T 
une 2, 1890.] 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist.' 1 '' 
869 
Dawataffaha (Carallia Integefrima).-A common shady 
tree. Timber is strong and ornamental. 
Mariihondi (Lawsonia A^ba).— The country Mig- 
nonette. Tree email but wood tough; a good feoce plant. 
Flowers peculiarly fragrant. The leaves well crushed 
and moistened with a little water and placed over the 
nails will stain them a bright red in a few minutes, and 
are used largely by the Tamil women for this purpose- 
Gedi Kilala (Sonneratia Acida).— The Ceylon cork tree_ 
found in swamps. Wood light and white and used fo r 
models of boats. It is said to he abetter subetitutef or 
coal than any other kind of wood. The curious white spon- 
gy spindle-like columns, which are thrown up from the 
high when received, and was planted against a rock 
well-exposed to the morning sun. The plant was set 
in a pit about 3 feet square and filled with a mixture 
of soil and balf.rotted dung. The site being en slop, 
ing ground, a drain was cut above the pit to rarrvaway 
rainwater and thus prevent wash. A yrmng calf hap- 
pening to die a few weeks after, its c»rea«e was buried 
close to the pit on the upper fide. "With such treat- 
ment, one would naturallv expect the plant to thrive 
well : and so it did for some time, making a good start 
and growing luxuriantly for ft eouple of months. 
Then something evidently went wrong with the vine 
for it lost its former luxuriance ar.d became stunted. 
roots of this tree are used as corks, for models, and After much speculation as to the cuse of the mischief, 
lining of the inside of insect cases. 
Uncaria Gamlier.—ls quite a common plant near 
Colombo and Galle and Deltota and Dumbara. The 
extract from it is 'the Gambier, Gambeer or Terra 
Japonica of commerce, and found to be an excellent 
preservative of timber, especially against the attack 
of the Toredo : thus discovered by the wreck of a ship 
a large portion of the cargo of which was com- 
tbe ground was dug de»p round the plant, and it was 
then found that the roots of a rather old but stunted 
fig-free standing some *pn ya'ds distant from the vine, 
had spread round *he youn? plant like a network and 
were robbing it of its manure. When t>e pit was first 
cut no traepo of th° fig-t r e.e roots wer° found anywhere 
near i*-. and it was pot expected they would reach 
the pit as the distance and rela 4 ive pos"t'on of the 
+bat the fig-tree should h» a shelter to the young vine 
from violent winds. However, the. intruding roots 0 f 
the fig were promptly removed, and a deep trench has 
beep cut between the fig-tree and the grape-vine. The 
latter has now regained its former vigonr and luxuriance 
and continues to grow rapidly. This bit of experience 
well illustrates the tendency of roots, amounting 
almost to an instinct, to go in search of food, while it 
at the same t'me phows ns how plant food is of'en 
mis-appropriated, and the necessity there is for guard 
ing against such loss of food caused by weeds growing in 
our cultivated areas." 
posed of Gambier. After being immersed for a con- I two trees seemed against this. It was in fact intended 
siderable time in salt water, the bags in which it was 
packed, and the timber near it were found to be in 
perfect preservation from the effects of the dissolved 
Gambier. Mr. Wm, Ferguson was the first in Ceylon 
to make this from the indigenous plant. For the pre- 
servation of timber, especially for railway purposes. 
they ought to become an important article of local use 
as well as an export from Ceylon. 
Malia.-ratambala (TxoraParviflora). — A small-sized tree 
employed for beams and posts, but is chiefly used for 
chules, as it burns readily and is thus used by 
travellers at night, in India, where it is known as the 
torch tree. 
Falu-gaha (Mimusops Indica).— An abundant tree 
towards the north of the island. One of the best timbers 
and best known in the island under its native names, 
and very much confounded with real iron wood (Mnsaa 
ferrea). Timber extremely hard, strong and durable, 
used for oil-presses, bridges, house building, &c, and 
next in value perhaps to Hal-milille (Berrya 
Ammonilla), 
Telmee-qalia (Bassia Longifolia)— A most useful tree- 
Large quantities of oil made from its fruits by the 
natives. Timber used for keels of dhonies, bridges, 
and house building. Very mnch cultivated. 
Maha-timlriri (Diospyros Bmbryopteris).— Wood used 
for building, but of indifferent quality. Every part of 
tin- tree used medicinally or in the arts. Juice of the 
fruit very plutmous and charged with Tannio Aeil. 
and used by natives for paying the seams of fishing 
boats and for preserving their lines and nets. 
Mr. Lawrence Perera. Agricultural Instructor at 
Knliapitiya, writes: — "A few beds of potatoes were 
plarted bv me in September last, and yielded nearly 
sixteen-fold. The beds were pinnated in a shady place, 
and dung and a=hes were supplied as manure The 
tubers produced were however of no size I have again 
planted 3 lb. of potatoes. My onions produced excel- 
lent bulbs and a crop of nearly eighteen-fold was got. 
Mr. Bailev, the Government Agent of the North 
Western Province, inspected my experimental garden 
and distributed prizes to the students who showed 
ip'-itude for agricultural work. The first prize was won 
bv Kiri Bnnda of Galnpitiyawa. The American Oot^op 
crowing here is at present Frri!*ing. the Bs"p'ia.n 
— >ietv is a'so thriving well. Cotton, srrowroo*-, and, 
dba'l were planted in March, while horse-gram. 
"■"I'll '--"ts. two vnriet'es of onion, mustard, chilli 
and '>' ans have abo been put, down. 
NOTES PROM EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS. 
Mr. Edwin lloole of the School of Industry! 
llaputale, wiitesrbouta grape vine which was grown 
experimentally, being sent from the flakgala Gardens 
by the Superintendent, Mr. Nock. "It was about a foot 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
A visit to the Industrial Home at Wcllawatte im- 
press one with the enormous amount of good that 
ran be effected by the establishment of more of these 
philanthropic institutions. There are certain classes 
