of the Aeilgherries. 



73 



other cause. The genus Pinus does not appear to be found far to the 

 south of the Himalayan mountains, while the Agathis and Araucaria 

 of the South Sea islands, do not come so far to the westward as Austra- 

 lia, their place being there supplied by the Casuarina. How far the 

 dammar pine, Agathis lor anthi folia, may prevail among the Indian 

 islands is uncertain ; those so called throughout the Straits of Malacca 

 are various lofty Dipterocarpecs. It is not clear, even, whether the 

 Casuarina extends to the Straits : it may be seen cultivated there, and 

 occurs in abundance along the northern shores of Sumatra, and the 

 coast of Kedah, but there is reason to believe it has been introduced 

 there, as well as at Madras* 



It is not probable that the Neilgherries will ever produce, in abun- 

 dance and perfection, the fruits of temperate countries, the climate 

 and seasons being entirely at variance with the habits of deciduous 

 trees. The only fruit likely to succeed is the orange, but the kinds 

 already cultivated on the plain, are the worst to make choice of, a$ 

 they have been long accustomed to a high temperature, and would not 

 readily grow on being transferred to the Hills. The Portugal, Sr.. 

 Michael and Malta oranges, would, doubtless, come to perfection, and 

 might be introduced even from seed, for the orange does not appear to 

 degenerate so much, when increased in this way, as some other 

 fruits* 



Any further information regarding the geographical relation of the 

 Hill plants, or their affinity in species or in habit, to those of other 

 countries, would be interesting. Permanent residents there might 

 favour us, occasionally, with an account of the productions, and, now 

 that Ootacamund bids fair to be a permanent establishment, arboricul- 

 ture might be introduced to more advantage than almost any other 

 improvement. *-{- 



* The names of species introduced into this paper will be found in the Prodromu? 

 Floras Peninsula, by Dr. Wight, where the greater part of the Neilgherry plants are 

 included. 



1 I have been reading, in the 5th Number of the Jouraal, the Review of Royle's Illustra - 

 tions of the Himalayan Flora. || It is very interesting, and I wish I had seen it before. I 

 see the Reviewer places pines first on the list, in his recommendation of trees for the 

 Neilgherries. I am very glad to have such authority for this suggestion. It is odd that 

 Government has not directed its attention at all to the planting of trees on the hills. 

 Those of the plain of course do not grow, and those already there are thought nothing of, 

 and are never planted in any situation. I see the Reviewer of the illustrations notices 

 the similarity of plants growing at Courtallum to those of the Eastern islands, which so 

 far accords with my idea.— Letter of the Author io the Editor, 



|) From the able pen of Dr. Wight.— Editor. 



