194 



THE PLAXT •WORLD. 



Figure 38. Cacao trees at Ceylon Kxj)eriiiH'nt Station. 



munitj as tlie cocoaniit industry is the second largest in the 

 island. 



AM til tlu' advent of the new rubber industry, jiart of the 

 rubber experiments, which formerly were conducted principally 

 at Henaratgoda, have now been transferred to the experiment 

 garden and several plots have been planted with various rubber- 

 producing trees. 



A number of fibre plants are being cultivated for exjieri- 

 mental purposes, and on the side of the neighboring hill, some 

 700 feet higher than the rest of the groiuids, plots of Citronclla 

 grass {Andropogon) are planted. From this grass the Citron- 

 ella oil of commerce is obtained, and the suitability of this grass 

 as an intermediate crop between rubber is at present much dis- 

 cussed. 



In the office building, rooms are equipped for laboratory 

 purposes and considerable research work is being carried on 

 under the direction of Dr. Willis. The plan adopted for this 

 experiment station is somewhat diiferent from that of other ex- 

 periment stations in the British Empire, in so far as the various 



