Calcutta.—

Dr. King reports:—" Pará rubber, of which fourteen plants were alive in the garden at the date of last report, continues be as disappointing as ever. Most of these 14 plants are still alive, but they have not grown much, and it is quite clear to me that it is vain to hope that this species can ever be cultivated to profit in this part of India. Plants may be coaxed into growing in conservatories, but the species is by far too thoroughly tropical to withstand without protection the vicissitudes of the climate of Northern India. As I have before reported, I believe it is useless to try it anywhere in India except in the south of Burma or the Andamans, and perhaps in Malabar. I learn from Dr. Thwaites that in the Botanic Garden at Peradeniya, in Ceylon, there are plants of Hevea of about 30 feet high, and that these are of the same age as the plants here, the highest of which is barely 6 feet in height."