CEYLON. 271 



plocos spicata and small bamboos. Conifers, Eucalypts 

 and Australian wattles have been introduced into this 

 zone. The most successful of these exotics are Cicpressus. 

 macrocarjM and others. Pinus insignis and longifolia. 

 Eucalyptus robusta, Globulus, pilularis, siderophloia and 

 diversicolor ; Acacia Melanoxylon, decurrens and dealbata, 

 and Cedrela serrata. 



(b) The Patana Sub-zone consists of grassland with here and 

 there stunted trees ; it was formerly forest, but it has 

 been destroyed by shifting cultivation, grazing and fires. 



(2) The Wet Zone comprises the south-west part of the island 

 and the foothills up to 4,000 feet. It is divided into two parts : — 



(a) The Endemic Sub-zone with a rainfall of 100 to 200 inches. 



The forests in this sub-zone are the finest in Ceylon. 

 Their distinguishing features are the plentiful represen- 

 tation of species of Dipterocarpus, Shorea Doona, Hopea^ 

 Balanocarpus, Vatica and Vateria. There are a great 

 variety of other trees belonging to the Dilleniacece,^ 

 Guttiferce, CelastracecB, Sapindacece, AnacardiacecB, Legu- 

 minosce, Myrtacece, Rubiacece, and others, palms, tree 

 ferns, bamboos, &;c. Great inroads have been made 

 into these forests for the purpose of planting rubber, 

 tea, cinnamon and coconuts. They used to contain 

 Coromandel wood {Diospyrus qucBsita) which is now 

 almost extinct, while other excellent furniture woods 

 are rapidly disappearing. 

 It may seem at first sight that to replace the natural forest 

 by products of a greater commercial value is reasonable, but 

 these operations in Ceylon have resulted in great damage, inas- 

 much as they have been followed by erosion on an immense scale 

 and the silting up and periodic flooding of the low country, 

 together with the destruction of arable lands and other property. 

 Moreover, the planting operations have not always been success- 

 ful, and from large tracts of abandoned lands the soil has been 

 utterly washed out. These areas are now covered with bamboos, 

 useless shrubs and rank grasses. Similar destruction has been 

 brought about by shifting cultivation. 



(b) The Intermediate Sub-zone is a narrow strip of country more 



or less surrounding the endemic sub-zone. Rainfall, 



