8o6 
YHfr TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[June 2, 1R90. 
state of nervousness and fear, tbat I would not 
upon any consideration experience again, if I could 
avoid it. This is only a single instance from the 
many I could bring to prove, that he has formed 
a complicated scheme to annoy me. I have writtfn 
to Mr. Tumour soliciting Government interference 
and protection, and that gentleman has suspended 
Mr. Solomonsz, but I trust he will not be admitted 
again to occupy an office in this Department, other- 
wise I fear a failure in the proper performance of 
my duties. 
I have the Honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency's 
most obedient Servant, 
J. G. Lear. 
K. W. S. Mackenzie, Esq., a. d. 0., &c, &c, &c. 
Eoyal Botanic Garden, Peradenia, Oct. 9, 1838. 
Sir, — In conformity with directions I received 
from His Excellency the Governor on 16th Sept., 
I have the honor to forward for His Excellency's 
information, a report of my proceedings since I 
took the temporary charge of the Royal Botanic 
Garden, Peradenia. 
Finding that the Establishment had been for a 
long time conducted in a very disorderly manner, 
I commenced an investigation of the office aocounts 
&c, and found that there was much to charge the 
respectability of its management. The result of 
that investigation I laid before Mr. Tumour, the 
Government Agent for the Central Province, to be 
forwarded by that gentleman to the Colonial Secre- 
tary; I also assisted the Assistant Government 
Agent of the Central Province to make an Inven- 
tory of the Government property found upon the 
premises ; I next proceeded to place the labour of 
the Establishment upon a more regular and better 
proportioned basis, in which I have succeeded to 
my best satisfaction. Instead of there being some- 
times 15 and at others 50 coolies employed, and 
the labour allowed made up either improperly, or 
by accident as formerly, the required number now 
having a conditional engagement to fulfil, are be- 
come attentive to their employ and absent them- 
selves only upon application for leave to do so ; the 
good effects of my arrangements in this department 
are daily visible and acknowledged amongst the whole 
Establishment with every apparent satisfaction. 
I abolished labour on the Sabbath dav which had 
been rudely continued to the period of my taking 
charge. I next cleared away the jungle, from many 
of the overgrown flower borders and roads surround- 
ing the Garden to shew me its position, and to 
enable me to complete a Catalogue of the plants 
on the premises, which I forwarded with a plan 
of the Garden and a report of its then present con- 
dition to the Assistant Colonial Secretary on the 
15th September for His Excellency the Governor's 
information. 
I next commenced to clear a portion of the land, 
formerly kitchen garden, to enlarge that depar'ment, 
and about 4 acres are now added to be trenched 
and laid out for that purpose. I have also cnt 
down and cleared away many large trees that were 
common and unsightly at the entrance of the Gar- 
den, repaired one of the principal drives and a few 
of the water channels. I have also commenced 
operations for a nursery upon an extensive scale, 
so as to be enabled to grow and supply the island 
with such useful plants as appear in demand, or 
promise well to repay the cultivator. I have likewise 
made preparations for a classical arrangement of 
the plants upon the following plan, which I hope 
will meet with His Excellency's approbation. To 
clear and set apart which is convenient, 24 divi- 
sions proportioned to the extent of and to receive 
separately, the plants according to the c-asses of 
the Linneean system, but not to interfere with the 
three beautiful natural families, Palmse.Orchideae and 
filicps which I have proposed to arrange in separate 
divisions appropriated to them alone : one division 
also for aquatic and marshy plants, one division 
for specimens to exemplify the natural or Jussienaen 
system of classification, and one division for an Arbo- 
ratum. The kitchen garden to be enlarged as above. 
The orchard to remain as at present adding 
more choice fruits as they may be rpceived, 
and a small plot of ground for an experimental 
garden, form altogether the basis of improvements, 
contemplated and in progress. I have pxamined 
the Hortus Siccus consisting of upwards of 4000 
specimens, the drawings of upwards of 500, as re- 
ported upon them and dispatched, the former to 
Colombo, to be sent to Madras under the care of 
Colonel Walker in comformity with His Excellency's 
directions. I have trenched a portion of the old 
kitchen garden and sown vegetable seeds at several 
different periods many of which appear in a 
thriving state. 
I have also sown seeds of nutmegs and clove 
trees, about 1000, which are in progress of vegeta- 
tion, cleared several pieces of jungle land containing 
coffee seedling plants for nursery, about 10,000, picked 
ripe coffpe, in the husk about 25 parrahs, to be 
brought hereafter to Government account, cleared 
and soiled up the Cardamom plantation about one 
acre, which promises an excellent crop. I have 
made a new collection of seeds, to be disposed 
of to all applicants and brought to aocount accord- 
ingly. The garden is at present in very confused 
order under the progress of necessary alterations ; 
to complete which I beg His Excellency will be 
pleased to grant me the assistance of seme extra 
labour which I applied for to the Colonial Secre- 
tary on the 2nd instant. 
I have the honor also to mention for His Ex- 
cellency's information that I enquired respecting 
the chocolate nut tree, Theobroma Cacao, of Mr. 
Turnour the Government Agent, Kandy, but that 
gentleman has not yet furnished me with any 
particu'ars. I have however compared the species 
flourishing so beautifully at Peradenia, with the 
Botanical essential characters of Theobroma cacao, 
and find it to coincide with that exactly. Miller, 
in his Botanical Dictionary mentions two principal 
varieties of the tree, but no specific difference ac- 
cording to his description ; the one we have here 
has some trifling advantages. The following is a 
method of preparing chocolate which agrees with Dr. 
Gregory's Arts and Sciences, Miller's Botanical 
Dictionary and Loudon's Encyclopaedia of Plants : 
" The seeds when fully ripe are taken from the 
pods and exposed to the sun until they are thoroughly 
dry, when they are fit for store. They are next 
roasted in an iron pot over a fire and divested of 
their external covering, which then separates easily. 
The kernel is levigated on a smooth stone, or 
pounded fine in a mortar, a little Arnatto is added 
and with a few drops of water is reduced to a 
mass and formed into rolls for use. This simple 
preparation of Chocolate is the most natural and 
brst " — Gregory. The fruit in the Boyal Botanic 
Garden is not yet ripe to make a trial aocording 
to the above receipt, but it shall have my best 
attention as early as an opportunity offers, and I 
will report the result in due course for His Ex- 
cellency's information. 
The tree bears two crops annually : one ripens in 
June, the other in December ; the bearing trees in 
the Royal Botanic Garden are likely to produce in 
December next on a fair average calculation, about 
300 lb. weight of the seed,. 
