May I, 1884.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 853 



liopes of tliem. He writes : — " Beds were specially made for the 3'onng seedlings, but though the 

 crowns look plump and healthy they have made little growth. The common garden rhubarb 

 does so well that I think these may succeed if only kept going till used to the seasons." 



Ckatnomile.— This has become thoroughly established at Hakgala and can be increased to 

 any extent. 



Breadfvu'd.—\ am not aware of the precise date of the introduction of this commonly 

 cultivated tree into Ceylon, but it appears to have been jirior to the British occui)ation and 

 possibly much before it. It is now said that the variety grown here is a " very inferior one," and 

 a communication on the subject has been addressed to Government by the Agricultural Association. 

 1 had previously written to the Colonial Secretary of Fiji, requesting him to endeavour to send 

 some of the kinds most highly esteemed there, and hoj)e he may succeed in doing so. The late 

 Dr. Seemann enumerates in his" Flora Vitiensis" thirteen kinds as known to him in cultivation in 

 the group : he considered the tree to be truly wild there, and one of the forms, whicli bears seed, to 

 be the probaMe source of all the rest : but the actual liome of the tree is more probably Amboyna 

 and adjacent islands. 



Pasture Grasses. — A good many European pasture grasses have been experimented with 

 at Plakgala, seed obtained for Kew being used. The following species promise to do well there: — 

 Lolium itaUcum (Italian rye grass), Dacti/lis tjlomerata (Cocksfoot), D. " unduiistachys" Poa 

 pratensls (Meadow grass), P. fertUls, Bromus (Ceratocldoa) uniolotdes, Anthoxanthmn odorattim 

 (Vernal grass). 



In consequence of the very favourable account given in the report of the Saidapet Farm 

 for InSI-82, I obtainedfrom the Superintendent seeds of /"aw/cwM Z?/'i3«'y?»'. These were sown in 

 October at P^radeniya, and the grass has already flowered freely. Though a small grass, it 

 appears aide to hold its own and may form a good grazing turf. It is native to Queensland, Trop. 

 Africa, and America. 



Fibres. — Recent improvements in machinery have again turned the attention of planters to 

 the prospects of success in the cultivation of plants affording fibre. It is native sjiecies that are 

 |)articularly attracting attention, and to the list given last year (report, ji. 15) may be added as 

 UKjre or less promising : — '' Gas-dul" {Dehregeasia lori(/l folia) , which has been strongly recommended 

 for cultivation in S. India under the name of " wild Kheea" ; Girardinia palmata (the "Nilgiri 

 nettle," which has no special Sinhalese name, but is called "Elephant Maousa" by planters; it 

 stings badly) ; and " Dul" ( Anodendron paniculatum), a large climbing plant of the low-country. 

 1 understand that very satisfactory results are being given in S. India with our " N(5yada" 

 (Sanscoiera zcf/lanlca) treated when quite fresh-cut by Death and Elwood's machine. 



Ga/n6oi/e. — It is worth a note that a consignment of the Ceylon product exported in the 

 natural tears has fetched £14. 6s. a cwt. in the home market. This is afl'orded only by Garclnla 

 Morella (the "gokatu" or "kana goraka" of the Sinhalese) ; of which the iv&Q( G. Hanbtirii), 

 giving the Siara gamboge of commerce, is probably a mere variety. 



The principal 7i'esiws ("dummala") of Ceylon, as to which several inquiries have been 

 addressed to me, are obtained from " Yiis.V (Vateria acuminata), a good clear white dammar resin ; 

 " Hora" ( Diplerocarpus zetjlaincus), " Dnw'' ( Doonazei/lan'ica). " Na," ( Mesua ferrea), " Kekuna" 

 (Canarium zeylanicum), a fine white resin ; and a resin, the origin of wliich is uncertain, called 

 " Bin-dummala" from being dug out of the ground, generally during the cultivation of paddy laud. 



Eucah/ptus trees. — The plantation at Hakgala is making good growth. All the 43 species 

 planted outin August, 1882, are very healthy. Mr. Nock gives the height and girth of the different 

 species, from which it appears that E. robu.^ta (l-i feet high, 8 inches girth) has grown most 

 TSipid'ly, E. mar{/i)iata (Jiirra\\), E. lo)>f/i/olia, B.nd E. Gunn'd being not much behind. E.alpina 

 is a pretty little shrubby kind, at present only 2 feet 8 inches high. 



V. — Herbarium and Library. 

 Herbarium.— The arrangement of the cabinets containing the collections of dried plants has 

 been conipletely altered and now affords increased accommodation and greater facility of consult- 

 ation. They are arranged in jirojecting blocks between the windows on either side of the long 

 building, and in each of the bays thus formed is placed a work-table. The building is divided into 

 two unequal parts by a screen ; in the inner portion is contained the Ceylon Herbarium in 



