Chap. V.] BOTANIC GARDENS. 209 



its silicioiis seeds, the powerful jungle-rope {Bauhinia 

 scandens), and the extraorduiary chmber^ whose strong 

 stays, resembhng in form and dimensions the chain- 

 cable of a man of war, lash together the tall trees of the 

 forest. 



The nm^series, the spice ground, the orchards and 

 experimental garden, are all in high vigour ; and since 

 the formation of this admu-able institution, about thuty^ 

 years ago, the benefits which it has conferred on the 

 colony have more than reahsed the anticipations of its 

 founders. European and other exotic plants have been 

 largely introduced ; the valuable products of the eastern 

 Ai'chipelago, cloves, nutmegs, vanilla, and otlier spices, 

 have been acclimatised ; foreign fruits without number, 

 mangoes, durians, lichees, loquats, granadillas, and the 

 avocado pear, have been propagated, and their culti- 

 vation extended throughout the island ; and the tea 

 shrub, the chocolate, arrow-root, tapioca. West Indian 

 ginger, and many others have been domesticated. The 

 present able and accomplished director has already com- 

 menced the pubhcation of a Singhalese Flora, the com- 

 pletion of which will place the savans of Europe m pos- 

 session of accurate information as to the botany of the 

 island. But in any allusion to the gardens of Peradenia, 

 the name and services of Dr. Gardner, to whose memory 

 a modest monument has been enected in tlie grounds, 

 will always be associated with agreeable recollections 

 of one whose genius was as remarkable in acquiring 

 as his gentle manners were successful in popularising 

 science in Ceylon. 



At times there has been the murmur of ill-informed 

 utilitarianism against the expenditure bestowed upon 



' Baidnnia racemosa ? 



^ The first botanic garden in 

 Ceylon was established by Mv. North, 

 in 1799, at Ortafula, on tlie banks 

 of the Kalany, at Colombo, and 

 M. Joinville was named its curator. 

 In 1810 it was transferred to a por- 

 tion of Slave Island, which thence 



VOL. II. 



acquired the name of ''Kew," and in 

 1813 it was again removed to Caltiira, 

 where Moon, the author of the first 

 Englisli Catalogue of Ceylon Plants, 

 was superintendent, and under him 

 tlie present gardens were eventujilly 

 laid out at Peradenia. 



