JUME I, 1887.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



S19 



Silver Medal, H Fraser; Omnainon, 25 lb., J F Drieberg; 

 Nutmegs, 12 lb. Silver Medal, Mrs. J. L. Dewar, 

 Koseneath ; Cloves 5 lb. Silver Medal, L. B. Yati- 

 wara, K. M ; Pepper 3 lb, Silver Medal, L. B. Yati- 

 wara It. M ; Cuca, Silver Medal, no exhibit ; To- 

 bacco best selection of marketable leaf under same 

 rules as Tea samples, Gold Medal, J. K. Ingle- 

 ton, RaJAwella ; Cigars, Best 100, Silver Medal, J 

 K. Ingleton, Rajawalla ; Best collection of Medicinal 

 Plants Kapok, Annatto Dye, Croton Seed, Kola Nut, 

 Sapanwood, itc. &c.. Silver Medal, W.F. GomeszKandy. 



Class X. Special Prize. — Ceylon Chocolate, Extra, 

 Silver Medal, L. d'Espagnac. 



This special Medal was awarded, tke Judges being 

 of opinion that the Exhibit was worthy of special 

 notice. 



XI. Class. — Concentric Tea Roller, extra Silver 

 Medal. 



Class XII : "Wild Animals, extra, Silver, W. R. 

 Waller. 



♦ 



DR. TEIMEN'S REPORT ON THE ROYAL 

 BOTANIC AND ECONOMIC GARDENS. 

 The most important document in our present issue 

 is the Annual Report of Dr. Trimen, Director of our 

 Royal Botanic and Economic Gardens and of his 

 trusty practical lieutenant Mr. Nock of the Hakgalla 

 Garden. Dr. Trimen's Reports are always models of 

 excellence, of scientific accuracy combined with prac- 

 tical and popular instruction. He writes with admir. 

 able precision, and he does not (like his pre- 

 decessor) allow his love of science pre- 

 dominate to the exclusion of adequate interest 

 in the everyday work and requirements of the 

 planter and native agriculturist. In the latter 

 department as well as in the management of the 

 old and new Gardens, Dr. Trimen is faithfully 

 seconded by his Assistants, Mr. Nock (who acted 

 as Director part of last year, and who has simply 

 revolutionised Hakgalla and all for the better), 

 by Mr. Clark and by that fine specimen of an 

 intelligent, unobtrusive Sinhalese gentleman, Mr. 

 Ferdinandus who will one of these days well 

 deserve to be made a "Maha Mudaliyar." It 

 is particularly encouraging to learn of the progress 

 and good prospects before the new Experimental 

 and Economic Gardens started at Anuradhapura 

 and BaduUa, and that although the Railway De- 

 partment did their best to " boycott " the Henerat- 

 goda branch Garden, the persevering Sinhalese 

 Manager has done his best to keep up the 

 status of his charge. Under new train arrange- 

 ments we have no doubt the encouragement of 

 visitors will once more be afforded to the Henerat- 

 goda staff, while Colombo residents and their 

 guests will be able to revive the pleasure, picnic 

 aad other trips to Heneratgoda have so often 

 afforded. It is particularly unfortunate that Dr. 

 Trimen's Report did not see the light a Httle 

 earlier, in order that the press and the public might 

 have energetically backed up his enlightened, public- 

 spirited suggestion that a station for the chief 

 Gardens (and for the general convenience of the 

 neighbourhood as well) should be opened at 

 the Deltotte Crossing. We feel sure that the 

 Hon. the Acting General Manager would do 

 what he could to meet this suggestion had 

 it come before him during the recent revision of train 

 services. But perhaps it is not too late now ; 

 for, very clearly such a station would be an addi- 

 tional source of profit to the Government, while 

 one calculated greatly to benefit the poeple who 

 would be enabled so readily to visit the Royal Botanic 

 Garden near by, of which it may be more forcibly 



said than of most applications of the line,— that 

 it is 



A thing of beauty and 

 a joy for ever. 



As regards Experimental, Economic Gardens, we 

 trust the Government will enable Dr. Trimen to 

 open two or three more branches : — Ratnapura, for 

 instance, the capital of the far-reaching and im- 

 portant Sabaragamuwa district, deserves to have 

 a Garden of its own ; so with Galle, or perhaps 

 better, Matara for the Southern Province ; nor 

 should the East and North be forgotten. We should 

 like very much too, to see a closer alliance promoted 

 by Government between the Agricultural branch of 

 the Educational Department and the Botanic- 

 Economic Department. No two officers in the Cey- 

 lon Service have a more single eye to the good 

 of the island and its people in performing their 

 duties than Mr. Green and Dr. Trimen, the re- 

 spective Directors, and we have no doubt that 

 they would be exceedingly ready to co-operate in 

 promoting agricultural knowledge and improve- 

 ments in every way possible. One way might 

 be by taking advantage of the Gardens to train 

 some of Mr. Green's Agricultural students in prac- 

 tical Horticulture. Mr. Nock would no doubt, do full 

 justice to a class of such lads and the healthy bracing 

 climate of Hakgala, ought to put new life into Sin- 

 halese and Tamil youths. 



We have so far dealt with matters rather outside 

 the scope of Dr. Trimen's Report ; but we 

 must call attention to its substance (see pages 

 420-422) and especially to the remarks on our 

 staple products — Coffee (markedly encourging), Tea 

 (with a suitable warning). Cacao (thoroughly 

 satisfactory) and Cinchona, &c. In reference to 

 bark Dr. Trimen judges — and his opinion ought 

 to carry much weight in the local as well as 

 home bark markets, — that the quantity to go for- 

 ward from Ceylon cannot be kept up to recent 

 exports, but must soon fall off", the reserves being 

 largely encroached upon. What is said about Coffee 

 ought certainly to encourage every man with 

 living coffee trees to do his best to conserve, 

 cultivate and strengthen tnem. We have no doubt 

 this is being done op all sides. When R62-o0 to 

 R65 per cwt. for high-grown coffee is the current 

 rate, it requires no urging on outsiders to get 

 our planters to do their level best for coffee. In- 

 deed there is the risk of their going a little too 

 far in new born-zeal. Meantime we commend Dr. 

 Trimen's wise and suggestive words to all interested 

 in the prosperity of Ceylon, 



DELI PLANTING. 



(Translated for the Straits Times.) 

 The Java Bode '^alls attention to the contest 

 between planters and brokers in Deli regarding 

 coolie prices, now in full swing. To planters just 

 embarking in business, who find now that, under 

 these circumstances, labour costs twice as much as 

 formerly, this is a matter of the highest importance. 

 This unfortunate result is due to want of unani- 

 mity among the planters. Owing to some of thnra 

 falling away, they could not present a united front 

 to the broker's ring. Those who stood out against 

 the brokers to the last, are now casting about for 

 means to remedy the evil. This can only be done 

 by combined action against the Penang and 

 Singapore brokers, who have become emboldened 

 by their triumph. The planters who will not bosv 

 the knee to them, will have themselves to see to 

 the importing of coolies direct from China and 

 the Straits Settlements. By striking into this 

 course they would save a large sum of money 

 which, now, the brokers appropriate as advances 

 and charges. 



