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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
4.— LABORATORY, MUSEUM, HERBARIUM. 
The new Laboratory was completed on February 24, but owing to difficulty in obtaining teak 
the furniture was not ready till nearly the end of the year, and work was carried on with many 
inconvenient makeshifts. In addition to the regular workers (Director, Mycologist, Entomologist, 
Assistant), the following visitors have used the Laboratory during the year: — Dr. Preyer of Berlin, 
January 1 to 19 ; Mr. R. H, Yapp of Cambridge, February 1 to 15 ; Dr. Giesenhagen, Lecturer in the 
University of Munich, March 8 to 30 ; Dr. W. H. Lang, Lecturer in the University of Glasgow, 
August 6 to November 24 ; Mr. A. G. Tansley, Assistant Professor in University College, London, 
October 1 to November 24 ; Dr. C. Holtermann, Lecturer in the University of Berlin, November 29 
to December 31. The Director was engaged in various economic studies, and in completing the 
m onograph of the Podostemacese (a short tour in Western India was made in the latter part of the year 
to obtain material for this work and to visit the gardens, &c., of Bombay, Poona, Madras, Ootacamund, 
privilege leave being granted for the purpose). The work done by the other members of the staif is 
described in their reports. Dr. Preyer was engaged in the study of certain problems in economic 
botany, especially cacao and indiarubber ; the other workers were occupied with investigations into 
the anatomy, morphology, and physiology of plants. 
The fifth and last volume of the Flora of Ceylon appeared early in the year, written by the 
veteran botanist, Sir J. D. Hooker. The Colony now possesses perhaps the best existing Colonial 
Flora. At the same time, this flora is anything but complete ; there are yet many new species to be 
discovered, and many occur in other localities than those mentioned. For the filling up of the gaps 
we must rely largely on the help of local botanists, and an attempt will shortly be made to interest 
more of the public than have hitherto cared for such things in the study of this most fascinating of 
the sciences. Suggestions to this end will be cordially welcomed. 
Conifers or Fir Trees. — It is interesting to note that several species of these, chiefly Australian, 
find here congenial conditions for growth, some of them (the Araucarias and Agathis) attaining to 
a great height. The site set specially apart for this order on the highest elevation in the gardens has 
been laid out to better effect, the number of species being also added to. 
Cultivation and Experi^nents. — It has been found necessary to propagate and maintain an 
unusually large stock of young plants of fruit, shade, and windbelt trees in order to meet the 
increased demand for such caused by the recent publication of Circulars on these subjects. 
Efforts which at present promise some success have been made to graft the mangosteen 
(Garcinia Mangostana) on the Cochin goraka {Garcinia Xanthochtjmus), a species of quicker growth 
and easy cultivation. 
Partly successful attempts have been made to raise nutmeg plants by layering. This will be 
of importance if found generally practicable, as the nutmeg tree being unisexual the risk of too many 
male trees occurring in a plantation made from seedling plants may thus be avoided, 
A new kitchen garden, for the purpose of testing the suitability of native and exotic vegetables 
to local conditions, has been made behind the Palmirah avenue, where it does not mar the view. 
A beginning has been made in getting together a collection of all the principal varieties of 
plantains (bananas) growing in Ceylon, with a view of making the best kinds better known and dis- 
carding the worthless ones. Upwards of 23 varieties have so far been obtained. 
The mango trees received as grafted plants from Poona in 1884 have not as yet fruited, though 
some have flowered irregularly since the last seven years. One cause of this is probably that they 
were too thickly planted (15 by 15 feet). Early in the year some of the trees were cut down with a 
view of inducing the remainder (10) to come into bearing. Of the latter, some were trenched round 
then at a distance of 7 feet from the trunk, others supplied with about 12 lb. of salt forked in with 
the soil round the tree, while the rest were " thrashed " by means of a long bamboo, which acted as a 
severe form of pruning. These are treatments which are said to be effectual in other countries, but 
as yet unsuccessful here, though it may yet be too early to expect good results. 
In regard to experiments in vegetable or fruit cultivation it may be mentioned that possibly 
the greatest drawback here is the daring pilfering habits of the natives. For example, sets of 
selected yams were stolen from the ground after being planted out with particular care for 
experimental purposes. 
The introduction of special varieties of tobacco, referred to in last year's report, has not proved 
a success. Plots were prepared in different parts of the garden, and the seedlings planted out as soon 
as strong enough and the weather suitable, viz., in the beginning of April. Shortly after, however, • 
these began to show a swelling of the stem at the ground surface, this being the result of a grub 
which embedded itself in the young stem and gradually ate away the heart of the plant. Only a few 
of the plants survived, and these were preserved for seed purposes, a few plots being again planted 
out with their offspring, which so far have not been similarly attacked, 
