October r, i88r.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
distributing a printed paper containing the answers obtained in Liberia to a scries of questions be 
dad sent dome. 
A consignment of Mauritius coffer was received in 1876 ; and in 1879, by the initiative of 
His Excellency the Governor, a large quantity of seed of Jamaica coffee, was obtained, and tlie 
resulting plants distributed to applicants free of charge. 
Tea. — China tea. was introduced or re-introduced to the Gardens in 1845, and Assam tea in 
1847 ; but it was not till about 1860 that its cultivation began to be seriously thought of. in 
1865 Dr. Thwaites drew up an elaborate paper of instructions for the Commission of Enquiry 
Avbich was sent to India by the Planters' Association ; in this year 200 lb of seed were distributed 
from the Gardens. The Assam. Hybrid the hind now principally preferred, was obtained here 
in 1867, and seed began to be distributed in 1870. 
Cacao. — This is one of the old introductions. In 1845 it was being advertised for sale at 
PeVadeniya at 4s. a dozen plants. The value of this culture was frequently insisted upon by the 
Director, and in 1873 he printed simple instructions for its cultivation. Last year a very 
important consignment of eleven of the most highly prized varieties from Trinidad w as received, 
which will in due course doubtless prove of great use. 
Other food-plants of value, introduced at various times to the Gardens, arc the Sago Palm. 
the Sugar Palm of Java, Arroioroot, new varieties of Tapioca and of Paddy and other grains. 
Also many tropical fruit-trees; as the Durian, several varieties of Oranges, the Lang sat, the 
Litchee, the Sapodilla Plum, the Java Almond, the Brazil Nut, the Queensland Nut, and the 
Amoy Pumelow. 
Drugs. 
Cinchona. — In nothing has the immense utility of the Botanical Establishment been shewn 
more completely than in the history of this cultivation. So soon as there was a probability of the 
successful introduction of the plant into India, the Director of Peradeniya actively engaged in the 
enterprise on behalf of this Colony. Supported by the Government, he, as early as 1860, selected 
the present Ilakgala garden as the site of a plantation, and obtained the services of an experienced 
gardener from home. In the same year, the first plant (a yellow bark) was received from Kew, 
hut unfortunately dead. Seeds of grey bark from India followed in 1861, and more plants of yellow 
dark from Kew in good order. Mr. Markham sent seeds of crown dark in the next year, 1862. 
In 1864 there was a large number of young plants at Ilakgala, and Dr. Thwaites was urging 
the cultivation of Bark on the planters. Little desire was, however, shewn on their part to grow 
anything besides coffee, although it was determined to give the plants gratuitously, on condition 
only that they should be carefully cultivated. In 1865 about 180,000 were thus distributed ; but in 
subsequent years there were fewer applications. By the year 1 872, however, it had become 
acknowledged that the enterprise would prove profitable, and the Government then fixed the sale of 
plants at 5 rupees per 1000. Applications were very numerous for the next six years (1873-78), 
Culminating in 1876, when 1,224,000 plants were sent out. By this time cinchona planters had 
mostly formed their own nurseries, and the issue from Hakgala lias gradually diminished to very 
small quant ities. 
Though it is the case that, the Hakgala garden has by no means kept, pace in any respect with 
the great and expensive Indian and Java estadlishmenls, or, in the introduction of the best sorts, 
even with some private enterprise here, yet it must be remembered that nothing more was ever 
Contemplated at Ilakgala than fairly to start tde cultivation dv rapid propagation of plants for 
distribution to the planters, and that, as no provision was ever made there for the conduct of experi- 
ments requiring special knowledge and leisure, it was impossible that any contributions to 
Quinology could result from its foundation. 
The fact remains that the lucrative industry of Cinchona planting was wholly the creation of 
the Government Botanical Department; and a course has been since successfully steered which, 
whilst affording very great assistance to the planters, has never attempted to enter into competition 
with them, nor at any time made addition to revenue to be the main object or an obj. et of 
Importance, as is the case in South India and Jamaica and in Java. 
Ipecacuanha. — This important drug was introduced here from Kew in 186$, and a further stock 
in 1S71. From Calcutta a number of plants were obtained in lsvi. A small number are annually 
disposed of. 
Other medicinal plants brought into the colony through the Gardens, and ofjnore or less value 
commercially, are : — Calabar Bean, Vajuput, Benzoin, //•//(• Rhubarb, Camphor, Vascarilla, 
Coca, Sartaparilla, Balsams of J'mt and of' Toln, ' ulnbs, Ca lit 'it'm-root , Jalap, Cebadilla, 
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