OF A BOTAINTICAL DEPARTMENT. $5 



though the paint may get rubbed off, the name can still be 

 made out. These labels at Peradeniya are only put out to 

 plants with well-ascertained names, so that the presence of a 

 metal label is in general a guarantee that the plant is correctly 

 named. 



After the space for the name follow spaces for the Natural 

 Order, the Distribution, the Garden (there are several gardens 

 in Ceylon), and the exact position in the garden (in case of 

 the loss of the label). Then follows space for the Source and 

 History, e.g. — 



Received from Messrs. Sander & Co., March, 1894. 

 Planted out June, 1895. 



On the two centre pages are spaces for notes on the germina- 

 tion, the growth, the leaf -fall, flowering, fruiting, &c. 



On the fourth page is room for miscellaneous notes , e.g., on 

 attacks of disease, adaptability to climate and soil, trial in 

 other districts, distribution of seeds (i.e., by officers of the 

 Department), reports on the product, timber yield, and other 

 points. 



Every member of the staff of the department is supposed to 

 cany a notebook with detachable leaves, in which he can note 

 down, giving at the top of the page the number of the plant, 

 anything that he may notice about it that is of general 

 interest. These notes are subsequently detached, and put 

 inside the sheets to which they refer, and the office clerks at 

 intervals go over them, and copy them on to the sheets or attach 

 them to the sheets. Every note must be signed by its author, to 

 enable workers at later dates to know what value is to be attach- 

 ed to it. 



So much for the registration of information. The next 

 question is the application of this system to the actual plants 

 in the garden. Every plant has a number, and this number 

 once used is never used again, even though the plant to which 

 it is attached should die or be otherwise disposed of. Every 

 new plant has a fresh number. The numbers are embossed on 

 little tickets of zinc about two inches square, so that they 



