19 G THE PLA^T WOEI.D. 



For a uumbei" of years experiments on rubber tapping and 

 preparation had been carried on in these gardens, and the entire 

 rubber industry of Ceylon, such as it stands at the present day, 

 is a direct result of the work at Henaratgoda. Valuable obser- 

 vations have been made, new methods of cultivation have been 

 developed, and the industry promises to become of considerable 

 importance to the islands. It can be said that the Henaratgoda 

 experiments, and those of ]Mr. Ixidley in Singapore have in- 

 creased our knowledge of the rubber producing plants, especially 

 in regard to Hevea, more than the experimental work of any 

 otlier institutions in the East. It must also be taken into consid- 

 eration that no one either at Henaratgoda or Singa])()ro has been 

 able to devote more than a fraction of his time to rubber. 



Besides rubber many other economic plants are cultivated 

 at Henaratgoda, but the place is of special interest on account 

 of its old rubber trees, from which all the seeds for the Ceylon 

 plantations have been obtained. 



A small laboratory is provided for in the gardens and as a 

 center of botanical work in the low country of Ceylon, Henarat- 

 goda has special advantages. It is close to the railroad and in 

 the neighborhood manv botanicallv interesting localities are 

 within easy reach. 



This garden, as well as all the other botanic gardens of 

 Cevlon, are under the direction of Dr. J. C. Willis. 



During my last visit to Henaratgoda I specially watched 

 along the railroad some Talipot jjalms (Corypha umhraciiU- 

 fera). The Talipot is one of the most beautiful palms, with a 

 tall mast-like trunk, sometimes reaching a height of over 100 

 feet. The great semi-circular, fan-like leaves are often as much 

 as 15 feet in radius, giving a surface of about 350 square feet. 

 The natives claim that the Talipot can be used for one hundred 

 and one purposes, the principal ones being as a rain coat and a 

 sun shade. Its use in place of paper has already been men- 

 tioned. For this purpose the leaves are cut into strips and after- 

 wards boiled and dried. On these strips of ''ola'' or paper the 



