, to be settled by those who have opportunities of subjecting both 

 kinds to the test of experiment, 



I remain, &c. 



Robert Wight. 



To B. Cole, Esq. Sec, &c. 



