equal dignity with them. In true exogens and endogens, the fertilizing principle is communicated to the young seeds through the medium of a stigma, which terminates a case or pericarp in which they are enclosed. But in some plants otherwise exogens, the fertilizing principle of the pollen is applied immediately to the seeds, without the intervention of any pericarpial apparatus, and they bear the same relation to other exogens as frogs and similar reptiles to other animals. These plants, therefore, are separated as a distinct class, under the name of gymnosperms. Like the other groups of the same grade, these are also found to possess peculiarities of a subordinate nature. For instance, they have in many cases more cotyledons than two, whence they have been called polycotyledons; their radicle usually adheres to the albumen in which the embryo lies, and that circumstance has given rise to the name synorhiza. The veins of their leaves, when they have any veins, are either simple or forked; in which respect they approach endogens on the one hand, and acrogens on the other. And finally, their vascular system is very imperfect compared with that of other exogens of an equal degree of development.

The other group, called rhizanthæ, is far less correctly known, but it seems to stand as it were between endogens and acrogens of the lowest grade; agreeing with the latter in the absence or very imperfect state of the vascular system, in a general resemblance to fungi, and in the apparent seeds being mere masses of sporules; but apparently, according with endogens in the ternary number of their floral envelopes, and in the presence of fully developed sexes.

Certainly there is no possibility of obtaining such important primary groups as these by any kind of artificial con

trivance.

The grand natural divisions of the vegetable kingdom are, therefore, perfectly obvious, and may be very clearly defined. With our present knowledge of vegetable structure no great difficulty is experienced in characterizing the orders or natural families, and all subordinate groups. The great desideratum has ever been to effect such an arrangement of the orders under the primary classes, that each family should be placed next to those which it most nearly resembles. This might easily be accomplished, if the idea, once so strongly insisted upon by poets and metaphysicians, of a chain of beings, a regular gradation, by a single series, from the most perfect and complicated to the most simple forms of existence, had any foundation in truth. On the contrary, nothing is more evident, than that almost every order, or other group, is allied not merely to one or two, but often to several others, which are sometimes widely separate from each other; and, indeed, these several points of resemblance or affinity, are occasionally of about equal importance. A truly natural lineal arrangement is therefore impracticable, since by it only one or two out of several points of agreement can be indicated. As this method is, however, the only one that can be followed in books, all that can be done is to arrange the orders in such a manner as to offer the least possible interruption to their natural affinities. The number of orders is so large that practical convenience seems to require their arrangement into groups subordinate to the primary classes; and when manifestly natural assemblages cannot be recognised, we are obliged to employ those which, being less strongly marked, and distinguished by a smaller number of characters, are apparently of a more artificial nature. The arrangement employed by the learned Jussieu, in his celebrated Genera Plantarum, although to a considerable extent artificial, has been almost universally adopted, until within the last few years.

In this method Dicotyledonous plants are primarily divided into three groups; the first including those with a polypetalous corolla; the second, those with a monopetalous corolla; and the third, those destitute of a corolla. These sections are subdivided (as also the monocotyledons) by means of

characters taken from the insertion of the stamens (or corolla), whether hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous.

We have already said that the divisions are into five primary classes, two of which, however, are much smaller than the others, and of subordinate importance, and may be considered as transition classes, viz., Gymnosperma, which connect exogens with the higher acrogens, and Rhizanthe, which form the transition from erdogens to acrogens of the lowest grade. The great class Exogena (Dicotyledones of Jussieu) is divided into three subclasses; viz.

1. Polypetale; those with the floral envelopes consisting of both calyx and corolla, the latter composed of distinct petals.

2. Monopetale, those with the petals combined in a monopetalous corolla.

3. Incomplete; those always destitute of a corolla, the calyx also often incomplete or absent.

The polypetalous orders are divided into seven, and the monopetalæ and incomplete each into five sections, or groups. As a specimen of this plan, we give the names of the groups of the first subclass, with their synoptical characters.

1. Albuminosa. Embryo very considerably shorter and smaller than the albumen.

2. Epiyynose. Ovary inferior, usually having an epigynous disk.

3. Parietose. Placentation parietal.

4. Calycosa. Calyx incompletely whorled; two of the sepals being exterior.

5. Syncarpose. None of the characters of the other groups, and with the carpels compactly united.

6. Gynobaseose. Carpels not exceeding five, diverging at the base, arranged in a single row around an elevated axis or gynobase. Stamens usually separate from the calyx.

7. Apocarpose. None of the characters of the other groups, but with the carpels distinct, or separable by their faces, or solitary.

Next, every group is divided into smaller groups, each of which includes one, two, or several orders. These minor groups are called alliances, and are distinguished by the termination ales. Thus, under the Albuminose group, we have

Alliance 1. Ranales, comprising the ranunculaceæ, papaveraceæ, (with its sub-order fumarieæ,) nymphæaceæ, and nelumbiaceæ ;

Alliance 2. Anonales, which comprehends the nutmeg tribe, the anonaceæ, magnoliaceæ, &c.;

Alliance 3. Umbellales, including the umbelliferous tribe, with the nearly allied araliaceæ ;;

Alliance 4. Grossales, consisting chiefly of the grossulaceæ or currant tribe; and lastly,

Alliance 5. Pittosporales, which strikes us as a singularly heterogeneous assemblage, bringing together into one group the Vitaceæ, Pittosporaceæ, Olacaceæ, Francoaceæ, and Sarraceniaceæ !

All the subclasses and groups, both of exogens and endogens, are subdivided in a similar manner; but we cannot here proceed further with our enumeration. It will be borne in mind, that the chief object of an arrangement of this kind is to facilitate the study of the natural orders, by dividing the extensive primary classes into sections of convenient size, and to dispose these groups, and the orders they comprise, as nearly in accordance with their respective affinities and relationships as a lineal arrangement will allow. It is impossible, in the present state of our knowledge, to say how far this method can and will ultimately be improved. Every attempt of the kind must necessarily be very imperfect, so long as the structure of only a limited portion of the whole vegetable kingdom has been attentively and completely examined. Notwithstanding the objections to which it is liable in many particulars, we are of opinion, that even in its present state it will be found to be attended with numerous

advantages, and that every step which may be taken in determining the limits of natural groups subordinate to the primary classes, must be a decided gain to the science. So rapid is the advance of our knowledge of the vegetable kingdom, and so numerous are the new types of structure that present themselves to the systematic botanist, that it is to be feared lest another chaos should be brought on by the masses of imperfectly grouped species with which the science will soon abound.

The names of natural orders, as first established, do not appear to have been framed in accordance with any uniform rule, as to derivation or mode of termination. They were sometimes intended to express some characteristic feature, (Ex. Leguminosa, Labiate, Crucifera, Umbelliferæ, Conifer@, &c.) but more commonly some genus was selected as the type of the family, which was designated either by the plural of the genus simply, (as Myrti, Lilia, Irides, Euphorbie,) or with a slight prolongation, (as Orchidea, Jasmineæ, &c.) or with the termination still further modified, (as in Cyperoidea, Aroidea, Borayineæ, or Ranunculacea, Rosacea, Cucurbitaceæ, &c.) The derivation of the name of an order from some prominent genus is now the universal practice.

The great and rapid increase in the number of genera is, perhaps, chiefly owing to the discovery of new plants; but it is also attributable in a great degree to the more accurate knowledge of those already known. In either case, it is the natural result of the progress of discovery; and instead of embarrassing the student, as is often supposed, does in reality render the study of the science much more clear and satisfactory. Notwithstanding the great increase of genera within the last few years, it may be safely said, that at no previous period could a really useful knowledge of the vegetable kingdom be acquired with so little labour. In hazarding this remark, it is of course taken for granted, that the student will avail himself of all the advantages of modern physiological botany, and of the natural system: for so rapid has been the discovery of new and strange forms of structure, for which the artificial arrangement of Linnæus makes no provision, that the student who takes that system as his guide has indeed a hopeless task before him.

SOME ACCOUNT OF A CAMELLIA HOUSE AND STOVE, AT THE RESIDENCE OF THE EDITOR.

In the construction of the house, as regards light, air, heat, and convenience, every attention has been given. The location is well drained, and pains taken that the house should be as free as possible from all dampness. The facilities for water, which are too often neglected, are very good. The consumption of fuel is very moderate for the size of the house, and the method of heating, which will be particularly described, most excellent. The angle of the roof is greater than is usually given, and, although more than it need be, on some accounts is much better for carrying off water, and prevents the continual dripping which occurs in houses with flatter roofs, especially when poorly glazed. In the arrangement of the interior, the health of the plants has been the first object in view.

The dimensions of the range are as follows:-whole length, eighty-two feet; width, measuring inside, sixteen feet; height of the back wall, eighteen feet; of the front one, six feet, including the sashes. Both ends of the range are glass. The stove, which is separated from the conservatory or camellia house by a glass partition, and through which visiters pass, the entrance from the garden being at that end of the range, occupies 28 feet; thus leaving the length of the former fifty-four feet. The entrance door is thirty-eight inches wide and six feet high; the main walk through the range runs from this to the other end, where a sliding door is made to open in the summer season, which is of the same

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width as the door, and is covered with handsome marble tiles; the door between the conservatory and stove slides instead of opening. In both compartments are stages for plants, which contain seven shelves each, of about eight inches in width. At each end of the stage in the conservatory are spaces covered with trellis work, which are intended for placing on large specimens of plants that cannot be set upon the stage; these are about eight feet in length, and of the same width of the stage. In the stove is a similar space, but much smaller.

In the stove is a pit for plunging in such plants as require bottom heat to make them flourish well, and also for many uses in stove propagation. This pit is twenty-two feet long and four and a half wide; the back wall is about two feet four inches high above the centre walk, and about five and a half feet above the front one. The walls are built of brick, and are covered with a stone coping. The passage ways at each end of the house, from the centre to the front walk, are about three feet wide, and are descended by three steps; those each side of the partition are descended by two on to a large flag-stone, level with the top of the flue, and one from that to the walk.

In the conservatory there is a front stage of the same length as the back one; at each end of this, also, corresponding with the back one, are spaces covered with latticework, for middling-sized plants to stand, to break the abrupt appearance of the ends of the stage. Over the hot-water pipes, which run along parallel with the front wall, and immediately adjoining the side of the front sill, is a box, about eight inches wide and six deep, for the purpose of laying in the shoots of grape vines during the winter season, when not in a growing state. This is an excellent plan where vines are introduced into a green-house, as it serves for a shelf, during the winter, for many small plants, and, as the shoots of the vines are not seen, the house has a very neat appearance. But we very much doubt the utility of introducing vines where a fine collection of plants are grown; both vines and plants are injured; the former producing small crops, and the latter becoming sickly from confined air and shade; both cannot be cultivated in a healthy state together. The practice of introducing vines into green-houses in this vicinity has become so general that we cannot refrain from making these remarks here, although a digression from our subject, and we sincerely hope, that those persons who are desirous of cultivating this delicious fruit, will erect houses for their growth exclusively, and not destroy the beauty and health of choice collection of plants for the purpose of raising a few clusters of grapes.

The back shed is eleven feet wide and ten feet long, and of sufficient height to allow for the convenience of potting plants, and other uses. The fire-hole is about four feet square and three and a half deep, which gives plenty of room for kindling fires. This shed communicates with the stove by a door. In the stove is a pump for filling the cistern and the boiler, the water being brought by a pipe from a cistern outside of the house, large enough to contain sixteen hundred gallons. A cess-pool, at the corner of the stove, drains off all water from every part of the range.

The furnace is three feet high and three deep, and about two and a half in width. The furnace door is twelve wide and thirteen high, and the ash-door twelve wide and seven high. The flue runs from the furnace across, underneath the walk to the pit, and, forming one end of that, is carried along, making one side of the walk and the front of the pit, to the other end of the conservatory, and again running across, underneath the walk, is carried into the chimney in the back wall. The flue is built twelve inches high inside, and eight inches in width, and is covered with twelve inch tiles; at the corner of the pit, and at the opposite corner of the conservatory, are openings to the flue, fitted with stone doors, for the purpose of cleansing it out when foul. The boiler is set in the furnace, and will contain sixteen gallons; the pipes are four inches in diameter, and run to the corner of the stove; from thence across the

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front to the reservoir at the corner of the conservatory. The reservoir is six feet long, fourteen inches high and thirteen wide; the pipes run through it, and are fitted with a stopcock, so that the heat can be raised before all the water is warmed in the reservoir. To be sure of a sufficient command of heat in the stove, a steam apparatus is combined with the hot-water system. A steam pipe, about an inch in diameter, is fitted into the boiler, and from thence runs round the bottom of the pit, heating a bed of stones, which warms the soil above, and the condensed water runs into the cess-pool. This is found very useful, in severe cold weather, in keeping up an equal temperature of the soil. Some further remarks on the construction in the steam apparatus will be made before closing this article.

The length of the lower roof-sashes is twelve feet; that of the upper ones, seven feet; and the height of the front ones two feet; the width of each, three feet two inches. They are all glazed with four rows of six-by-eight glass, with laps from a quarter to half an inch. The under side of the sash rails are rounded off instead of being bevelled, as is usually done; which has a lighter appearance. The work, generally, is made with a regard to as much light as possible.

Having thus given the dimensions as accurately as our minutes will allow, some remarks upon the management of the steam apparatus remain to be noticed. The object of the steam-pipe has been before stated; it cannot be used, however, at the same time that the hot-water circulates from the boiler. Toj obviate this, stop-cocks are fitted into the hotwater pipes about a foot from the boiler; more fire is then added to produce steam, which is carried off by the pipe, heating in its course the stones, &c., in the pit. The hotwater pipes just inside of the conservatory, where they enter from the stove, have, also, stop-cocks fitted in, so that the latter may be warmed to a greater degree than the former. The pipe runs from the boiler underneath the walk into the back of the pit, and continues round to the same end of the pit, and is carried out at the opposite corner into the cess-pool. The pit is built and fitted up in the following manner :-the bottom was first paved with bricks, inclining it towards the front, where a drain, formed by leaving out one row, carries off all water; the steam pipe is laid on this; above are nearly three feet of stones, and on them the soil to the depth of two and a half feet. Rotten bark or leaves may constitute part of the soil with which the pit is fitted up.

The back wall of the range is coped with stone, and the upper sashes slide underneath two or three inches; to prevent the rain from driving in, a lead lap is nailed on the whole length. The upper sashes, only every third one of which is moveable, are fitted with weights and pullies, and can be opened or closed with ease. In the interior of the range is an improvement upon green-houses in general; the front and ends of both back stages, and the back and ends of the front one, in the conservatory, being covered with lattice work, formed of laths nailed on in one direction, about half an inch apart; this prevents persons who are walking through the house from seeing directly under the stages, and has a very neat and clean appearance. The arrangements of the back shed are such as to give the greatest facility for the work that is to be done.

Some estimate of the consumption of fuel through the winter season, and a few other particulars, we intended to have added, but not having been able to procure the memoranda for the purpose, we leave them until another opportunity.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ORDER ROSACEÆ IN INDIA.

SEVERAL species of Potentilla are found on the Neelgherries, with a Cotoneaster Fragaria, and species of Rubus and Photinia. Of this last genus, species are also found in the mountains above Sylhet and Pundua, and extending further north,

with a species of Eriobotrya in Nepal; making these genera common to the Himalayas and to China. A Raphiolepas is also mentioned in India, but it does not appear to extend beyond China or Cochin-China. A species of Eriobotrya is said to be found in Persia.

The

In addition to these, in the northern as in the southern parts of the Himalayas, there are numerous species of Rosacea belonging to such genera as are found in Europe, Siberia, the Altai Mountains, China, Japan, and North America; and from Caucasus to the Hindoo Khoosh, on the ramifications of which, and in the valleys they include, some, as the Pomacea and Amygdaleæ, appear to have their favourite resort. genera of which species are found in the Himalayas are, Amygdalus, Persica, Armeniaca, Prunus, Cerasus, Spiræa, Neillia, Geum, Siversia, Rubus, Dalibarda, Fragaria, Potentilla, Sibbaldia, Agrimonia, Sanguisorba, Rosa, Crataegus, Cotoneaster, Cydonia; and of Pyrus, species of the sections Pyrophorum, Malus, and Sorbus. Of these, Neillia is alone peculiar to these mountains. Sieversia is interesting, as found on the Alps, in Kamtschatka, in Melville Island, and in the Himalayas, on such lofty mountains as Choor, Kedark. anta, and Gossainthan; and Dalibarda, in these mountains, in North America, and the Straits of Magalhaens. Though the Rosacea are chiefly confined to the northern hemisphere, yet the southern is not without them, as a Geum is found in the last-mentioned straits; a Fragaria and Rubus in the Andes and Peru; a Crataegus and Potentilla in Chili; and, though not to the south of the line, a Geum, Rubus, and Amygdalus, in Mexico; and a Cerasus in the West Indies; appearing to indicate that, where any similarity of climate exists, representatives of genera and families may be found, of which the greater numbers exist in very distant regions.

With respect to species which, independent of those yielding the well-known fruits, are common to these mountains, and other parts of the world, Pyrus baccata may be mentioned, which, common in Siberia, was procured by Dr. Wallich from Kemaon. and found by Mr. Royle on Kedarkanta. Of the spiræas, one is near, if not identical with, S. callosa of Thunb.; S. chamædrifolia Linn., and S. Kamtschatica Pall., allied to S. Ulmaria, found in Siberia, are also so in these mountains. S. triternata approaches S. Auruncus; and S. Lindleyana is like S. sorbifolia. Agrimonia Nepalensis resembles A. Eupatorium. The potentins are thirty-one in number; of these, twenty-one are. in Dr. Wallich's, and twentythree in Mr. Royle's collection: of the latter, six are new, and three are Siberian species. Many are highly ornamental, as may be seen by those already introduced, as well as by those figured in Mr. Royle's work, which would succeed equally well in England. P. cathaclines, multifida, and bifurca, are the three Siberian species found in Kunawur. Sibbaldia procumbens is common to Europe, Siberia, America, and the Himalayas.

Nothing can be more ornamental than the double white rose of Northern India and the Deyra Doon, R. Lyellii, kooza of the natives; nor than R. Branonis, allied to R. moschata, Linn., common in the valleys, or the banks of streams within the mountains, ascending to the tops of lofty trees, especially alders, and hanging down in elegant racemes. On more lofty and drier situations, as the passes of Kunawur, R. Webbiana, allied to the Scotch rose, is common. R. macrophylla is the most common species on the southern face of the mountains; but on Choor, Urrukta, and such situations, R. serricea, Lindl., is remarkable in always having four (as P. Tormentilla among the potentillas) instead of five, the usual number of petals. In the plains, though so extensively cultivated, no species of rose appears to be indigenous. R. damascena (goolab and sud-burg of the natives, ward of the Arabs) is that most highly esteemed, and cultivated in Northern India for making rose-water and the attar of roses. The latter is, however, only extensively distilled at Ghazipore, probably from this species, as it is in Persia; though it is difficult to ascertain whether the same species be cultivated for these purposes

in Cashmere. Some of the species of Rubus, as in Europe, ripen their fruit early in the season, and others towards autumn. R. fruticosus is found in Cashmere. R. rotundifolius (zurd-anchoo of the Hill people) affords a grateful fruit in April and May; but R. lasiocarpus (kul-anchoo) not until the rains. R. concolor comes the nearest to the raspberry, and is not found except on lofty mountains, as Dhunoultee, Choor, and Kedarkanta. In addition to these, a species of strawberry, Fragaria nubicola, Wall., very closely allied to F. collina, affords a grateful fruit in May, on such places as Phagoo, Mhasoo, Bhoke, &c.

With the exception of the Amygdaleæ, which secrete hydrocyanic acid, none of the Rosacea are possessed of deleterious properties; but many are remarkable for producing the most delicious fruits, both in Europe and Asia. Of most of these, the native country is not well ascertained; but in Europe we point to the s. E., and in India to the N. w., as their native country. Thus, in India, Caubul and Cashmere: and in Europe, Pontus and Armenia, are considered as the native countries of the same fruits, which the ancients generally named from the places whence they were procured. Thus we have Cerasus and Persica, Armeniaca, and Cydonia mala. In India, however, the languages being more analogous, they adopt the names of the countries more to the northward. But, as none of these fruits have been found wild in the plains of these Asiatic countries, we must look to the mountains which run along their whole extent, as their probable native sites, especially as we shall there find most of the fruits alluded to, if not wild, yet in a high state of perfection, with new species of the genera to which they belong.

Thus the almond, peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, and cherry, with the apple, pear, and quince, are all found, either in a wild or cultivated state, on the ramifications of Taurus and Caucasus, Hindoo Khoosh and the Himalayas, or on the valleys included within them. Most of them are enumerated by Forster and Moorcroft, as being abundant in Cashmere, whence they have been introduced into the Mussooree nursery. Mr. Elphinstone and Lieut. Burnes informs us they abound in Peshawur and Caubul; and by the latter, the peach, apricot, cherry, plum, pear, apple, and quince are represented as abundant at Bokhara, and other places on the north of the Hindoo Khoosh. In Kunawur, on the north of the Himalaya, we have the apricot, peach, plum, and apple.

The almond, which, though flowering, does not ripen its fruit in N. India, and of which both the sweet and bitter kinds are known and imported into the northern parts from Ghoorbund, and into the southern parts of India by the Persian Gulf, is so extensively cultivated in the south of Europe, in Syria, and Barbary, that it is probable its native country may be further north than others of the tribe, and therefore the north of Africa, as generally supposed; though it may also be found in the mountains of Asia.

The peach was introduced into Europe from Persia, a country in which the fruit is very fine, and where both the free and elingstone varieties are known, and called kulloo and kardee; the general name for peach being, Persian, aroo, and Arabic, khookh. They ripen well, and are of a fine flavour in Peshawur; also, in the north of India, with the well-flavoured flat peach from China. With care it succeeds also in the elevated land of Mysore; it is found wild in different parts of the Himalayas; as about Mussooree, at elevations of five thousand and six thousand feet. In the district of Bissehur there is a distinct kind, called bhemee by the natives (Persica saligna, Nob.), which, though small, is juicy and very sweet. The nectarine is found in gardens in Northern India, where it is called shufft-aloo, and moondla (smooth) aroo, though it does not perfectly ripen its fruit, nor is it known from whence it was introduced, though probably from Caubul.

The apricot is very abundant round almost every village in the Himalayas, rendering it difficult to ascertain whether it be ever found wild, as the trees remain the only vestiges of deserted villages. It has been supposed to be a native of the

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Oases of Egypt, in consequence of its name (burkook) being probably the original of the old term apricote and Præcocia; but as that is its name in the Arabic language, which prevails, like the apricot, over a great extent of the Oriental region, the same name is likely to be everywhere applied to it. At Caubul it is said to be preserved in fourteen different ways, with and without the stones, or the kernel left, or an almond substituted. (Burnes.) It is generally brought in this state into Northern India, under the name khoobanee; the Arabic name is mishmish: in Bokhara, where they are particularly fine, they are called bakur-khanee. In the Himalayas, the fruit is called zurd-aloo, chooloo, and chinaroo. In Kunawur the fruit is dried on the tops of their houses, and, when pounded, mixed with their meal. It is chiefly cultivated on account of the beautiful oil which is expressed from the kernels. These may also be found in the bazaars, under the name of bedamhohee, or hill almonds. The oil has a slight smell of hydrocyanic acid, and must resemble that from almonds, especially the bitter kind, or that obtained from Prunus brigantiaca.

Specimens of the cherry, or aloo-baloo, which were obtained from Cashmere, appeared to Dr. Lindley not to differ from the common species, which is therefore probably met with at Caubul, perhaps also at Bokhara. The fruit of Cerasus, Puddum, common in the Himalayas, is not edible, but is employed for making well-flavoured cherry brandy, though not distilled like the kirschenwasser; the bark (pudmak) is used in medicine, as is that of a species of cherry in the United States and Mexico. Cerasus undulata and capricida (the last so called from the leaves being poisonous to goats), and C. cornuta, remarkable for its pod-like monstrosity, are handsome and showy trees, growing on lofty mountains, and worthy of introduction into England.

The plum is known in India in a dried state, under the name of aloo-bokhara, though chiefly cultivated about Ghuzni. It was seen by Lieut. Burnes both at Koondooz and Bokhara, whence it may originally have been introduced into the kingdom of Caubul. Specimens of the plants from Cashmere appear to Dr. Lindley to be a new species, Prunus Bokhariensis, Nob. To this kind, kokamalis is applied as the Greek name, in Persian works on Materia Medica. From Irki, near Sabathoo, a small yellow thin-skinned and very juicy sweet plum was introduced into the Saharunpore garden, and which Mr. Royle considers to be a new species (P. Alocha), it is very like variety of the common plum. It is this, probably, which is called green gage by travellers. Mr. Moorcroft also mentions a plum in Ludak, Cerasus tomentosa, Wall. Cat. N., 715. Prunus triflora, Roxb., is a plum now common in gardens in India, which Dr. Roxburgh states was originally introduced from China. The peach, apricot, cherry, and plum all exude gum in Northern India.

Of the Pomaceæ, the quince plants, introduced from Cashmere, do not differ from those already in India, Cydonia vulgaris, Pers. The seeds (bihee dana) being mucilaginous, and used in medicine, are imported from Caubul and Cashmere into Northern, and by the Persian Gulf into Southern. India.

Of pears, that of Samarcund is most noted: they are plentiful at Caubul, and excellent at Peshawur; and are brought into India by the northern merchants from Cashmere and Boodurwar. In the gardens of India, the only kind known is one introduced from China, Pyrus sinica, or sand-pear, which more nearly resembles the baking pear than any other known. P. Pashia, Ham., P. variolosa, Wall., or wild-pear tree of the hills, attains a great size; but the fruit is not edible until it becomes somewhat decayed. P. lanata and crenata are other species of this genus, which are found at higher elevations. The first affords an edible fruit called paltoo.

Apples alone of the tribe succeed well in the southern parts of India, as they are stated to be excellent at Bangalore and in Tirhoot; and, though small, of a good quality in most