194 jRepori of A gri- Horticultural Society. [No. 34, 



they are thriving so luxuriantly that some of them have attained the 

 height of 18 feet. 



The Sissoo, which was introduced some 4 or 5 years back, has now be- 

 come quite common throughout the country, so much so indeed that in 

 the Salem districts above the ghauts, it may now be occasionally met with 

 on the road side, having commenced to take its place in those beautiful 

 avenues, the unremitting care of which, as well as of the roads, has al- 

 ways done such credit to the authorities in that district. 



It remains but to remark on the additional attraction of visitors to the 

 Society's garden since the Right Honorable the Governor has kindly per- 

 mitted the attendance of the band on Friday evenings, and on the kind- 

 ness of those gentlemen and ladies who have contributed to defray the 

 travelling expenses of the musicians from the Fort. 



The garden is at all times open for all classes that may wish to visit it, 

 with the single provision that they will be good enough to refrain from 

 gathering any of its produce. 



The Secretary, at the same time, laid before the Meeting specimens of a 

 vegetable green received by him with the following letter from Monsieur 

 Froment, of Pondicherry. 

 Monsieur, 



" Apres bien des recherches constantes et beaucoup de perseverance 

 je crois avoir trouve le moyen de fabriquer le vert vegetal avec les feuilles 

 d'une plante que 1' on trouve dans 1' Inde ; sa manipulation, facile, plus 

 facile, que celle de la feuille d' indigo pent me permettre d'enformer des 

 pains en moins d' une heure, a 1' aide de moyen peu couteux, et a. tres 

 peu des frais. Si Messieurs les membres de la Societe dont vous etes le 

 secretaire pouvoient penser que cette decouverte merite quelqu' encou- 

 ragement, je serais heureux de pouvoir etre autorise, a leur soumettre mes 

 produits, et sur leur examen prealable du morceau que je vous envoie, 

 J'attendrais la determination qui aura prise, ou pour m' abstenir de toutes 

 nouvelles demarches, ou pour proposer moyennant une recompense pour 

 la decouverte, le secret que je dois considerer comme ma propriete. 



J'ai 1' honneur de vous addresser par le banghy un morceau des pro- 

 duits que j'obtiens pour etre soumis a I'examen de la Societe a la quelle 

 vous appartenez. 



Major F. A. Eeid, c. b. J'ai I'honneur, &c. &c. 



Secretary Agri- Horticultural Society. Ale. Froment. 



Pondicherry, ■» 

 im Nov. 1848. J 



Major Eeid observed that he had submitted the specimen to Professor 

 Key, who stated his opinion that this " vert vegetal" was really a vegeta- 

 ble substance, that he could detect none of the sources of mineral colours 

 in it. Moreover, it burns away, leaving a light w^hitish ash ; so that it 

 would appear impo,"3sible that the coloring matter of it can be mineraL 



