840 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUKIST. [May i, 1884- 



living hedge of prickly bamboo has been planted in a part of the boundary specially-liable to 

 their incursions. Tlie plant-shed has been enlarged and fitted with staging, and the welTeleaued 

 ont and tlioronghly rejiaired. 



A heavy gale of wind on the night of June 11th blew down over twenty large trees, and 

 pid some temporary damage to cacao and rubber trees. 



Numerous ])lauts have been sent to this branch from P^radeniya as likely to find here a 

 more suitable climate. For example, Ncctandra Rodlcei (Greenheart), Galactodendron (Cow tree) 

 Dichopsis sp. (Gutta Taban Putih), Hevea Sprucecma (a new India rubber), ierardia diilc'is, 

 (Rambeli), Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut), many palms, &c. Such ])lants do extremely well in 

 this tlnirdughly tropical spot. Oa the other hand, the climate proved quite unsuitable for Senna 

 and Peruvian cotton. 



The very large distribution of Cacao pods and Liberian cofl'ee seedlings to natives is referred 

 to elsewhere. As projected last year, an avenue of about 200 shade trees {P. Saman) has been 

 planted along the road from the railway station. They have all dune well and some are nearly ten 

 feet high. 



The intelligent Muhandiram in charge continues to perform his duties in a very satisfactory 

 manner. Besides being a skilful cultivator, he is very oliliging and useful to visitors of all classes, 

 many of whom, as there is no rest-house near the garden, have of necessity to spend there several 

 hours between the trains. I have to report that the little house he occu]iies greatly needs painting, 

 white-washing, &c. ; he has lived in it since the establishment of the garden seven years ago, and 

 it has never had anything spent upon it by Government. 



4 . — A71U rddli apura Garden . 



This new branch of the Department is as yet in process of formation only, but good pro- 

 gress has been made. It is the successor of the small garden at Toluwila, formerly under the 

 Government Agent, the abandonment of which was rendered necessary by floods. 



I selected the present excellent site in March, in concert with the Acting (since confirmed) 

 Government Agent, Mr. Fisher. It is a piece of reserved Crown land lying close to the town 

 immediately to the south of the Putta]am road and the Mirisawetiya dagoba, and easily accessible. 

 In area it is a little over 16 acres, of which about 12 only will be opened as a garden. Paddy lots 

 bound it on two sides, and there is an abundant and constant sujiply of water, the sluice to the fields 

 passing down the centre whilst the longest boundary is formed by tlie channel connecting the tanks 

 Tissawcwa and Basawakulam ; there is also a small jiond (ancient pokuna?) in the garden. 



Most of the laud has now been cleared of forest growth (chiefly wira trees), the finer trees 

 being left, but a belt of two or three acres on the east side has been retained ; a good driving road 

 round the garden is nearly finished, a fence has been made, a house for the conductor erected, 

 nurseries laid out, and the general plan of the garden sketclied out on the ground. Such plants as 

 could be removed from the old ground at Toluwila have been brcjught into the new garden, and in 

 the planting season, November and December, five cartloads of jdants and cuttings suitable for or 

 worthy of a trial in the climate were sent from Perddeniya, a distance of 04 miles. 



This progress could not have been made in nine months had I not had the use of a force of 

 prisoners from the jail, some help from the Provincial vote, and especially the efficient and vigorous 

 oversight of the Government Agent and his Assistant, to whom my thanks are due. My vote for 

 the garden (lis. l,ni,)0) will do little more than jniy the wages of the conductor and four coolies, 

 who will find the ui)kee]) of the garden fully sutficient to occupy their time. 



The conductor, Sayaueris de Silva, deserves credit for the steady and jiersevering way in 

 which he has stuck to his work in spite of several attacks of fever, and has started the ])lanting 

 of the new ground. I hope and fully expect that this experimental garden will })lay an important 

 part in helping on the reviving prosperity of the North-Central Province, and will be the means 

 of introducing the culture of plants of utility and beauty — especially from Southern India — into the 

 northern parts of the Island. 



A small beginning has been made in experiments with Tiunevelly senna and Peruvian 

 cotton. 



Proposed Gardenat Badulla. — I am desirous of extending the operations of this Depart- 

 ment by the formation of a small branch in the Uva District, the most convenient situation being 

 probably in or near Badulla. Pesidents in that part of the Colony have frequently complained 

 of the inconvenience and loss attendant on having to send coolies to Perddeniya, a distance of 80 

 miles, across the hills for plants. I recommended this addition to Government at the end of 1880 



