I2y 



Botanic Garden, Peradenia, Ceylon. 



We can point to none of our Colonial Gardens where the importance 

 of having a scientific and well-educated head of those gardens is more 

 clearly shown than in the cases of Melbourne (Victoria), and Peradenia 

 (Ceylon). We shall have occasion to speak immediately of the safe 

 return of Dr. Miiller, of the former Garden, from the perilous but most 

 successful journey, from west to east, overland, across North Austra- 

 lia : — our present object is with Peradenia. The able Superintendent 

 there, Mr. Thwaites, has recently published his c Report on the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens of Peradenia, from September 1855 to August 

 1856, inclusive.' Scientific and Economic Botany are here so happily 

 combined that we are glad to give greater publicity to this Report by 

 the following extracts. The concluding list of Indigenous Genera of 

 Plants, and amount of species yet discovered, will be of special interest 

 to the scientific botanist. 



I.— GENERAL STATE OF THE GARDEN AND PREMISES. 



The various buildings of the Establishment are in excellent condi- 

 tion, with the exception of the house occupied by the plant-collector 

 and nurseryman, which is in a very dilapidated state. The civil engi- 

 neer has however, by direction of Government, sent in an estimate for 

 its being rebuilt. The same officer has now under repair the water- 

 course supplying these grounds, which had become broken away in 

 several places, so that nearly all the water escaped before flowing into 



these Gardens. 



The new road, mentioned in my last Report as being in course of 

 formation, is not yet completed, owing to there having been much sick- 

 ness amongst the Coolies, and from other parts of the Garden requiring 

 all the labour at my disposal. As soon as the settled dry weather sets 

 in, I hope to get it finished without much further delay or difficulty. 

 The rest of the drives and walks are in very good order. 



II.-HORT1CULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 



What was mentioned in my last year's Report, with reference to 

 Vanilla, West Indian Ginger, the new Pine-apples, and other plants, 

 may be repeated in this, with an account of still further progress. 

 The Vanillas, taking into consideration the small number of plants, 



s 



VOL. IX. 



