Aug. 1, 1900.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
1-15 
THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, 
PERADBNIYA. 
CliVLO.N. 
A few notes, ^^■^itteu in the middle of February, 
on what may be termed a typical tropical garden, 
may have some interest. Probably at no other 
time of the year is the contrast bet^veen sueli a 
yjarden and an English one sreater ; not, however, 
that the latter is without charms even now, more 
especially in the memory of I'esideuts in a land 
where perpetual summer reigns, and Nature is 
practically nex'er at rest. 
Situated at an elevation of about 1,500 feet above 
the level of tlie sea 7'^ north of the equator, and 
witli a mean annual temperature of 77° Fahr. (as 
low as 68° being seldom experienced), the - feataros 
of the vegetation at the above lieadquarters of the 
Botanical Department in Ceylon may claim to be 
fairly representative of those which generally 
characterise the equatorial regions, and which, 
when available, are an unfailing source of interest 
and fascination to the botanist and horticulturist 
alike. Flanking the approach to these gardens of 
150 acres, and close on a century old, is a row of 
tall, spreadins' trees, about 140 feet high, with re- 
markable buttressed trunks and flattened roots, 
the latter meandering over the ground, suggesting 
huge saurians. These the new-comer will be sur- 
prised to learn, notwithstanding a fair acquain- 
tance with hot-house plants, upon whicii he is 
likely to reflect witli pardonable pride, are Ficus 
elastica, an old favourite poc-plant. 
On either side of the principal entrance stands a 
stately African Oil Palm (Eia;is guineensis), tlie 
gate jjillars being completely draped with Big- 
nonia unguis-cati of Brazil, which bears a pro- 
fusion of beautiful yellow flowers, and occasionally 
its curious long pods, which are from three feet to 
Ave feet in length. Immediately on entering, the 
visitor is confronted with a very fine oval group of 
Palms, containing some sixty species, represent- 
ing all parts of the tropics ; whilst forming an 
effective undergrowth amongst these are several 
species of Gycads. Overshading the drive on the 
left is seen a good example of the amazingly luxu- 
riant habit, combined with extreme beauty, wdiich 
is peculiar to certain tropical climbers ; this is the 
Thunbergia grandiflora, which, though soon be- 
coming an unmanageable weed if permitted, is 
here allowed to form a dense screen of evergreen 
foliage, studded with large mauve flowers, reach- 
ing, by the support of tall trees, to a height of from 
70 feet to 80 feet from the ground. Passing round 
to the right the completely shaded Nutmeg- walk is 
reachedi and few walks ofter more temptation to 
visit than this. The Nectarine-like fruits lianging 
from the Nutmeg-trees in abundance, and in all 
stages of development, mixed with the flowers, 
some just " setting," others ripe and splitting- 
open, displaying the large brown nut enclosed in 
the pretty briglit red mace ; the various other 
spice trees — Clove, Allspice, Cinnamon, &c. — all 
are apt to make the stranger find some justifica- 
tion in Hebers " spicy breezes " — 
" Wliere every prospect pleases. 
And only man is vile." 
Stretching out from the oval Palm group is the 
straight main central drive (see Supplement in 
present issue), which shows a portion of this, but 
it is impossible, even for the camera, to do justice 
to the scene, such is the wealth of colouring, the 
grateful coolness fwhicli can only bs fully ajipre- 
ciated in the tropics' from the chequered light, the 
indescribable mixture of odours, the chatter and 
cooing of liright-plumaged birds, and the murmur 
and buzzing of insects. Rising gradually from 
verges of Amaryllids, is a diversified collection of 
flowering and foliage shrubs, herbaceous and bul- 
bous plants, shaded by a background of tall trees, 
interspersed with Palms. 
15 
One of the photographs sent represents the 
Monument Road, wliich leads to a cenotaph 
erected to the memory of a former director of the 
gardens. Tiiis stands on a knoll overlooking large 
expanses of undulating lawns, the lake, the Tali- 
pot Avenue (Corypha umbraculifera, tlie giant oi 
Palms), the handsome bridge of Satinwoorf (Chlo- 
roxylouSvvietenia) spanning the river which forms 
the boundary of the,garden&\ Along either side of 
the road is a row of circular beds, planted with 
more attractive or unique shrubs, and fringed by 
the large white-flowered Amaryllis solandripflora 
and others. Over-arehins2- the nearer end are two 
of the gorgeous-flowered Flamboyant trees 'Poin- 
ciana regia), half hidden by Peti'fea volubilis, an 
exceedingly beautiful climber, producing here in 
great profusion its sprays of violet and turquoise- 
blue flowers ; whilst the farther end is sliaded by 
nrigniticent specimens of Terrainalia iielerica, 
Pometia eximia, &c., attaining to gigantic propor- 
tions ; here also are some Austx-alian Conifera>— 
Agathis i-obusta, Araucaria Gooki, A. Bid Willi, 
&c. ; whilst close to these are such interesting and' 
handsome trees as the Durian tree (Durio zibethi- 
nus», which produces excellent but malodorous 
fruit ; the famous Upas tree (Antiaris toxicaria) of 
Java ; the double Cocoanut-Palm (Lodoicea sechel- 
larum) ; the Mammee-Apple (Mammea americana) 
of the West Indies; the Brazil-nut tree (Bertho- 
letia excelsa) ; and the brilliant-flowered Amhers- 
tia nobilis and Lager-stroemia Flos-re.giuie. 
Passing tlirough the Liane Drive there are seen 
some splendid Lianes, the great copyright of the 
tropics. Here in the tangle cf untraceable festoons 
of huge and embracing climbers, which soar to the 
highest tree-top, abound tlie flying squirrel (Pter- 
omys Oral), an animal of nocturnal habits, similar 
to a li.ght-brown cat in appearance, and measuring 
over four feet from head to end of tail, and about 
the same in expanse of wings. Different from this 
and somewhat smaller, is the Flying-fox (Pteropus 
Edwardsii), a reddish-brown f rugivorous creature 
of gregarious and nocturnal habits. Certain trees' 
if tall enough, And special favour with the Flying- 
fox, colonies of which sleep together during the 
day, suspending themselves by their hinddegs to 
the branches, and thus sway gently in the breeze 
till dusk. Sir .John Lubbock said that in the 
tropics "everything seemed to climb to the light." 
Plants, beasts, insects, and reptiles climb, the 
latter including snakes as well as. lizards, from a 
few inches to five and six feet in length. 
Continuing on from Liane Drive, a tine solitary 
specimen of Ficus elastica is suddenly presented in 
view. The extraordinary character of the roots 
resembling bulwarks or fortifications, may be seen 
to advantage. Creeping up to the topmost 
branches is the large white-flowered Oereus trian- 
gularis. 
Incidentally, a tree of Ficus religiosa at Anu- 
radhapura — once an imposing city, and capital of 
Ceylon, which the merciless jungle buried for 
centuries, but the ruins of which have lately been 
partly unearthed— is the oldest historical tree in 
(• -^'onee. It was planted 288 years B.C., so thai 
it IS at least 2188 years old ! This species is en- 
dowed with miraculous powers in native relio-ion 
and promotes the spiritual welfare of the'^Sin- 
halese and other Asiatics. A true Buddhist will 
sooner sacrifice his pay than cut a twig or pull a 
seedling of this tree. 
In the flower-garden is an octagonal plant-house 
to the right. Appearing above the latter is the 
crown of the wild Date-palm (Phcenix sylvestris) 
next to this being the straight and spiny stemmed 
Acrocoryne sclerocarpa. A tall cluster of Palms 
with slender stetos is Oncosperma filameiitosa 
and in front to the left is a handsome specimen of 
Phoenix reclinata, behind which are Calyptrocalyx 
spicatus, Livistonas, &c. Here also is a" variety'of 
the more ornamental tropical climbers trained on 
trellis-work arbours, where they are seen to 
advantage. In the beds and borders tlie moSt 
