May i, i8cjo.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST, 
753 
Anstruther, on the subject of my having temporary 
duties to perform for Government. 
1 have the Honor to be, Sir, your most obedient 
Servant, 
J. G. Leab. 
Peradenia, August 22nd, 1838. 
Dear Sir, — I handed the Memo of our interview on 
the same day to Mr. Austruther, who I have no 
doubt has since sent it to His Excellency from 
Neura Eliya. In the possible event however of 
his having lost sight of it, I will send your note 
to that gentleman, and you can send this over 
to Colombo, to shew that no time has beeen lost 
in acting on the Governor's wishes. 
I remain, Dear Sir, Yours obediently, 
George Tubnoub. 
J. G. Le*e, Esq. 
The Hon'ble P. E. Wodehouse, Esqr., Assistant 
Colonial Secretary. 
Royal Botanic Garden, Peradenia, Sept. 15, 1838. 
Sir, — I have the Honor to enclose a plan of the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradenia, A Catalogue of 
plants and a Beport, which I beg may be forwarded 
for the Rt. Hon'ble the Governor's information. 
I have the Honor to be, Sir, your most obedient 
servant, 
J. G. Leae. 
A Report on the Peesbnt State of the Royal 
Botanic Gaeden, Ceylon, with a Plan, Descrip- 
tive of the Manner in which it is Occupied, 
a Catalogue of the Plants it Contains and 
Other Bemaeks, 
The land allotted to the purpose of the Botanic 
Garden is in quantity one hundred and twenty-one 
acres, situated at Peradenia, three miles from Kandy, 
the interior Capital of the Island, bounded on the 
North by the main road leading from Kandy to 
Colombo ; on the East, West, and South, by the fine 
andin part navigable river Mahavilla Ganga ;the situ- 
ation was appointed by the late indefatigable Bota- 
nist, Alexander Moon, Esquire : it is well chosen, and 
the most eligible the Island offers, to meet the 
various, important and complicated uses of a Bota- 
nic Garden. The climate is intermediate and 
undergoes but a trifling variation ; Fahrenheit's 
thermometer standing on an average at about 77^°, 
the soil is a fine rich, friable loam, unequally mixed 
with portions of decomposed vegetable matter, sand 
and clay, which by artificial mixture with other 
Boils of the neighbourhood, may be suited to the 
growth and cultivation of all the vegetable produc- 
tions of India, and those likewise from other countries, 
that have a probable chance of success in any other 
part of the Island. 
It was the original intention to divide the Garden 
into different departments, and to have a systematical 
amuigernent, usual in the general formation of 
such Establishments ; but, from the unfortunate 
circumstance of the death of its founder, A. Moon, 
the plans were disturbed, and became subject to 
much inattention ; the Establishment has since been, 
but for very limited periods, under the management 
of experienced Superintendents, and bas in conse- 
quence been thwarted from its original design, 
allowed to proceed agreeably to the often ill-adapted 
taste of its managers, frequently to that of the 
native people, but generally as nature herself 
directed, and now exposes a face of such confusion, 
non-arrangement, and neglect, that would place 
a stranger in a situation to ask for what was it 
intended. 
There are sixty-live acres which the plan describes 
planted with coffee, interspersed with Coconut, Jack, 
Cinnamon and various forest trees, which were let 
in 1836 on lease of ten years to Henry Wright, 
Esquire, and forms by far the greater portion of 
the garden at present under cultivation ; the Coffee 
trees are in various stages of growth, from one foot 
high to eight and in general are in a very unhealthy 
state, comparatively unproductive and irrecoverable ; 
they will unquestionably produce sufficient Coffee, 
amply to compensate the present occupier, but at 
the expiration of his lease, it is more than probable 
they will have become nearly exhausted. 
There are about one and a half acre cultivated 
as a kitchen garden, which partakes of the general 
feature, injudicious management, it is cajsable of wide 
extension, and of being brought under a high state 
of culture with little trouble ; produces fine vegetables, 
but is dependent upon no regulation for a supply of 
seeds ; and is frequently in a state of pitiable 
nakedness. 
It is formed in a low part of the Botanic Garden, 
near the river, on the eastward side, and is well 
calculated to ensure success, in the various objects 
of its application ; the only objection that can be 
formed to the situation is, that it is liable to the 
inundation of the river, when the fall of rain has 
been unusually great, which was the case in the 
year 1837, and the garden suffered much in conse- 
quence, but it has only once occurred during the 
memory of the oldest inhabitants that the river has 
risen so high as to inundate any portion of the pre- 
mises, and the Kings of Kandy had previously occu- 
pied this same situation for their Royal Gardens. 
There are also about four acres under cultivation 
as an Orchard, and furnished with Fruit Trees of 
different kinds, but mostly with those that are com- 
mon through the Island, and with few exceptions, 
possess but very inferior qualities; it has been very 
much and long neglected, the truth of which it 
exhibits to every common observer, and also the 
great want of a superior assortment of Fruits, the 
which may be obtained at a cheap rate by exchange 
with other countries. 
The performance of necessary work would soon 
recover this department, and with a supply of good 
plants, well cultivated, everything is favourable to a 
prolific and satisfactory result. 
About one and a half acre are allotted to a Spice 
Garden, two-thirds of which is planted with Carda- 
moms, the remainder with Nutmegs, Cloves, Choco- 
late Nut, Cinnamon, and various ornamental flowering 
plants ; this department ranks with the preceding 
with respect to condition, but has more commendable 
features, the Spices are of excellent quality, the trees 
are also vigorous and healthy, producing fine fruit, 
in reasonable quantities ; which, with every other 
appearance convincingly indicates that the climate, 
soil, and other circumstances on which the perfection 
of these valuable articles depend, are particularly 
favourable. 
About four acres are occupied as a Nursery and 
pineground connected, the state of which evinces 
a very powerful proof, that the worst description of 
negligence, or want of skill, has been companion to 
the system of its management for some considerable 
period.. 
The Nursery is very indifferently stocked, consist- 
ing chiefly of plants and cuttings most common 
on the Island, and those which propagate with ease 
and facility. After the cuttings were put in the beds, 
they have been allowed to remain unmolested, and 
some seem to have been there the last seven or 
eight years, and are grown into such masses, and so 
large, that they cannot now be removed without 
destruction. 
The work has been left exclusively to natives, 
and but few attempts seem to have been made to 
increase any plants, when the process was attended. 
