JOLY I, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
Bambusa Brandisii, Munro. Tenasserim. Described as a magnificent bamboo, the stems 
reaching 120 ft. in height. 
I am very anxious to increase our collection of Orchids, and take this opportunity of 
offering our native kinds and some of the Indian and Malayan species in exchange for 
those of South America and the West Indies. 
VI.— Sales. 
The number of stocked Wardian cases, plants and seeds sold during the year 1880 
principally to residents in the Colony, was as follows : — 
Feradeniya. Henaratgoda. Hakgala. Total. 
Wardian Cases •■• 17 . ... — ... — ... 17 
Economic Plants ... 19,890 ... 12,857 ... 8,542 .. 41,2t9 
Seeds of the same ... 118,556 ... 13,987 ... — ... 132,543 
Garden Plants ... 6,531 ... 372 ... 42 ... 6,945 
Ornamental Trees ... 1,318 ... — ... — ... 1,318 
Packets of Seeds : 
Forest Trees ... 112 — ... — ... — 
Garden Plants ... 75 ... — ... — ... — 
Vegetables 42 ... — ... — ... — 
The number of purchasers was at Peradeniya 918, at Henaratgoda 239, at Hakgala 
43 ; Total 1,180. 
The receipts from the sales, paid to the Colonial Treasurer, were 
Ks. Cts. 
From Peradeniya ... 5,392 38 
Henaratgoda ... 1,373 8 
Hakgala ' ... 1,072 15 
Total .. Rs. 7,837 61 
This is an increase of 4,012 rupees and 28 cents over the receipts for last year, 1879, 
or considerably more than double. 
VII. — Herbarium and Library. 
Herbarium. — The collections of dried plants are mostly in fair order. The Ceylon 
Plants ("CP.") containing the types described in Dr. Thwaites' "Enumeratio" and many 
of those of Moon and Gardner's publications, are however lying loose on half sheets of 
paper, and need to be fastened down to prevent further loss and displacement, and damage 
by breakage of fragile specimens. I intend to carry this out as time may serve. 
Pressure of work in this first year of my charge has, 1 am sorry to say, prevented me 
from making any tour for collecting. A few species have however been added to the Ceylon 
flora during the period by the garden collectors and by the exertions of Mr. W. Ferguson 
of Colombo. I cannot but express a desire that other persons, especially those residing 
in the little known parts of the Colony, would send me fresh or dried specimens of any 
plants they may think rare or curious, for my examination. 
The Foreign herbarium has been arranged for more easy reference, and some new tres- 
tles erected for its accommodation. The only addition has been a small but interesting 
packet of South Indian species from Col. Beddome. 
I am desirous of bringing together a structural and economic Museum of Ceylon 
Botany, to comprise the large and hard or soft and pulpy fruits and seeds unsuited for pre- 
servation in the herbarium, stems, barks, roots, resins, gums, fibres, oils, medicines, &c, as 
well as simple manufactured articles from these. This will, I feel sure, be a valuable adjunct 
to the Gardens, and I shall thankfully receive any donations from native or European 
gentlemen who will assist me. 
I felt the want of some such collection in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition. 
1 received an unaccountably late notice, only some five or six weeks before the closure of the 
time for receiving articles, and had therefore no opportunity of doing more than rapidly 
bringing together an imperfect and fragmentary assortment of hastily prepared specimens. 
Such as it was, however, 1 am pleased to notice it has proved acceptable and interesting. 
During the clearing of parts of the garden a few stems and roots of structural scien- 
tific interest were cut down and uprooted. I sent a selection of 15 of these to the new Natural 
History Museum ^ British Museum) at South Kensington, and have received the thanks 
of the Trustees for them, who also defrayed the cost of their transmission. 
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