Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 1.djvu/68

42 an equatorial sun, being seen in all their beauty alongside of plants which would naturally languish if not braced by the cold of almost polar winters.

A Government in forming an establishment for the naturalization of plants, will only do so with the most expanded and philosophical views ; and as climate is the great regulator in the distribution of vegetable forms, U is obvious that as this is dependent chiefly upon latitude and elevation, such institutions placed at the extreme and central points of an extended territory, particularly if there should be any mountains in their vicinity, would insure the most extensive success, and be enabled to distribute to every part of the country the beneficial results of their experiments. The territories of the Indian empire, extending from 8° to 31° of northern latitude, and including within their bounds the most stupen- dous mountains of the world, afford a varied and magnificent field for the naturalization of the valued productions of every region of the globe.

The utility of such institutions, however, depends not only upon their intrinsic merits, but also upon the inhahitants of a country being sufficiently enlightened to profit by their advantages. In India, the European residents are in general too unsettled to take much interest in that which is intended for permanent advantage, while the natives themselves are too well satisfied with the course followed by their fore- fathers to think of adopting any practice which has not the sanction of their experience. On such accounts, therefore, the benefits spread by such institutions may be less rapid, but they will not be less certain. For the enlightened policy which now sanctions the diffusion of Euro- pean knowledge among the natives of India cannot fail to produce a class, who will not only desire their existence, but contribute even to their support ; and in proportion as they are able to appreciate their tendency, so will they endeavour to benefit by their progress.

The most southern parts of the Indian peninsula afford a favourable site for naturalizing all the tropical productions which grow within 15° north and south of the line; while the Nflgheris, between 11° and 12° of latitude, with an elevation of from 8 to 9000 feet, afford every variety of climate for the products of more northern climates. Somewhere in their vicinity, I have no doubt, the Cinchona or Peruvian bark might be successfully cultivated. The situation of Calcutta, nearly on the tropic of Cancer, affords an admirable site for a great proportion of tropical plants, while its northern situation enables it to support many of the products of the temperate