380 
CULTIVATION OF INDIGO IN VARIOUS PARTS OF INDIA. 
maun (la 
the crop was g^reater than in 1823, 30.000 
182S ditto ditto l82t, 33,000 
ditto was less than in 1S25, 53,0:i0 
l“27 ditto was greater than in 1826 , .07,000 
1828 ditto was less than in 1827, 53,000 
The greatest difFerence between any two 
years in this period is 57,000 maunds, and the 
average difFerence, 45,000 maunds. By this 
comparison it would appear, that the uncer- 
tainty of production is increasing faster than 
the increase of production ; for, if we take the 
average of the crops from 1819 to 1823 to be 
95,000 maunds, and the average difFerence of 
good and bad seasons to be 27,000 maunds, 
the average difFerence between good and bad 
seasons should be 33,000 maunds, thus : 
95,000: 27,000: : 1,22,000 : 33,000 
instead of 45,000, as already shown:— this 
increase may be considered to have arisen 
wholly from the lands occupied for the 
extended production of indigo. Whilst the 
cultivation was restricted to the lands most 
applicable for that purpose, the difFerence 
between good and bad seasons did not amount 
to much more than one-fourth of the average 
crop : when the increase of production took 
place, the difFerence between good and bad 
seasons, on the annual average increase, 
amounts to nearly one-half of the crop: the 
difFerence being 45,000 instead of 33,000, 
leaves an excess of 12,000 maunds against 
the average increase of the annual crop, 
which is 27,000 maunds, or nearly one-half.” 
Mr. Alexander is of opinion, from this 
view of our situation here, that we are not 
likely to extend the cultivation of indigo 
much beyond the demand. Since 1829, the 
average consumption is estimated at 95,000 
maunds : during the last four years the con- 
sumption has greatly increased, keeping up 
with the increase of the crops. Mr. Alexander 
is of opinion that no factory can be called 
a really good one, which does not yield a 
profit when its produce is selling at 63. per 
pound in London ; and all factories not pro- 
ducing within this limit, will depend upon 
high prices for their existence. When good 
indigo comes down to 7s. or 8s. per pound, 
the increase in deliveries takes off the accu- 
mulations of the annual surplus. Our author 
says that the very inferior indigos have dis- 
GENERAL 
CATALOGUE OF PLANTS COLLECT- 
ED A r BOMBAY. 
By John Graham, Esq. 
We believe this to be the first attempt at 
communicating any information with regard to 
appeared, and that the planters are generally 
turning their attention to the quality of 
their manufacture. He apprehends no 
injury to the trade from the great increase 
in the production of indigo in Madras, Java, 
Manilla, and South America ; this country, 
possessing the greatest advantages in the 
cheapness of manufacture and excellence of 
quality of its indigo. With respect to its 
Cultivation in Bengal, Mr. Ballard states that 
it is confined principally to low alluvial tracts 
without regard to soil ; probably nine-tenths 
of the land bearing the crop is more or less 
under water by the end of July. The crop is 
therefore very precarious from the low sites 
which it mostly occupies, and is liable to be 
destroyed by annual inundations. Where such 
accidents do not occur, the crop becomes as 
profitable as any other. This uncertainty 
and the ordinary grain engagements lead the 
ryot to consider the indigo as quite a secon- 
dary product. The culture by the regular 
manufacturers is found expensive, and only 
profitable when the dye is at its highest rate. 
InTirhoot the soil selected is high and light, 
being less exposed to the risk of rain or river 
inundations. The next situation preferred 
is where the soil is a mixture of light earth 
and clay, — a soil more retentive of moisture 
in a dry season than any other ; heavy clay 
soils are generally avoided. Great care is 
taken to guard against soils which abound in 
saltpetre : light soil, with a substratum of 
sand, from 6 to 12 inches below the surface, 
is also to be avoided. There is scarcely any 
real alluvial soil in the district, with the 
exception of those factories situated on the 
banks of the Ganges and the great Gunduck. 
Throughout Oude the soil is light and sandy, 
inferior in general, for the culture of indigo, 
to that of Bengal, and particularly to its 
strong, dark, clayey laud. 
(To he continued.) 
_SCIENCE. 
the botanical productions of this beautiful 
part of the western peninsula of Hiu'lostan. 
Tlie catalogue constitutes tliegleaningsof a few 
occasional minutes snatched by our excellent 
friend (with whom we have spent many a 
pleasant liour in botanizing amid the sylvan 
