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Serves as a public park. Open free daily, 6 a.m. to 6 
Source of income: Governmental appropriations, and sale of ie 
of Para rubber plants, Budweed, and ornamental and fruit plants 
and seeds. Library: Office reference only. antations: Syste- 
matic, economic. Arboretum. Fruticetum. Special lectures are 
given to school children and living material is supplied to schools 
for study. 
Historical Note: “ The land for these Gardens was opened in 
1876 for the reception of the Para rubber plants sent, at the 
charge of the Indian Government, through the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew. The site was selected because it was thought that 
the warmer and moister climate of a low-country station would be 
more suitable for the growth of Hevea brasiliensis than at Pera- 
deniya. Trees of the original plantation are still to be seen, and 
No. 2 tree has a world wide reputation, as it yielded 392 lbs. of 
dry rubber in 4 years and 9 months. The seeds were obtained by 
Sir Henry Wickham from the forests of the Tapajoz Plateau in 
the valley of the Amazon.” 
HAKGALA 
Botanic GARDENS (See Peradeniya) 
Curator: J. J. Nock 
PERADENIYA 
Royat Botanic GARDENS 
Established: 1810, Transferred from Slave Island to Peradeniya 
in 1821. Area: 146 acres. 
Superintendents (Title abolished, 1857): 
1. W. Kerr (1810-1814) 
2. Alexander Moon (1817-1825) 
3. Andrew Walker (Acting) (1825-1827) 
4. James Macrae (1827-1830) 
5. G. Bird (Acting) (1830-1832) 
6. James George Watson (1832-1838) 
7. J. G. Lear (Acting) (1838-1840) 
8. H. T. Normansell (1840-1843) 
9. W. C. Ondaatje (Acting) (1843-1844) 
10. George Gardner (1844-1849) 
