C * ) 
3. — Hen ara tyoda Garden. 
This Garden has been maintained in good condition during the year, and the plants under 
cultivation are mostly doing well. Notices of several will be found under their names in section 8 
of this report. The Garden suffered somewhat from dry weather in the early part of the year and in 
September, and generally from want of manure. 
Over 3,000 pods of Cacao were sent out gratis to Government officials for distribution to the 
native villagers. A good many pods, when young, were devoured by squirrels and wild cats, and 
179 of the former and 3 of the latter were shot by the conductor. 
The road of approach to the Garden has been altered and improved by the clearance of a good 
deal of scrubby jungle. The wooden bridge at the commencement of the road is undergoing repair 
by the Public Works Department, and brick pillars have been set up at the entrance, where it is 
intended to put up gates. 
Several new flower beds have been laid out, and a number of new Palms and ornamental 
trees planted. Tabernaimontana crassa, introduced here in 1881 as a rubber-yielding plant, has 
now formed a very ornamental flowering tree with large sweet-scented blossoms. It is 22 ft. high, 
but has not as yet produced seed. 
4. — Anurddhapura Garden. 
The past year has exhibited the climate of the North-Central Province at its worst, and the 
Garden has suffered severely from the extremes of drought and flood. Though the total rainfall for 
the year, 67 - 03 in., is 12-47 more than the average annual fall, yet from the middle of April till the 
end of September scarcely a drop of rain fell : the small pond in the Garden quickly dried up, the 
water in Tissawewa became at length completely exhausted, and for the latter part of the period no 
water at all could bo obtained. I regret to have to report that a large number of the plants reared 
with so much care during the past few years died during this time, including Tea, Coca, Pepper, 
Croton-oil, Cinnamon, Cassia Bark, Sapan, Teak, Panama Rubber, China Bamboo, Grevillea robusta, 
Ranibutan, Nam-nam, and Avocado Pear, besides a great number of ornamental species. Among the 
plants that were able to live through the drought were, Cocoanut, Jak, Breadfruit, Papaw, Mango, 
Soursop, Wampi, all the Orange kind, Plantain, Arecanut, Annatto, Surinam Quassia, Cotton, Ceara 
Rubber, and Rain-tree ; the Liberian Coffee bushes suffered a good deal, but have mostly survived. 
This severe drought was followed by very heavy and continuous rain, which in December, amounted 
to a deluge, no less than 2()'. r >. r ) in. falling in that month, and over G in. on one day, the 21st. Parts of 
the garden wore now submerged, and a number of young plants sent from Peradeniya to supply the 
losses caused by the drought were killed. A great effort, however, has been made to renew the 
Garden, and much fresh planting has been done. It may be confidently hoped that such a complete 
failure of water in Tissa tank will not occur again, now that the Yoda-ela channel from Kalawcwa 
is in working order. 
During this disastrous season the native Conductor has worked well, though he has proffered 
from fever, and is naturally somewhat disheartened at the failure of so much of his cultivation. 
He deserves full credit for his perseverance under these trying circumstances. Our small force of 
labour is almost wholly occupied in watering, and is not Sufficient to allow of proper cultivation. 
We have had, however, as usual, the help of a small Provincial vote, without which it would have 
been impossible to carry on the ordinary upkeep'. 
Somewhat more; inclination is being shown by the people to cultivate food plants, and there 
has been a better demand for .Jak, Plantain, Areeanut, Mingo, Lime, and Orange plants. Rut 
objection is raised even to the trifling prices charged, and a free gift seems to be expected. 
f). — Battalia (linden. 
Progress here is necessarily slow, but I think as much has been made as unfavourable 
circumstances allow. It has not been found possible this year to afford us prison labour to any 
extent, and our few coolies can do little more than keep up the small portion of the Garden under 
cultivation. The ridges of the old paddy fields are, however, now almost wholly effaced, and several 
new paths have been made or planned out, but the multitude of weeds and coarse gr.i:-.-es on tin' 
land will give much trouble for some years to come. A low hank has been thrown up round the 
whole circumference of the ground, and a hedge of Madras thorn planted on the bop as a 
protection against the incursions of the cattle which graze on the neighbouring race-course. 
At the request of the Government Agent I have- taken over as a portion of the Garden a 
narrow strip of laud adjoining its western boundary. On an inspection of the ground 1 find it will 
be dillicult to actually include this in the Garden fence, hut it can be kept up as an approach to the 
entrance and planted with shade-giving trees. It is intended to set tip gates at either end of the 
carriage drive during the year. 
The Garden is much exposed, ami soon begins to sutler in dry weather. Our water-snppR 
is obtained from an irrigation channel supplying paddy fields above, and in time of drought the 
cultivators are inclined In slop our supply. It has, however, now I believe been made distinctly 
understood by the parties eonoerne'l, that, as was arranged when tin- site was lixe.l upon, the 
Government (tardea lias a claim to a share of the water from this source at .ill times. 
Large quantities of plants, cuttings, and seeds have been forwarded by cart, coolies, and post 
from lYradeniya towards slocking the Garden, but much more in this way has to be done hvforo 
much show can be made. White ants are very abundant, and have worked destruction in the 
nurseries and devoured nearlv all the stock of bamboo i>oi>. Rut most of t' 
