1056 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June i, 1882. 
VIII.— Sales. 
The receipts for the sale of plants, seeds, &c, in the year 1881, paid to the Colonial 
Treasurer, were : 
Rs. cts. 
From Peradeniya ... 3,915 14 
Henaratgoda ... 562 36 
Hakgala ... 460 82 
Total ... Rs. 4,938 32 
In addition to this, the experimental sale of C. crispa and other bark in London in 
February last [see last year's report, page 5] produced, clear of all charges, Rs. 3,219-63, making 
the total receipts for Rs. 8,157-95. 
The number of purchasers has been 
From Peradeniya ••• 885 
Henaratgoda ... 228 
- Hakgala ... 34 
Total ... 1,147 
I desire to call the attention of Government to a kind of work which this establishmen 
is being increasingly called upon to perform. No less a number than 28 Wardian cases of ferns, 
orchids, &c, were purchased here by private persons during the year 1881, for conveyance to 
England or elsewhere. This is, I submit, not a desirable channel into which to direct the work 
of a State Botanic Garden. In every way the supply of these cases is a loss to the establishment. 
The Rs. 20 charged for the plants is paid into revenue, and the Gardens receive no benefit 
whatever from the transaction. The proper principle in making use of the contents of a Govern- 
ment Botanic Garden is to insist upon a quid pro quo, or exchange ; and I cannot see without 
protest the increase of a system, which while continually exhausting our stock of good plants, gives 
us nothing in return. 
More serious is it that our proper exchanges with other public Gardens suffer ; for the 
time of our small staff has to be employed in filling and packing these private cases (often ordered 
with little consideration at short notice) to the neglect of work on which the well-being and public 
utility of the Garden almost wholly depends — i.e., foreign exchange. The legitimate demands upon 
these Gardens also, not only from this colony but from the East generally, are now such as to render 
it essential that our small resources should be wholly devoted to meeting them, and not to be 
wasted in the business of a nurseryman. 
I therefore feel that the time has come when I should be permitted to use my discretion as 
to acceding to private orders for Wardian cases. One would think that, as the demand is now so 
large, some private man of business might find it worth while to undertake the supply, and the 
Garden be altogether relieved of this uncongenial and harmful work. 
IX. — Expenditure. 
The whole expenditure of the Department (excluding the salary and travelling expense 
of the Cryptogamist temporarily attached) has been : — 
Rs. cts. 
Salaries ... ... ... 15,070 54 
Gardeners' and Labourers' Wages — 
Peradeniya (Revenue Service) ... 8,189 9 
Hakgala (. do ) ... 2,998 67 
Henaratgoda ( do ) ... 1,993 74 
Pavilion, Knnrlv ''Miscellaneous Service) 2,186 48 
Office Cont'mgoncies ... ... 2,949 14 
Travelling (Transport) ... ... 1,997 75 
Total ... Rs, 35,385 41 
Peradeniya, 1st January, 1882. 
HENRY TRIMEN, M.B., 
Director. 
