‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1882-83.’ [‎131v] (271/498)

[1882-83.
Chap. IV.
200 BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
Victoria Gardens.
Other gardens.
Horticulture.
Gardens in Bombay.
Several alterations were made in the Victoria Gardens in Bombay, the principal of which
were the erection of a new aviary, which is a source of much attraction, although there are
no rare birds contained in it, and the removal of the deer park to a higher and more shady
snot. The lion in the garden died, and his body was presented to the museum. The show of
annuals in the cold season was good, and a number of new shrubs and foliage plants has been
introduced. Very little was done to the Northbrook Garden, except rebuilding an old wall,
and the Falkland Boad Garden was maintained at a small expense. Both this and the Sir
Co wash Jehangir Garden are unfinished, and urgently require improvements. The Elphin-
stone Circle Garden has been well kept up, and is a favourite resort for childien and natives.
The o-arden in the Bazar Gate Street has been handed ever to the Municipality, and it is
intended to improve it. The cost of maintaining the Victoria Gardens was Rs. 24,000, and the
expense on the other gardens was Rs. <_>,000.
Botanical Gardens—Ganesh Khind.
The work of the botanical gardens appears to have been commenced m the Govern
ment House Garden at Dapori, and there are recorded experiments in the preparation of
aloe and yucca fibre by Hr. Owen in 1838. The preparation of aloe fibre is now an estab
lished industry : but yucca fibre would probably prove too expensive tor general adoption, as
the plant is of slow growth. In 1836-37 Dr. Gibson was giving much attention to nursery
o-ardens at Hewra, Nirguri and Sewnere, and introduced the _ potato from the Neilgher-
ries and Surat The experiment was successful, as the established culture of the present
day proves and the anticipation made at the time that potatoes would be exported in consi
derable quantities from the Sewnere country to Bombay has been very fully confirmed. In
1839 the greater part of the work of the botanical garden was removed to Hewra, where
superior varieties of cotton were introduced, and the manufacture of sugar carried on exten
sively. The quality of sugar produced was reported equal to the best Mauritius, and appren
tices from the sugar factory An East India Company trading post. were in great demand for other districts. The work was ultimately
made over to a joint-stock company, which appears to have died out for a time, but is soon
likely to be revived with superior appliances.
In 1841 lucerne from Khelat was introduced, and has proved a wonderful success, as
this variety is a more vigorous plant with a larger seed than the lucerne of Europe. It is
now cultivated regularly over many acres, and by often-repeated cutting and manuring gives
the highest yield per acre of any forage crop grown in this country, as much as 50 tons per
acre of green forage yearly being common near Poona.
The cultivation of foreign medicinal plants was early experimented upon, and the first
to oive successful results was Hyoscyamus niger (henbane). In 1841 the Medical Board
applied for a supply which has been maintained to this date. Taraxacum densleonis (dandy-
lion) soon followed, and the cultivation is maintained in yearly increasing quantity. Senna
was also extensively cultivated; but as it is now found that it can be procured more cheaply
from Tinnevelly, its cultivation has been abandoned. To the cultivation of the mulberry for
silk much attention was devoted, and in the hands of an expert (Signor Mutti) the silk pro
duced was reported superior to any Bengal silk; but while giving results sufficient to lead to
further trial, as a commercial speculation the work had ultimately to be abandoned.
In working the soil the improved plough of Europe and America has been much
employed; but the black soil of the Deccan has proved particularly difficult to manage with
these implements, because when damp it is very adhesive, and clings to the mould board,
and when dry it turns in lumps, on which the mould board does not act as effectually as it
does on the sod-covered soils of Europe.
The introduction of superior varieties of tobacco has been steadily attempted; but the
effect is not conspicuous, as a suitable soil and climate have proved of the first importance in
the cultivation of the particular varieties of that plant.
The introduction of foreign trees useful for timber, fruit and other valuable properties
has occupied much attention, A few of the kinds found to thrive when treated as garden
trees are:— Andersoniarohituka, Araucaria excelsa; A. Gunninghamii ; A. Goohii; Bambusa
undetermined foreign species; Blighia sapida; Gcesalpinia cororaria; Geratonia siliqua; Citharo-
xylon subserratum; Golvillea racemosa; Grecentia cujete; Gupressus horizontalis,a,nd many other
species of Gupressinece ; Dalbergia melanoxylon ; Eucalyptus rostrata and many other species
of this genus, but the well-known Eucalyptus globulus has proved unsuited to the climate,
and lives a few years only; Ficus mysorense ; Ficus carica —12 foreign varieties; Grevi ea
robusta; Guatteria longifolia; Hcematoxylon campeachianum; Melaleuca genistifolia; Olea cus-
pidata; Olea sativa, the olive tree; Oreodoxa regia; Palmacce —many species; Parhia b'ty an
dulosa; Pithecolobium saman; Pterospermum, acerifolium ; Q.uercus suber, the cork tree; vu
babylonica ; Sapium sebiferum ; Echinus mulli ; Thuja orientalis.
Of useful and ornamental shrubs the species that have been established in cultivation
would form a very long list. _ ^
The manufacture of medicinal oils was long carried on successfully. By the aid o_
hydraulic presses 33 per cent, cold-drawn castor oil was extracted from the whole seed, ai
when filtered through cloth was highly approved for medicine.
The oil from the earth-nut, Arachis hyhogcea (booi moogj, was also largely extracted, ^
seeds gave 30 per cent, of a very limpid clear oil recommended in medicine and as asala