A seventh, eighth and ninth letter to Sir Joseph Banks ... on the subject of cochineal inscects, discovered at Madras / [James Anderson].

  • Anderson, James, 1738-1809
Date:
1787
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A seventh, eighth and ninth letter to Sir Joseph Banks ... on the subject of cochineal inscects, discovered at Madras / [James Anderson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To Sir JOSEPH BANKS Baronet Prefident of the Royal Society. Dear Sir, I Here with fend a Copy of Six Letters I did myfelf the honor to addrefs you, on the difcovery and cu-lture of Cochineal infedts here, together with a duplicate of the original drawing, which Baron' Reichel having had more leilure to execute, has, if polfible, rendered more perfectly dif- criptivc. I like wife enclofe two drawings of the Naga Calli or Caclus Opuntia I am attempting to cultivate, feeing I have not yet been able to find the Caclus Cocbinilifer; the drawings are taken from branches of the plant. I muft likewife obferve the natural difcription the Tamul name of this plant conveys; Naga being the proper name of the Coluber Naga, to the neck ot which, when irritated, this Opuntia bears a near refemblance, and Calli the general appellation of any fucculent plant, fo they have their Cbaddera Calli, Telia Calli, Runna Calli &tc I am with efteem, Fort St. George Dear Sir, May 29th 1787. Your very obedient Servant, JAMES ANDERSON. To Sir JOSEPH BANKS Baronet Preiident of the Royal Society. Dear Sir, AN opportunity offering of a difpatch for Europe by the way of Bengal, I enclofe a compleat Copy of the communication I have made here to all Perfons I judged likely to promote the culture of Cochineal in this country, and although thofe who have gardens found many of their Guava trees covered with Coccus infects, which the perufal of thefe letters had led them to obferve, yet can- dour obliges me to acquaint you, not a veftige of them is now dilcernable even under ground. The devaluation made by the Ants, and boifterous South Eafterly winds, are the moll oftenfible caules of their deftrudlion; and it is likewife probable the parching land-wind and heat of the feafon has diminiihed die fucculency of the plants, fo much as to deprive the infects of nourilhnient.