It has no pretensions to be considered an ornamental garden, in so far as its walks and arrangements are concerned. Narrow footpaths winding about in all directions amongst the trees, and little terraced patches for the cultivation of the different plants, are all that is to be seen in the way of arrangement. To introduce the useful and ornamental plants of other countries to the northern provinces of India, and to gather together the productions of the Himalayas and send them out in all directions with a liberal hand, seem to be the principal objects for which this garden is maintained. And very noble objects these undoubtedly are, and well worthy of the enlightened and liberal Government that supports it. Our common garden-flowers seemed almost as abundant here as they are in our English nurseries. Pelargoniums, fuchsias, pinks, dahlias, violets, mimuluses, &c., were met with in great profusion, and at the time of my visit nearly all were in bloom. Many of our English fruit trees and bushes had also been imported, such as apples, pears, plums, raspberries, &c. A quantity of apple and pear trees had just been received from America in a novel manner. They had been sent out to Calcutta in ice by one of the vessels freighted with that article; about one-fourth of the original number had reached the Himalayas in good condition. Amongst Indian fruit-trees I observed a number of Cashmere kinds, which had been introduced here by Drs. Royle and Falconer. Dr. Jameson had also introduced apples, pears, plums, almonds, &c., from Cabul. All these things will one day find their way to Europe, and some of them may prove of great value. As may be expected this little spot is particularly rich in the vegetable productions of the Himalayas. Besides those I have already noticed, I might add A. Webbiana and Pinus excelsa. Less known than these was a fine horse-chestnut called Pavia indica, a noble poplar (Populus ciliata), a species of Buxus -the box-tree of the hills, Andromeda ovalifolia, and Ilex dipyrena. Two fine species of evergreen oaks were also observed, named Quercus dilatata and Q. semecarpifolia. Amongst herbaceous plants I noticed some pretty primroses, Lilium giganteum and Wallichianum, and Fritillaria polyphylla. Here also was the once famous Prangos plant in full bloom. But this establishment is of great value in another point of view. Connected with it are a number of native gardeners, who are out in the hills for months every autumn, collecting seeds of ornamental and useful trees and shrubs for distribution all over the world where such plants will grow. If we consider the thousands of the Deodar and other Himalayan pine-trees which are now to be found in every English nursery, we must perceive the vast amount of benefit which an establishment of this kind, small as it is, confers upon England. In these days, when our Indian empire has become so greatly extended that it embraces every variety of climate and soil, one regrets that a place of this kind should be so small. Perhaps the Mussooree garden could not be much extended, but other places might be found even more suitable to carry out the purposes for which it was designed. It may be very true that we have nearly all the productions of the Himalayas which are of value growing plentifully in our gardens at home, but the inhabitants of India cannot say as much with reference to the valuable productions with which our gardens abound. In my opinion, one of the great objects of having a Government garden in these hills should be to introduce from Europe trees of a useful kind for the benefit of the natives of this country. CHAPTER XXII. - Ordered to inspect the tea-plantations in India - Deyra Doon plantation-Mussooree and Landour-Flora of the mountains-Height and general character - Our mode of travelling - Hill-plants resemble those of China - Guddowli plantation - Chinese manufacturers located there I bid them farewell-The country improves in fertility - Tea-plantations near Almorah - Zemindaree plantations Leave Almorah for Bheem Tal - View of the Snowy range- Bheem Tal tea-plantations — General observations on tea culture in India Suggestions for its improvement - Other plants which ought to be introduced-Nainee Tal-Arrive at CalcuttaThe Victoria regia. SOON after my arrival at Saharunpore I received through the Lieutenant-Governor of the NorthWestern Provinces orders from the Governor-General of India to visit all the tea plantations in the districts of Gurhwal and Kumaon, and to draw up a report upon their condition and future prospects. In this tour of inspection I was accompanied by Dr. Jameson, who has the charge of all the Government tea plantations. The first plantations we visited were those in the Deyra Doon. The Deyra Doon, or Valley of Deyra, is situated in latitude 30° 18′ north, and in longitude 78° east. It is about 60 miles in length from east to west, and 16 miles broad at its widest part. It is bounded on the south by the Sewalick range of hills, and on the north by the Himalayas proper, which are here nearly 8000 feet above the level of the sea. On the west it is open to the river Jumna, and on the east to the Ganges, the distance between these rivers being about 60 miles. In the centre of this flat valley the Kaolagir tea plantation has been formed. Eight acres were under cultivation in 1847. There are now 300 acres planted, and about 90 more taken in and ready for many thousands of young plants lately raised from seeds in the plantation. The soil is composed of clay, sand, and vegetable matter, rather stiff and apt to get "baked" in dry weather, but free enough when it is moist or during the rains. It rests upon a gravelly subsoil, consisting of limestone, sandstone, clay-slate, and quartz rock, or of such rocks as enter into the composition of the surrounding mountain ranges. The surface is comparatively flat, although it falls in certain directions towards the ravines and rivers. The plants are arranged neatly in rows 5 feet apart, and each plant is about 4 feet from the next one. A long rank-growing species of grass, indigenous to the Doon, is most difficult to keep from overtopping the tea-plants, and is the cause of much extra labour. Besides the labour common to all tea-countries in China, such as weeding, and occasionally loosening the soil, there is here an extensive system of irrigation carried on. To facilitate this, the plants are planted in trenches, from four to six inches below the level of the ground, and the soil thus dug out is thrown between the rows to form the paths. Hence |