1848.] 



A gri- Horticultural Society. 



193 



knd- winds were less felt by our exotics, and less hardy plants, than in 

 any other previous season. We were enabled, moreover, to propagate by 

 cuttings in sand at a much earlier season than hitherto. 



Kindly sent by During the year we have received Orchids of various 



^ Captlhi^Neiii descriptions from Coimbatore,! the Nagary Jungles, Ea- 



3 Mr. Rodrigues. manmully Hiils,2 and a few from the Shervaroy Hills.^ 

 by?ur^l?mi^o!ie<j- With very few exceptions these have all thriven well, 

 and their preservation is mainly attributable to the 

 shelter and moistened atmosphere of the conservatory ; as although, on 

 several previous occasions, attempts have been made in this particular 

 line of floriculture, a total failure has invariably been the result 



In the distribution of fruit and other trees and shrubs, the last 6 months 

 only records a list of 1,800 which have left the garden, and we have been 

 able to propagate by seeds, layers, ghooty grafts, cuttings, &c., many 

 thousands of young plants, now in a thriving state, for next season's sup- 

 ply. Among others we have at least 2,000 of young plants of the Ameri- 

 can sumach (Caesalpinia, Coraria or Dividivi.) It is much to be regretted 

 that greater efforts are not made to produce this drug for exportation con- 

 sidering its invaluable properties as a tannin. In Dr. Wallich's report 

 on it in 1S45, he says "the American sumach deserves to be extensively 

 cultivated in this country. It seems to thrive remarkably well, requiring 

 very little, if any care, except in its youngest state and a proportionally 

 small expenditure of money. The tree seems to be contented with a very 

 ordinary sort of soil, and in all probability, when once reared from seeds 

 ripened in the country, it will be as productive as in its own native cli- 

 mate ; or at least sufficiently productive to make the cultivation of the 

 tree an object of importance." 



Now, there is no doubt of its productiveness, and the fact of its grov^'ing 

 so luxuriantly in the Society's garden is a decided proof of its not requir- 

 ing good soil; for nothing can be worse, naturally, than that of the gar- 

 den, which (except in rainy weather, when in spots not drained it be- 

 comes a quagmire) is one indumted mass of clay and sand. 



The garden suffered greatly in 1846 from most destructive storms, and 

 fully 200 fruit trees perished, among others some very valuable mangoes ; 

 many of these have been replaced by young grafts, and stocks, to the ex- 

 tent of upwards of 700, will be ready for grafting next year. 



The demand for Mauritius Sugar Cane has almost ceased, abundance 

 being now grown almost in every part of the Peninsula. There is still 

 however, a small stock on hand, and which v^ill, for the present, be kept up. 



Some valuable timber trees have been introduced into the garden, 

 such as those yielding the Chittagong wood, the Andaman red wood, and 

 Mahogany. Of this last (Swietenia Mahogani) most valuable timber tree 

 it is very gratifying to be able to report, that out of those raised in the 

 garden from seed received from Calcutta in 1836, none have died, and 



«rOL. XV. NO. xxxir. 



