july — sept. 1857.] Ooiacamund Government Garden. 297 



cleared Graphite, which I have prepared for shipment, at the rate 

 of 1 Rupee per 100 lbs., but as I have above noticed I have little 

 doubt that with ease it may be put down at Trevandrum which is 

 within 1| mile of the sea at § Rupee per 100 lbs., without includ- 

 ing any duty that the Travancore Government may hereafter con- 

 sider it advisable to impose. 



" From the smaller fragments of the Graphite I have by pounding 

 it and washing the powder in water endeavoured to separate the 

 clays, and I believe I have succeeded to a considerable extent, and 

 I shall also prepare for dispatch 1 or 2 cwts. of this powder. 



" I beg to forward a few coarsely made pencils prepared from 

 the Graphite by a common peon, which would seem to prove the 

 good quality of the material. I have prepared boxes to hold about 

 200 lbs. each, and the Government may perhaps approve of its being 

 dispatched by sea from Cochin to England, and may approve of in- 

 structions being sent to the Collector of Malabar or Master Attend- 

 ant at Cochin, to make arrangements for its shipment. 



Government Horticidtural Garden, Ootacamund. 



For some years, I have read the Reports of this Government 

 Institution with much pleasure, although I had not seen Mr. 

 Mclvor or his Garden ; but this year, my forest duties necessitat- 

 ing my proceeding to the Neilgherry Hills, I delayed forwarding 

 the remarks called for, until I had an opportunity of ascertaining 

 by inspection, and noting in some detail, " The present condition, 

 resources and prospects of the Institution." 



Ten years have elapsed since the Marquis of Tweeddale origi- 

 nated the scheme of this Garden, and the Court of Directors 

 selected (on the recommendation I believe of Dr. Royle and Sir 

 Wm. Hooker) the present Superintendent, who is eminently qua- 

 lified by early training at the Royal Gardens, Kew, for carrying 

 out the objects of the Institution. 



The earlier stages of the Garden's existence have passed, and 

 I need not perhaps allude to the great difficulties to be overcome 



