the cow, in order that she may lick it, by which operation the noxious qualities which the child has derived from its birth are removed. The cow and calf are afterwards presented to the priest, who prays that every blessing may be poured down on the head of the donor, that he may long enjoy his health, and possess the power and will of bestowing alms on the needy.

The Nukshutturs, Cheetra, Bhurny, Poonurwussoo, Poosh, Asswiny, Rewuty, and Kritika, are reckoned rather inauspicious, and will entail misery on the infant that happens to be born while they are dominant, or on its parents or relations; but charitable acts will remove the evil.

The Yeogs Veetypaat and Vydritty. The Kalleany Bhudra, Sunkrant, and the Amwass, are considered unlucky to be born under: the gow prussawa or the ceremony of placing the child before a cow is performed for good luck.

It is to be remarked, that we frequently find a considerable discrepancy exists between the writers on the subject of judicial astrology.

(To be continued.)

II.-Illustrations of the Botany and other branches of the Natural History of the Himalayan Mountains and of the Flora of Cashmere. By John F. Royle, F. L. S. and G. S. M. R. A. S. &c.

The recent appearance of three large works on Indian Botany* and the anticipation of a fourth which may be soon expected, induce us thus early in our career to devote a few pages to an article on that subject.

We do this, not only from a desire to gratify public taste so strongly indicated by that event, but from a wish, on our own part, to aid, to the utmost of our power, the diffusion of a science, so worthy of our attention, and in that way assist in removing, the not altogether unmerited reflection cast upon us, that with all India

Roxburghs Flora Indica 3 Vols. 8vo.-This work was nearly 20 years in MSS. before publication. It is notwithstanding a valuable work of which unfortunately a few copies only were printed.

2d. Wallizi's Planto Asiat: Rarieores 3 Vols. Folio. with 300 coloured plates. The most splendid contribution to Botanical science that has appeared in the course of the present century.

3d. Royle's Illustrations which we are about to notice.

4th. Wight and Arnott's Prodromus Flora Peninsula India Orientalis. Advertised as nearly ready for publication.

under our sway, we know little of its natural history beyond what enterprising foreigners have taught us.

We have long considered Botany a pursuit, which would amply repay the trouble of mastering its difficulties, by the gratification it would afterwards afford; but it will do more in an unexplored country like this, where there is a wide field and few labourers, it will reward the diligent by adding celebrity to their names, by the important discoveries they are likely to make, both to mankind and to science. From motives such as these, we hope many, now that they have the means, will be induced to study it, but putting interest out of the question we would recommend " Botany for its own sake, since, as a mental exercise or study for raising curiosity, gratifying a taste for beauty of contrivance, and sharpening the powers of discrimination, nothing can exceed it" To this well merited panegyric we may add, that no branch of natural history has been so much cultivated, or had the talents of so many eminent men devoted to its extension and improvement. Nor is this to be wondered at, when we bear in mind that to the vegetable kingdom, man, even in his rudest state, is largely indebted for his food, clothing, shelter, and medicine: how much more in a high state of civilization, can only be estimated by those who are acquainted with the thousands of necessaries, conveniencies, and luxuries of life, we derive from plants.

The better to enable our readers to follow us in our after remarks, we shall devote the first part of this article, to a concise view of the objects of the science, and then proceed with our review.

Botany may be divided into two principal branches, economical, and systematical or practical Botany. To the first belong agricultural and medical botany; both taken in the widest sense of the terms to the second, the anatomy, physiology, classification, description, and geographical distribution of plants. The first treats of the cultivation of those plants from which products useful to man are procured. The second teaches; 1st, The structure or oganization of plants; 2d, The functions which the different organs perform, either in supporting life or in elaborating those principles which render them useful or otherwise to mankind; 3d, The rules by which they have been methodically arranged and distinguished from each other; and 4th, The laws which regulate their distribution over the surface of the globe.

From this enumeration of the objects of the two branches, it must be evident, that though the first is the most cultivated and most

important to mankind, yet, that it is far from being independent of the second, since considerable knowledge of vegetable physiology is required to enable the cultivator to turn it to the best account; in other words, it is necessary to combine both science and art, since it is well known, that the same plants differently cultivated often possess different properties, a fact which physiology alone enables us to explain.

To the medical botanist an intimate knowledge of systematic botany is indispensible, as it is certain, that plants agreeing in external form, and having a similar structure of seed,or in other words, plants belonging to the same Natural Order possess similar properties. This fact now well ascertained, proves that this hitherto, except by botanists, much despised and little understood part of botany, is in truth a most important branch of the science, since it often enables us at a glance to determine, whether we may safely use plants otherwise unknown to us, or whether we ought to reject them, on account of their belonging to orders having none, or many poisonous species; as well as assists in so directing our enquiries, as to lead to the discovery of properties that might otherwise have escaped observation.

Systematic Botany by teaching us to discover the name of an unknown plant, enables us at the same time to discover its uses and properties, so far as yet unknown, and to make known such as we ourselves have learned, in such a way as to ensure their not being lost again; and by teaching us to describe a plant correctly, enables us to make known to systematic authors, such new plants as we may ourselves discover. In doing so, we ought to add to the description, notes on their useful properties, and the mode of procuring them, native names written, if possible, in both Roman and native characters should accompany. These however are not to be implicitly relied upon, as a means of again procuring the plant, for it often happens, that a plant has different native names, and still oftener, that the same name is given to different plants. In this country a native name, written in Roman characters only, is generally useless for discovering a plant not otherwise known, as natives can seldom read it, and it is next to impossible to convey to one unacquainted with them, the sounds of one language, by the symbols of another. This is an almost insurmountable obstacle to their use, rarely adverted to by those, who strongly advocate the introduction of vernacular names into Botanical works, under the impression, that they may be useful to future travellers. Influenced by these considerations, we would suggest that the greatest care should be bestowed on the se

lection of Roman letters, employed to represent the native sounds, carefully marking those that are sounded long or short &c. and that the same name distinctly written in native characters should, if possible, always accompany. Specimens of the plants in flower and fruit, should also be preserved, as any botanist can with them verify the description, and determine their places in the system of plants.

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It appears from what has now been said, that systematic Botany is the key which opens to us the accumulated treasures of the science, and is equally necessary to those who would either add to, or take from its stores. This we trust will satisfy those who ask ; why we bestow so much time and study on naming and classifying plants and not rather study their properties and uses ;" that the one is labour in vain without the other, since without the name we can neither learn what our predecessors knew, nor tell our successors what we know.

To the agriculturist, a knowledge of the laws which govern the distribution of vegetables over the earth's surface, is of primary importance, if he would endeavour to extend and vary his productions, by the introduction of new plants, we thence learn, that particular orders and genera, as well as individual species, affect particular latitudes, or proportional elevation above the level of the sea; and if we would cultivate them in countries where they are not indigenous we must bear that in mind, and compensate as far as possible by artificial means, for the change to which we subject them. If we cultivate them for the sake of products they afford in their native country, other circumstances require our attention; for it is not enough that we can rear a plant; to make it perfect its products, we must give it a climate approximating in dryness or humidity as well as in heat or cold. The tea plant for example, has been cultivated to a considerable extent in the eastern Islands, but the tea wants the flavour of the Chinese plant; showing that the climate is not adapted though the shrub grows vigorously. Again, the mangosteen has been attempted to be cultivated at Madras, but unsuccessfully, perhaps on account of the dryness of the climate. We believe it would succeed at Courtallum, and Malabar where the climate is more moist, where several other plants of the same natural order, and even of the same genus grow, and where several plants common to the eastern Islands grow spontaneously, showing a similarity of climate, which is further proved, by the success with

The mangosteen mentioned by Ainsley as growing on the Malabar Coast is a different species, perhaps Garcinia Cowa Roxburgh.

which the Nutmeg has been cultivated: Coffee of good quality is also grown there, as well as in Mysore. We also some years ago, saw a very thriving specimen of Cocoa or Chocolate plant in Mr. Hughes', garden; might not that plant be introduced into India with as great a chance of success as the Coffee? we think it might, because our climate assimilates in many points with that of its native country, and produces besides many other plants of the same order particularly one the bastard cedar (Guazuma tomentosa) also a native of America.

These few examples will show the benefits to be derived from the study of systematic Botany, as well as from Botanical geography, and with them we shall close this very imperfect sketch of the objects of the science and proceed with our review.

Mr. Royle observes in his prospectus, that in no part of India, rich as it is in the productions of nature, is there greater variety, or forms more interesting, than in the Himalayan mountains. "Their western bases resting on the arid plains of India, abound in all the animal and vegetable forms which are characteristic of tropical countries, while their gradually elevated slope, which supports vegetation at the greatest heights known in the world, affords at intermediate elevations, all the varieties of temperature, adapted to the production of forms which are considered peculiar to different latitudes." These having as yet been only cursorily noticed by naturalists, it is his intention to give a connected, and illustrated view," of the progressive transitions from the productions which are characteristic of the plains of India, and which exist at the bases of the mountains, to those found at different elevations on their acclivities, where a gradual approach is made to the forms common in Europe, America and Japan" noticing as he goes along, the soil, or rock formation in which they exist, the atmospherical phenomena by which they are surrounded, and the animal forms with which they are associated; and as opportunities offer, directing attention to the useful and ornamental plants of the country, as well as pointing out those which Europe might receive from India, or India from other countries. To accomplish these various ends arrangement is necessary, and the one best suited for the purpose, being, from the facilities it affords of comparison with other countries, the Natural System, is that which will be adopted. Such are the leading objects of the work, and if they are executed in the spirit in which they are conceived, it will undoubtedly prove a model, for all future writers, who wish to present a general view of the Flora of a new country.