Horticulture. 



232 



the vacancies thus caused may be supplied when the weather is propitious. Sow 

 lawn grass seed as advised last month, and take care to pull out, by the roots, weeds 

 as they appear. Before the May issue of this Magazine is out the S. W. winds will 

 probably have commenced, and I would advise that all tender plants and those in 

 exposed spots be staked neatly early in May, as there will be plenty of other 

 work to attend to in the way of clearing up etc., as soon as the Monsoon 

 bursts, and many plants become positively ruined when once blown over. 

 A propos of these notes and the Calendar I have compiled, many planters 

 have requested me to write separate notes for their district, but with so many 

 different climates with which I am not at present well enough acquainted, this is too 

 big an undertaking for the time I have at my disposal, and a simple way of making 

 the notes applicable to all districts is, as I once pointed out before, to go by the 

 weather. In the Calendar the average rainfall and rainy days at Hakgala is 

 given for each month, which renders the matter easy. 



In Flower in the Hill Gardens.— The number of species and varieties 

 now in flower runs into hundreds, and only a visit to the Gardens could satisfy those 

 interested. Worthy of mention are : — 



Doryanthes Palmeri, a gigantic half-lily, half-palm looking plant belonging 

 to the Natural Order Amaryllidaeese, which has a flower stem 12 feet high bearing 

 over ninety crimson flowers. The aloe-like leaves are 8 to 9 feet long, and with- 

 out the flower stem the plant is very ornamental and especially suitable for lawns. 

 It appears to grow in almost any soil, preferring a rich loam, and is readily 

 propagated by suckers. 



Gaura Lindhiemeri— This perennial onagrad was introduced from Messrs. 

 Sutton & Sons last September, and is now in flower, bearing graceful sprays of 

 delicate white flowers. It is hardy and should find a place in every garden. 



Lavatera Rosea Splendens.— Another introduction from the same source, 

 but an annual. It grows to a height of three feet. The flowers are two to three 

 inches in diameter, of a brilliant rosy pink and useful for cutting, retaining their 

 beauty for a considerable time. 



Vegetable Garden.— The last of the Potatoes should have been put in last 

 month (March) in the Nuwara Eliya district, but where the S. W. wind and rains do 

 not penetrate they may still be successfully grown. Capsicums and Chilis (Capsicum 

 annum and C. baccatum of the Natural Order Solanacese) are not as extensively 

 grown as they might be as a vegetable relished by most people who have tried them, 

 apart from their ornamental appearance. The general idea seems to be that they 

 are unbearably hot, but a Capsicum such as " Sutton's Mammoth Long Red " needs 

 only a trial to convince one otherwise. In pots they make very ornamental sub- 

 jects. Their cultivation is easy, any light rich soil suiting them well. Sow the 

 seeds in September, preferably in a cool house at the highest elevations, and prick 

 out the seedlings when large enough to handle without damage, and finally plant 

 out. In Nuwara Eliya itself they can scarcely be said to do well, but from 5,000 feet 

 downward results are always satisfactory. To prepare Cayenne the moisture 

 should be removed from the chilis by placing them in an open basket in an oven not 

 allowing the heat to become too great, then pound them fine with hot dry salt. 

 " Sutton's Tom Thomb" is a useful chili to grow, and very pungent. 



