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the flower garden, and the hollow filled in with the soil taken from just above, where it is intended to build a shed 
for the cart bullocks. 
In November, the curve of the main drive, which was very unsightly just below the (lower garden. w:i< altered, 
by cutting away the bank for a distance of 50 ft. and varying in breadth from 8 ft. to a few inches. New drains 
were made here, turf verges laid down, and the road repaired and metalled. 
Turf verges, 12 in. wide, were laid along sides of drive and new paths for a total length of 424 running 
yards, and 10G square yards of turf were laid down on the side banks in the flower and herbaceous gardens. 
Fernery. — In January, 1,020 plants of mixed ferns, begonias, violets, and primulas were planted out under 
the trees in the new part of the fernery opened out at the end of last year. A large number of similar plants have 
also been planted in shady spots in other parts of tin; fernery and rock beds. Several of the beds have been entirely 
replanted, the old soil with the jungle roots being removed and replaced with surface soil from the jungle. The 
fernery being formed under the native jungle trees, it must be expected that the roots of these trees will always 
give trouble. They grow with such rapidity into the new soil placed there for the benefit of the ferns, that in many 
of the beds there is now nothing but one mat of roots ; and unless the soil is constantly stirred and renewed the ferns 
suffer very much. The heavy rains in December having washed away large quantities of the surface soil, the true 
state of things is quite visible, and a large amount of work, in the way of replanting and manuring, requires to be 
done at once. 
Many of the tree fems have grown rapidly during the year, and some of the specimens of our native tree 
ferns (Alsophila enriita) are really very fine, and are much admired. One specimen in the centre of the fernery is 
now 15 ft. high, and carries a head of 22 fronds, the spread of these being 17 ft. 8 in. An average frond on this 
specimen spread out measures 9 ft. long and 4 ft. broad. 
Plant Sheds and Nurseries. — The main work, as usual, in the sheds and nurseries has been the raising and 
keeping up of a good stock of plants for the use of the garden and for distribution. 
About 100 scions of the large plum have been grafted on the small-fruited, but strong-growing, cooking 
plum. Thoy have nearly all taken, and are doing well. 
A large piece of new land was added to the nursery at the beginning of the year, and a strong post and rail 
fence was placed round it. The fence is 220 yards long. 
Borders and Shrubberies. — A good deal of attention was given to the borders and shrubberies in opening out 
new borders, laying down turf verges, digging, manuring, staking, pruning, and keeping them tidy. 52,703 garden 
plants and shrubs were set out during the year. 
Roots and stones were removed from the bit of land between the herbaceous garden and lower summer arbour. 
On the side next the drive, for a distance of 78 ft., a border was made and planted with showy plants, ribbon-border 
fashion. The other part was planted with foreign shrubs, and the spaces between filled in with mixed 
chrysan them ums . 
A few shrubs were also planted at the back of the summer arbour, and clumps of red and yellow cannas 
were planted alternately along each side of the path from the main drive to the arbour. 
The rock beds in the bend of the drive above the new pond were entirely remade and replanted with fern-, 
begonias, and shade-loving plants. As this is a very sheltered spot, several cartloads of specially-prepared soil was 
placed in the centre, and in it a plant of Abyssinian banana (Minn E„ «,>!,■) was planted, in the middle of August. It 
was thou only about 6 in. high ; it is now 5 ft., and is expected to become a very fine plant. 
A rock bed was prepared under the eugenia tree just below the rose garden, and GO of the different Cortur, u . 
which we had in pots, have been planted out in it. 
The Durante hedge planted along the boundary, near the entrance gates, last year did not come on at all well. 
It has been therefore supplanted by th • native Lii/itstrum, in the hope that this will grow and form a neat fence, 
as it is a very hardy plant. This part of the garden is very much out of order, and the jagged irregular bank along 
the roadside is very unsightly ; it is hoped that during the coming year something will be done for its improvement. 
Upper Ornamental Pond. — The largest piece of work undertaken during the year was the excavation of bh< 
mud and silt from this pond. 
In some places the mud was 4 ft. deep, and the average must have been very nearly 3 ft. About 100 cartloads 
of this were used to (ill up borders, the hollow place below the herbaceous garden, and for mixing with manure for 
the roses and other plants. The rest was laid in heaps in the nearest vacant spots. Piles were driven in to strengthen 
the bank along the path on the north-east side, the bank filled up level with the path, and a verge laid along it. Two 
retaining walls were built up on each side of the path where the old outlet was. ami the space between tilled in with 
clay, well rammed, and on the top of this the outlet drain was laid. The water in the pond, which used to be very 
muddy, is now quite clear. 
In April, limestone was blasted from rocks in the bit of jungle between the patanas just below the garden. 
The stonos were broken up small and carted to, and burnt in, the lime kiln near the entrance gates. They produced 
Iihi bushels of lime, which has been of great value for mixing with the silt from the pond, and for general garden 
purposes. The lime kiln belongs to Mr. W. I. Cotton, who very kindly allowed lis the use of it at a sin ill c >st. 
Finn- ,■ ft'artl-n. —The main improvement in the flower garden has been doing away witli the small terraced 
bank in front of the bungalow, which was not only unsightly, but required a good deal of labour to keep tidy. It has 
now been made into one slope at an angle of 45 yards, which carries turf well. The borders and beds were manured 
and replanted, and a fair show of flowers was kept up till November, when the whole was rearranged, ami plant- set 
out for flowering from January on through the Nuwara Kliya season. Mm the excessively heavy l-ains which fell 
in Decomlior (3H 7H inches) has completely spoiled this design, the majority of the plants being killed right out. 
Nearly all the beds and borders will have to be replanted. This will of course throw them much later in flowering, 
and different kinds of plants will have to be put in to till up. The rain was so heavy and continuous, and the so; 
of such a nature, that many of the bed-, for several hours each day, for a mouth, were under water. 
A- it is hopeless to get verbenas to thrive anywhere in the body of the garden, on account of the hare-, the 
beils in front of the propagating house were raised with old soil from the potting shed, and formed into < ighl 
triangles, tlx plant usod for the divisions being Pianllinn pi 'tuna rim. which 1 find here m.ik. s a ver\ e I 
edging plant. Kach of the divisions is planted with a different colour, and I trust thai, as tins bed is continually 
under observation, we shall .succeed this year in growing veiU nas successfully. 
The rock beds on each side of the steps leading up to the ollice were considerably raised, an. I planted with 
KWect-sceiitcu stocks, which did remarkably well, ami lasted in (lower for a very long lime. 
Hour tiurdni. — As it was found that the roots from the privet which formed the hedge round the rose garden 
were doing much damage to the plants, it was removed in November. The rose plants were thoroughly prune I and 
manured, and a liberal dressing of lime pointed in. Portulaeas and pausies were again planted over the surU M "I 
the beds between the plants, and gladiolus bulbs along the centre of the beds. 
