1

is of much consequence to introduce the best mode in a country where the people are much influenced by cus

tom.

The attention you have paid to my request in the promise of a reel, induces me to hope that this country, having the thermometer always between seventy and an hundred degrees, may rival the greatest establishments in the culture of silk; in Bengal, I believe the heat is sometimes. greater, and in China much lefs. I am, c.

Fort St. George, Jan. 19. 1792.

From Nicol Mein, esq. to Dr James Anderson.
DEAR SIR,

MR ANDREWS and I have this instant returned from a trip:
to Allitory, a village about four miles distant from this,
where there is a garden belonging to the nabob, in which
we have found eight or ten bread fruit trees, two of which
are very stately, and have fruit upon them, which is about
the size of my clenched fist, and externally has the appear-
ance of a young jack,

The fruit grows from near the top of the branch, and comes out of a sheath.

The branch, on being broken, exudes a viscid milky juice.

The leaf resembles a good deal a fig leaf; but is much longer and more sinuated.

By this tappall, I send you two of the leaves enclosed. in a fheet of paper..

I have sent for a Mootchy, to make a drawing of a branch from the tree with the fruit upon it. From its appearance I imagine it may be propagated by cuttings, in the same manner, and as easily as the fig.

Mr Andrews says he was informed that the trees were brought from the Travancore country five or six of the trees have been much mutilated, and their branches cut away.

It exactly corresponds, in appearance, with the description and figure in Cook's voyage, where he found it at Otaheite or king George III. island. I have brought with me some young shoots, which I have ordered to be planted in my garden. The leaves I have sent you, are not above

half the length that some on the tree are; as the latter could not be so easily packed for the tappall-however, they will be fully sufficient for you to ascertain that it is the tree. I am, ¿c.

Tritchinopoly, Jan 20. 1792.

DEAR SIR,

From the same to the same.

I HAD the pleasure of sending you by the tappall, yesterday, two leaves of the bread fruit tree, of which I also gave you some account in my letter.

I now send you a drawing of a branch from the tree; and fhall, in a day or two, send you another drawing with the fruit upon it ; which I would have done to day, but did not choose to take off a branch with the fruit, without having obtained permifsion of the nabob's son Hufsein ul Mulk.

Mr Trotter, surgeon, acquaints me there are a great number of these trees that produce fruit, in the Coimbatore country, and at Coimbatore itself. We have now a prodigious encrease of silk worms at Warriore, that are in a very healthy state, and produce a strong yellow silk, since the cefsation of the rains. I am, 1°c.

Tritchinopoly Jan. 21. 1792.

From Dr J. Anderson to Sir Joseph Banks, bart. DEAR SIR,

BELIEVING that it may be of useful consequence to the public, I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that the bread fruit tree has been found in several of the southern parts of the peninsula, as you will see by the two letters I have just received from Mr Mein, head surgeon at Tritchinopo ly, of which I inclose copies, with the drawing which he transmitted me along with them.

Since the imprefsion of my last publication, which was made a few days ago, and of which I have sent you copies, both in the Phoenix and Deptford, I have received accounts of the succefs of the silk worms at Palamcotta and Masulipatam, as well as of the recovery of those that had been diseased by the late rains at Tritchinopoly. So that a breed of this insect is already established in an extent of six hun

dred miles upon the coast, but it will rest with the company to render it productive.

The incursions of the enemy's horse, have prevented me from exploring the country, and therefore I hope you have received the white lac which I sent by captain Cunningham.

you

As have no doubt heard of the succefs of our arms in Maifsore, I must acquaint you, that in our new conquest of Bangalore, the mercury in the thermometer is at 57 in the morning, and 71, or 72 at noon, at this season. I am, &'c.

Fort St. George,

Jan. 26. 1792.

From Dr Anderson to Nicol Mein, esq.
DEAR SIR,

YOUR letter, with the drawing of the bread fruit tree, did not arrive time enough for the packet, but I immediately sent a copy of both your letters, with the drawing which. you sent inclosed, to Sir Joseph Banks, time enough to reach captain Gerrard before he got on board, thinking it of consequence to be known in England.

The slips you have taken will not grow unless they are fhoots from the root, and that you have removed the root along with them; for neither the bread fruit, nor our common jack, which are both of the same genus, viz. artocarpus, can be propagated by this means, nor by the Chinese method, of potting, as it is called in England.

The jack, indeed, is readily propagated by seeds; but I do not understand that ever the artocarpus incisa, or bread fruit, has been raised in this way.

The only method of procuring a multiplication of the trees, is to lay the roots bare, by removing the earth round an old tree, and cutting through one or two roots, or as many as may be cut without injury to the trunk, and raising the upper extremity of the cut root above ground, where it should remain till it sends out a stem two or three feet in height; for if the root is dug up at an earlier period, the young stem is so succulent and tender, it is very apt to decay.

I have been so particular that you may communicate with the gentlemen in the Coimbatore country, and procure as many young trees as pofsible.

The reverend Mr John, and some philosophical gentlemen at Tranquebar, are the first Europeans who have cultivated this tree on the coast; and by their means, Mr Roxburgh, I believe, was supplied with some plants which he sent to England, which were said to have come originally from Ceylon; but as Mr Andrews has traced it from Travancore, where Mr Alexander Anderson found it under the name of the Maldive jack, it is probably a native of the Indian, as well as Pacific Ocean; although the uses to which it may be applied in the economy of human life, might still have remained unknown, but for these southern voyages.

on,

It

Notwithstanding what I have said about its propagatiwhen the fruit is ripe, I could wish you to examine it, and see if there is any thing like kernels or seeds, that you may likewise try if it can be raised from seeds. thrives best on the same kind of soil as the jack, which is the red volcanic earth near the foot of the hills, and a higher level than to admit standing water in the monsoon. Fort St George, I am, L'c.

Jan. 29. 1792.

From Robert Andrews esq. to Dr James Anderson
DEAR SIR,

MR MEIN has before written you on our notion of having discovered the bread fruit tree; he has sent you a leaf thereof, and this day sends you a drawing of a branch of the tree, with a representation of the fruit.

I now forward to you in a small box, a bud, which appears to shoot out like Indian corn, and you will observe young fruit inclosed therein. I remain,

the

Tritcbinopoly, Jan. 23. 1792.

c.

From Dr James Anderson to Robert Andrews, esq.

→ DEAR SIR,

I AM just favoured with your letter, and the bud of the bread fruit tree, with the fruit, which appears singular, as nature has been more careful of this, than of most

1

other trees, in defending every leaf, with two spathee, or fheaths, in the manner that the flowers of some trees, the palms particularly, are defended, or like the Indian corn you mention.

Mr Mein's letters, and the first drawing, were just time enough to go this morning in the Deptford, to Sir Joseph Banks; the second drawing of the fruit must wait some future opportunity.

I rely on your care, as well as his, to multiply the plants of this very valuable tree, (of which, we have only three at Madras,) for which purpose, I have written him directions by this tappal, which he will fhew you. I am, &c. Fort St. George. Jan 27. 1792. To be continued occasionally.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE obliging communication by Varietas is received, and shall be inserted with the first convenience. The ironical pieee be mentions, if executed with delicacy, will be highly acceptable. Sportive good humour is always sure to please.

The Editor returns best thanks to J. H. for bis obliging communication, which he will endeavour to avail himself of as soon as conveniency will perwiit. Will be glad to hear from this correspondent when convenient.

The reflections by A. are just, and well founded; but the Editor wishes to touch on that subject as seldom as pofsible at present, and hopes his obliging correspondent will accept of this apology for deferring it till a more convenient season. The very humourous letter of Merlinspike is received, and shall be inserted with the first opportunity.

The obliging communication by Juvenis is come to hand, and fhall be inserted when an engraving can be made. It may be proper to defer it a little, till we see what changes are produced by a little time. It will be obliging, if, with that view, Juvenis will be so kind as communicate what farther observations occur, with his first convenience.

The fort criticisms by C. S. fhall not be neglected.

The favour of Elvina is received. Did the Editor think himself qualified for the task fhe afsigns him, he fhould with pleasure comply with her request. To oblige ber, be will endeavour to find some other person to assist him in this respect.

Other notices deferred.

ERRATA.

*The following errors remained uncorrected in a few copies of the
last half sheet of the Number which immediately precedes this. Those,
therefore, who have got these copies, will please correct them with a
pen, as the sense especially by the first error, is materially affected.
Page 141, line 14, for eight read eighty

148, line 5. for I read In an early number.
ib. line 9 from the bottom, for nearly read early.