Essay on the Productive Resources of India, by J. F. Royle, (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1840 Excerpt: ...flowered in the Botanic Garden. Dr. Falconer, who has since visited Cashmere, is of opinion that Saffron could be successfully culti vated in the Himalayas, at heights' varying from six thousand to six thousand five hundred feet above the sea, and that if it were once brought into the market, the demand for it would be almost unlimited. Assafoetida is a substance which, though used chiefly as a medicine in Europe, is of immense consumption in India. Both Hindoos and Musselmans use it as a seasoning to food, and it is brought down in very large quantities to the fair at Hurdwar. A species was found by Dr. Falconer on the most western part of the course of the Indus within the mountains. Plants and seeds having been introduced, he thinks it may be brought into cultivation in the Himalayas. In the price currents of Bombay, Calcutta, and Canton, an article is constantly seen under the name of Putchuk, as an import into the last, and an export from the two former places. Of the Putchuk, 6697s bazar maunds, of the value of 99,903 rupees, were exported from Calcutta in the year 1837-38; it would appear, therefore, that it is a product of some part of the Indian territory. The Author, in comparing specimens of Putchuk procured in Calcutta, with those of a substance which in the northern provinces was called Orris-root by some Europeans, and /root by the natives, found that they were identical. When in the northern provinces he had learnt that /coat was imported from Lahore. Subsequently he was informed by Mr. Becket, who was long en Koot. Costus of the Ancients discovered in Cash mere; introduced into Himaluyas. gaged in mercantile transactions at Allyghur, that what he bought in northern India by the name of koot, was sold in Calcutta as putchuk. On consulti...