718 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
out into new growth, in October, Several of the last named flowered and a few acorns have set, 
which proves that the plants are now established. 
Holly. — It may be interesting to note that a plant of the common English holly, which was 
raised from seeds sown in 1895, has borne a few berries this year. I believe this is the first time 
that holly berries have been produced in this country. 
Fruit Trees. — The dry weather appears to have been very beneficial to the foreign fruit trees, 
as they made very good growth after the light rains in May, especially the apples and plums. 
Anona Ghe^^imolia. — It has been generally supposed that the " Cherimoyer," though it grows 
remarkably well and flowers freely, would not fruit at this elevation — 5, GOO feet. However, I am 
glad to be able to report that one of the first plants introduced to Ceylon, and perhaps to the Eastern 
World, has borne 30 fruits here this year. The fruits, which ripened in November and December, 
were well shaped, of good size, weighing up to tAvo pounds, with a circumference of 15 inches, and 
the flavour was delicious. Plants of this desirable fruit grown at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 feet 
generally bear fruit in from four to five years from seeds. 
The plant mentioned above is 15 or 16 years old, so that the higher the elevation the longer it 
takes to come into bearing. But the fruiting this year is probably due to the fact that the first 5| 
months were very dry and favourable for the ripening of the buds and setting of the flowers. 
Porciqnnes, Hare, and Mouse Deer. — Porcupines were again very destructive to arum and other 
lilies and bulbous plants at the beginning of the year. 
Hares and mouse deer, especially the latter, have been very troublesome all through the year, 
more particularly among the violets and poppies, which plants they appear to be very fond of, the 
foliage of the plants being regularly eaten down. 
Visitors. — The number of visitors recorded during the year was 1,818, against 1,805 last year. 
The largest number in any one month was 301 in April against 421 of the same month of the year 
before. The smallest number in any month was 34 in June against 19 in October last year. 
8.— HBNARATGODA GARDEN. 
This has been kept in fair order during the year ; the conservatory has been repaired, and also 
the bungalow. It is proposed to attach it in 1901 to Peradeniya in a more intimate way than has 
been the case hitherto, and a plan of working is being drawn up. The garden was visited by 310 
visitors. 
The average fall for the ten years 1891-1900 is 99-94 in. 162 days. 
9.— ANURADHAPURA GARDEN. 
This garden has as usual suffered much from drought. It has been kept in fair order, and 
various interesting experiments have been tried on a small scale. Until the opening of the new 
railway and irrigation works, there is but little to be done in this district. A small sale of plants 
goes on, and through the assistance of the Government Agent free distributions of useful plants and 
seeds are made in the outlying villages, a useful work which is beginning to bear fruit. 
10.— BADULLA GARDEN. 
This has continued to improve, and is now in very good order. The trees have been consider- 
ably thinned out, and the remainder have now room to expand. New and permanent cooly lines 
are much needed as well as a good plant house. The stock of plants for sale has been kept up, but 
ti:iere has been less inquiry for them than last year. Experiments on a comparatively large scale 
have been tried with tobacco and other products, but the space available is too small to do much 
more than keep up one or two plants of each of the kinds likely to be asked for. The main road 
through the garden was gravelled by aid of a vote of Rs. 100 kindly granted by the Local Board. 
