6 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July 2, 1900, 
night at Peiadeuija. The news of Dr. Trimen's 
death will be received net only in Ceylon, 
but in all scientific circlea at Lome and 
abroad, with regret. His work was well-known and 
appreciated throughout Europe as an authority on 
many botanical questions, and it was in connection, 
with the corapleliou of his Hand-bonk to the " I'lor-a 
of Ceylon," that, after retiiing from the active 
work of the position which he had held with so 
nmch distinction, he recently returned to Cevlon. 
When most men would have rested from labour Dr. 
Trimen, in face of trying deafness and weakness, 
bravely gathered his remaining strength to endeavour 
to finish the woik he bad taken in hand, '• to 
enable observers in Ceylon to ascertain the name of 
any plant they may find growing wild. ..and to in- 
telligently investigate its properties and uses." This 
work we hope, has, if not entirely, been almost 
comple ed. Dr. Trimen has died in harness, amidst 
the surroundings which marked a busy though 
quiet life. Our Kandy Correspondent writes : — ■ 
'• It is with deep regret that we chronicle the death 
of Dr. H. Trimen, late Director of the Koyal 
Botanical Gardens, which occurred at the Director's 
bungalow, Peradenia on Friday night at ten o'clock. 
The deceased geutleman was in his usual health on 
"Wednesday and was able to pay a visit to the 
Botanical Office, but he was seized with another 
attack of paralysis cn Thursday, losing the use of 
his hands and his poAor of speech. In this state 
he remained till he expired on Friday night. The 
sad intelligence was r^rceived here on Saturday and 
came as a surprise to many. The deceased Director 
had served sixteen years under the Ceylon Govern- 
ment and his death is a very heavy loss to the 
island. Dr. Tiinien even while ill and in bed was 
busily engaged on his monumental work, the Flora 
of Ceylon. The arrangements for the Funeral were 
made by the late Doctor's nephew INIr. Roland Trimeii." 
" THE FUNERAL. 
"The Funeral cortege started from the Botanical 
Gardens, Peradeniya, at 7-1,5 on Sunday morning 
for St. Paul's Church, where the first portion of the 
funeral service was read. A large number of lead- 
ing residents met the remains here. From the church 
the remains were conveyed to the General Cemetery, 
at iSIahaiyawa, where a service was read by tlie 
Rev. E. A. Copleston who officiated. The coffin was 
covered with wreaths of flowers, which were after- 
wards placed on the grave. Tlie Hon. A. 0. Lawrie 
Puisne Judge, came specially for the funeral. Among 
those following the lemains were the Hon. Allanson 
Bailey, District Judge de Saram, Messrs. Roland 
Trimen, Freeman, H. F. IVlacmillan (Curator), 
Vaughan, iMunton, Ward, Fretsz, Bishop, Lowe, 
Alexander Philip, Caldecott, Gibbon, Siebel, Rix, 
Campbell, Skeen, Gray, Ralston "White, Major 
Tranchell, Messrs, Tranchell Way, Sproule, 
Webb, Dove, De Lemos, Maddock, Gordon, 
Ferdinandns, Fleming, Captain Murray, Drs. 
Dias, Hardy, Anderson-Smith and Keith, Mrs. and 
Miss. Rouse, Mrs, and Miss Algernon Jonklas, Mrs. 
Skeen, and the Rev. Mr. Beven. Besides these there 
were following immediately behind the remnins all 
the coolies, watchers and servants employed at the 
gardens. Dr. Willis, the Director, and Mr. Nock, 
Superintendent of Uakgalla Gardens were not present 
being engaged at Hakgalla, and a wire which was 
Bent did not arrive in time to enable them to be 
present," 
We take the following from Men and Momen 
of the Timc:- 
" Trimen Henry, M.n., f,k,s,, f.l.s., was born in 
London, Oct. 26, 18-13, and was educated at King's 
College. He graduated M.H. at the University of 
■London, IBIio ; was Curator of the Anatomical Museum 
of King'ri CoUegf, 1hG')-7; and Lecturer or. Botany 
at St. Alary's Hospital Medical School 1867-72 He 
entered the Botanical Departnaent of the British 
Museum, as Senior Assistant, May 1869, and held 
that appointment till Dec, 1879. He was appointed 
Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, Jan. 
1880, which post he still holds. He was editor of the 
Journal of Ilotamj. 1872-79; and author of "Flora 
of Middlesex" (with Mr. Thiselton-Dyer), 1^69; of 
the botanical portion of " Medicinal Plants." 4 vols., 
1875-80 ; of a " Systematic Catalogue of the Plants 
of Ceylon,'" ISS,*) ; and of numerous papers on vaiioua 
branches of botanical science in the publications of 
the learned societies and scientific periodicals. Dr. 
Trimen has paid epeciil attention to the economic 
aspects of Boiany, particularly to the sources of 
drugs and other products, especially of trrpical 
countries. In 1883, he v/as employed by the Madras 
Government to report on tlie botanic;al and cultural 
prolilems presented by the cinchona plantations in the 
Nilgiri Hills ; and he has been the means of in- 
troducing into cultivation in Ceylon many useful 
and valuable products of other countries.'" 
In conclusion we may quote the worils of 
one who worked under liini : — " I know nothing 
abovit Dr. Trimen but what is ftood, and I never 
liai one single angry word from him. He was an 
excellent chief and a good and true friend, 
and I always felt as though I could do anything 
for liini." Similar testimony is borne from all 
sides, and we may well say that in Dr. Trimen 
Ceylon lost one of its most distinguished, accom- 
plished and useful public olHcers ; wliile not a 
few officials, as well as Colonists and Ceylonese, 
lost a loyal and warm-hearted friend. 
OVERHEAD NETTING FOR TOMATOES. 
A correspondent of the Garden and Field says on 
this subject : -this is a plan I have not tried, but 
I know whe.e it is used with success. A number of 
stakes 2 inches or so in thickness, and from 18 inches 
to 21 inches long, are prepared and driven in the 
ground at intervals along the row of plants, thus : — 
0 0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 0 
The stakes are driven so that the tops are even 
and about 12 inches out of the ground ; and OTer 
the whole a piece of wire netting of 2 or 3 inch 
mesh is stretched and nailed to the tops of the pegs. 
The plants are allowed to grow up through the net- 
ting and spread over the upper surface. I believe 
the plan answers well, and has the merit of being 
no trouble after being put up. Iti this case the 
growt'n of the plants is not regulated. I describe it 
for t"he benefit of readers, and am trying it on a 
row of plants. I shall, however, use a less number 
of pegs, and put crosspieces of batten to support the 
netting. 
If the tomato plants show signs of disease by an 
unhealthy appearance of leaves, or scabby fruit, 
they should be at once sprayed with Bordeaux mix- 
ture of a strength of 4 lb. of bluestone, 4 to 6 lb. 
of quicklimo, and 40 gallons of water. — Queensland 
Ar/ricultural Journal. 
Pink Lily of the "Vallby.— Dr. Houseman, of 
Houghton-le-Spring, sends us a spike of Lily of the 
Valley, in which the flowers are very small, but of 
a distinct rose-pink colour. The variety is now rarely 
met with, but in tho time of our fore-fathers it was 
more frequent, though never ahnnd&nt.—Gard^iierf' 
Chronicle. 
