9i8 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [May i, 1883. 



The weather on the whole was very unfavourable for garden work, the greater part being 

 too wet for planting; and the damp sunless weather proved fatal to hundreds of succulent plants. 

 It appears that the year 1882 has been exceptional, both as regards rain and wind, but no record 

 has hitherto been kept here so far as I am aware. Such a record would be very interesting, as 

 the weather appears to be quite different a few miles away on either side. We often have heayj 

 rain here when a mile away there has not been a drop." 



3. — Henaratgopa Garden. 



This continues to fulfil admirably the purposes for which it was instituted. Indeed, as the 

 useful plants of tropical low-lying regions are being successively introduced, it is becoming more 

 and more valuable. Such purely equatorial species, as the gutta-perchas and the majority of the 

 india-rubbers, the Brazil nut, the cow tree, and many others, which make very slow progress 

 at Peradeuiya (some have even died off here), are very much more at home in the lower garden, 

 where they grow with vigour and rapidity. The higher night temperature seems to be the princi- 

 pal cause of this great difference. 



During the year the roads in the garden have been remade and new nurseries laid out. A 

 number of crowded trees have been rooted out and new nurseries for Burmah and African rubbers 

 made. Another rose bed has been formed. 



The garden having become a rather favourite spot for excursions from Colombo, a small but 

 substantial covered erection has been put up near the conductor's house for the accommodation of 

 visitors. I am glad to see from the visitors' book that so many persons have been to this 

 interesting and instructive garden (including the botanical class of the academy) during the year! 



The behaviour of the conductor remains uniformly excellent, and his management of the 

 garden such as to merit my continued warm approbation. 



The results of an experimental tapping of the Hecea and Castilloa rubbers will be found 

 at page 12. 



With the view of improving the approach to the gardens from the railway station, I have 

 suggested to the Government Agent the desirability of planting an avenue of shade trees along 

 the straight hot glaring road. As my proposal has been met very cordially, this work will be carried 

 out under the conductor's supervision during the next rainy weather. 



Anurddhapura. — The small experimental garden at Toluwila, close to the ancient capital 

 of Ceylon (referred to in last year's report) has been transferred to my Department, and the charges 

 for its upkeep appear on the votes for 1883. I have had much trouble in persuading any suitable 

 man from the Feradeniya staff to remain in this garden owing to the prevalence of fever, but have 

 at length obtained a capable and intelligent native who has l^ad many years training and experience 

 in Pdradeniya, who took charge in October. Unfortunately, the results of his work were in 

 December entirely destroyed by a flood. The unusually heavy rains of that month submerged 

 the garden to a depth of several feet, and all the young plants and seedlings recently put out 

 perished. This misfortune has shown that it will not be wise to retain the garden in its present 

 situation. This is just beneath the great bund of the Tissawewa tank, and in heavy rains the 

 water unable to get away regurgitates from the bund and floods the land. It is my intention to 

 select a new site in a better position nearer the town, and the Government Agent, who agrees 

 with me as to the necessity of the step, has already suggested a suitable locality. 



II. — Interchange of Plants and Seeds. 



The exchange between the gardens and similar public establishments in other countries has 

 been vigorously maintained, and as is seen by the appended lists, many valuable plants have been 

 added to the collections. At the same time, experience shows that it is not possible to obtain in this 

 way quite all the sorts of plants that the public hoi)e to see in the gardens. I should therefore be 

 glad if liberty were accorded me to purchase (out of the vote for contingencies) certain seeds and 

 plants which cannot otherwise be obtained. This power would be rarely exercised, but florists' 

 flowers, the better sorts of fruit trees, grass seeds, &c., can be acquired only (apart from gifts) 

 through the trade. 



During the year, wardian cases have been received from the Botanic Gardens at Kew (4), 

 Calcutta, Buiteuzorg, Hongkong and Brisbane; from the Agri-Horticultural Society of Madras; 

 from the Deputy Commissioner for the Audamans ; and from Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea. 



On our part, cases have been sent out to the Gardens at Kew (2), Calcutta (2), Ootacamund, 

 Singapore, Buitenzorg and Hongkong ; to the Agri-Horticultural Society of Madras ; to Eajah 

 Brooke, of Sarawak ; and to Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, and Mr. Roberts, of Melbourne. 



