November 9, 1899] 



NA TURE 



large stone bench. South of the physiological is the 

 chemical laboratory, of the same size and construction, 

 and with the dark room opening out of it. West of the 

 chemical laboratory is the economic, a large room 26 feet 

 by 18 feet, with two good working windows, one French 

 window, and a fireplace. This room is intended for ex- 

 periments in the preparation, &c., of economic products, 

 such as rubber, fibres, &c. Lastly, in the south-west 

 corner of the building, is a small private laboratory for 

 the director or for work requiring special privacy from 

 interruption. This room is 18 feet by 10 feet, with one 

 working window on the south side, and another looking 

 into the western verandah. 



The whole laboratory is well supplied with water from 

 a pipe running round it, and starting from a cistern in 

 the museum, at a height of about 15 feet above the 

 laboratory. Gas unfortunately is not at present avail- 

 able, but of course there is no need for artificial light, the 

 day in this country always lasting until 6 p.m. 



When ordinarily filled, therefore, the laboratory can 

 accommodate eleven workers, and at a pinch room can 

 be made for four more. For persons working at sys- 

 tematic botany there is accommodation in the herbarium. 



Eliya in five, hours by rail. The trains are comfortable, 

 and provided with refreshment and sleeping cars. 



For a few economic and other plants the climate of 

 Peradeniya is somewhat too cold at night for complete 

 success, and for trial of these and for the supply of the 

 needs of the populous low-country of the south-west of 

 the island, a second botanic and experimental garden is 

 maintained at Henaratgoda, on the main line of railway, 

 seventeen miles from Colombo. It lies only about 

 twenty feet above the sea, in a very uniform steamy- 

 climate, with a mean temperature of about 82" F. The 

 garden comprises forty acres, about twelve of which are 

 still covered with jungle, forming an interesting feature 

 in the garden. There is a very fair collection of plants 

 in this garden, especially economic, including the 

 original rubber trees sent to the East through the agency 

 of Kew Gardens and the Government of India. Hebnin- 

 thostachys zeylanica is abundant in the district, and 

 many interesting plants can be seen in paddy fields and 

 elsewhere. There is a rest-house close to the railway 

 station, a mile from the garden, and the garden contains 

 a small laboratory with two working places. 



A third garden is maintained at Hakgala, about six 



Plan of the new Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. a, General laboratory ; b, Physiological laboratory ; c, Lavatory ; d, Private 

 laboratory ; b, Economic laboratory ; f. Chemical laboratory ; g, Dark room ; v, Verandahs. Scale 1/16 inch to i foot. 



Of the eleven places, the present staff and workers living 

 in the colony will use five or perhaps six, so that there 

 is room now available for five or six workers from Europe 

 and elsewhere. The value to a botanist of a period spent 

 in the tropics can scarcely be overrated, and with the 

 accommodation now afforded at Peradeniya and in Java, 

 the ease and comparative cheapness of the journey, and 

 of living and travelling in Ceylon, there is no reason why 

 many more should not visit and work in a tropical station 

 than have so far done so. 



The neighbourhood of Peradeniya is very beautiful ; it 

 is mostly cultivated in rice, tea, coco-nuts, fruit, &c., but 

 there are some interesting pieces of wild vegetation 

 within easy reach, and many fine pieces of forest, &c., can 

 be reached within a short time by rail or road. The 

 river below the gardens contains most of the known 

 Ceylon species of that very remarkable order the 

 Podostemaceas. Kandy is within easy reach, and con- 

 tains several good hotels, a good English club, tennis, 

 croquet, cricket and football clubs, &c. ; and there is a 

 considerable society of English people in the town and 

 suburbs. Colombo can be reached in four, Nuwara 



NO. 1567, VOL. 61] 



miles from the chief sanatorium of Ceylon, Nuwara 

 Eliya. The garden occupies an extremely beautiful 

 situation on the side of Hakgala Mountain, with an ex- 

 tensive view over a wide expanse of mountain country. 

 It comprises about 550 acres of land, only about thirty- 

 five of which are in cultivation, the rest being untouched 

 natural country, some covered with jungle, some being 

 grass land (patana, as it is locally called). The vegeta- 

 tion in the district all around here is very interesting, 

 having been but little interfered with by cultivation in 

 any way, and that only in a few spots. The interesting 

 Horton Plains are eighteen miles from Hakgala, 

 through wild country. There is a rest-house at the 

 Plains, which lie 7200 feet above sea-level. The flora of 

 these up-country regions is of great interest to a botanist. 

 Many European genera are here represented, such as 

 buttercups, violets, valerian, brambles, &c. Lycopods, 

 Selaginella, Psilotum, &c., are very common. Many 

 interesting biological features exhibit themselves in this 

 vegetation. 



The garden at Hakgala lies at 5600 feet above sea- 

 level, and has a comparatively cold climate, with a mean 



