Aug. 1, 1899.1 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
81 
his mental force has not abated, is shown by the 
above "autobiographic" notes written at (ur 
request only a few weeks ago to accompany his 
old-age portrait, photographed and etched by 
Messis. W. L. H. Skeen & Co. in June last. To the 
veteran of Kosgalla, Katnapura, we can only now 
wish a quiet time for undisturbed reflection and 
meditation as well as for the daily spell of work 
still required of him. 
With W. B. Lament it has eminently been a case 
of laborare est orarc ; and we may say : — 
At eventide let there be lifiht, and— peace. 
FRUITS SUITABLE FOR THE LOW 
COUNTRY AND FOR MODERATE 
ELEVATIONS IN CEYLON. 
(From Circular Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, 
Series l.—No. 15, June 1899.) 
The following pages contain a brief account of 
tropical fruits (mostly cultivated), with general direc- 
tions for their treatment. They may be obtained 
(usually in bamboo-pots) iu small quantities from 
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeuiya, on prepay- 
ment of cost ; plants are delivered at the gardens 
or at Peradeniya railway station. 
Seeds where mentioned can only be supplied when 
in season. 
General Directions. 
Planting. — No arbitrary rules for planting can be 
laid down, as so much depends on climate, locality, 
and soil. Wet weather should however be always 
selected for the work, otherwise the late afternoon 
should be chosen in preference to the forenoon. The 
ground should be prepared and holes made before the 
plants are removed from their pots or nursery beds, 
80 that no unnecessary delay may occur iu planting 
them out. It is eveu preferable to have the holes 
opened some months previous to planting, as the soil 
thus exposed to the action of the air will be rendered 
more nutritive. For dimensions of hole to be dug and 
distances to plant apart, the character of the soil and 
the proportionate Fize of the plant when full, grown 
must be respectively considered, larger holes being 
necessary where the soil is poor and gravelly. For 
trees and shrubs generally, and in moderately good 
soil, holes about 2 ft. deep and 3 ft. iu diameter may 
be recommended Large trees, such as Durian, Sand- 
oricum, Rambutan, Ac, should be planted 10 to 50 
ft. apart. 
Soil and Manure. — Unless the soil is already of the 
desired condition, it will be improved by the addition 
of oH mannre, chopped decayed tnrf, mal, and old 
mortar rubbish, according to the need of the plants, 
a small proportion of sand being olten necessary for 
giving porosity. Occasional surface dressings of a pre- 
pared compost and appl cations of liquid manure are 
most beneficial. Fresh manure of any kind should not 
be placed next the roots of a plant. 
Shading and Watering. — These should have special 
attention, as the insufficiency or overbundance of 
either at first may cause irreparable damage to the 
plants. In the case of plants planted at considerable 
distances apart, shade by means of fast growing 
intercrops, such as Plantains, may be practicalsle ; 
shelter from strong winds would also be thus afforded. 
All seed-pans, pots, boxes, or beds should be kept 
shaded, and only sufficiently moist to enable the seeds 
to germinate. After seedlings appear above ground 
less shade and more moisture will be required. If the 
v/eather be dry, daily watering of plants planted out 
will be necessary until they are well established. 
Pruning. — Tirnely thinning out of superfluous, de- 
cayed, or weakly growtho will greatly assist iu the 
perfect development and productiveness of a plant. 
Pruning back the ends of shoots will conduce to the 
formation of branches and to a spreading habit. 
Weeding. — The ground should be kept free of weeds 
until at least the plants are sufficiently strong to 
supersede them. Frequent forking up for stirring of 
the surface soil is eminently conducive to the well- 
being of plants. The encroahment of roots from 
suri-oundiug trees, which rapidly impoverish the soil, 
may be checked by cutting trenches at suitable 
distances round the plants. 
Propagation. — The various forms of grafting, budd- 
ing, and layering, as well as propagation bj' cuttings, 
suckers, roots, or leaves, are the surest means of 
raising pl<nts true to their kinds, the newly-made 
plant being in each case merely a counterpart of the 
parent plant. Plants raised from seed, however, 
make more shapely, finer, and generally healthier 
trees, shrubs, &c. ; but they are liable to variation 
from the parent stock according as the flowers of the 
latter are disposed to be affected by foreign pollen in 
their fertilization. Only the best seeds from mature 
and perfect fruits should be selected for sowing, and 
they should be sown of course before their germina- 
tive powers become impaired or lost. Seeds generally 
require to be sown in a light sandy soil, which should 
be kept only moderately moist, and as a rule they 
may have a covering of soil equal to their own thick- 
ness. Whore practicable, it is advisable to have 
plants transplanted out into beds, or peiferably into 
b:imboo-pots, plant-baskets, or ordinary earthenware 
pots, and tended for some time previous to planting 
them out where intended to grow. 
FRUIT PLANTS 
FOR SALE AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, PEUADENIYA. 
Abbreviations: ,S'. = Sinhalese ; 2'. = Tamil; Prop. 
= Propagation. 
Aberia Gardacri.—Ket-embiWa:, S. and T. 
A small shrubby tree of the Uguressa family ende- 
mic in Ceylon. The pale, purple, velvety edible fruit 
is of the size, form, and consistency of a gooseberry, 
with a pleasant acid taste. It makes excellent tarts 
and jam. Season, August to Septemte:% Thrives at 
medium altitudes, in light loamy soil. Prop, by seed. 
Sown in pots or boxes under cover. 
Price: Small plants 25 cents each. 
Achras Sapota. — Sapodilla-plum; Bully-tree; Nase- 
berry; Bata-mi, <S'. ; Shimai eluppai, 1\ 
A small symmetrical tree witn dark green shining 
leaves, native of Tropical America. Fruit globular, 
about the si^ie of a plant, with dark brown tender 
rind. When q^rte ripe it is considered of the most 
luscious of tropic .1 fruits, the pulp being sweet and 
refreshing, and somewhat of the consistency of a pear. 
In India it is often sold under the name of Mangoes- 
teen. Season, November to February. The tree 
furnishes an elastic gum used in medicine, and the 
barK is considered to have febrifugal properties. 
Thrives in the low-country and up to 1,000 ft., in 
deep and well-drained soil. Prop, by seed and layer- 
ing. Seeds similar to those of Soursop. Sow in 
nursery beds. 
Price : Plants 25 cents each ; seeds 25 cents per 
packet. 
.iEgle Ilarmelos. — Bengal-quince ; Bael-fruit ; Baeli, 
S. ; Vilvom, T. 
A small spiny tree of the Orange family, considered 
a native of India. The fruit is comparable in form to 
a large orange, with a hard green shell, the interior 
containing a mass of doughy aromatic pulp, inter- 
mingled with which is a limpid glutinous substance, 
which some relish and consider of an agreeable 
flavour. It is renowned for its medicinal properties, 
being used especially in native medicine as a specifio 
fordjsentery and fever. Season, chiefly February to 
April. Low-country and medium altitudes. Prop, by 
seed. Sow in open beds. •. ' ' 
Price : Plants 20 cents each ; seeds 25 cents per 
packet. 
Anacardiuni octtV/tnto^e,— Cashewnut ; Caju-gaha, 
5. i Muudiri-maram. T. 
