EOTAL BOTANIC G-AEDENS. 
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR FOR 1899. 
1. — Changes and Movements in the Staff. 
The Director was on leave from June 11 to November 10, inclusive ; the bulk of this time wai 
spent in England, especially at Kew, in botanical work of diiferent kinds. A careful study wai 
made of the Ceylon and Indian Podostemacece in the herbaria and museums of Kev?, Paris, &c. 
numbers of specimens of economic products were taken home for report and comparison ; and ever; 
opportunity of obtaining information of value in the conduct of the work done at Peradeniya wai 
taken. Mr. Nock, Superintendent of Hakgala, acted as Director during the five months, and carrie( 
on the work of the Department with efficiency, his work at Hakgala being performed during the las 
cwo months by Mr. Macmillan, Curator of Peradeniya Garden. Mr. E. E. Green, hitherto Honorar;; 
Entomologist, was appointed to a permanent post as Entomologist during the year, and assumed dut; 
on October 6. Mr. Parkin left for England in April, after the completion of his investigations int( 
indiarubber. 
The conductor of the Badulla Garden, Mr. D. A. Gunaratna, retired at the end of January, an( 
his post was filled by the promotion of Mr. D. D. Fernando, first upper gardener. Mr. M. G. Perera 
clerk and foreman of Hakgala, retired in July ; and Mr. A Perera, foreman of the Experimenta 
Grounds, Peradeniya, was appointed in his stead. The latter foremanship was filled by the appoint 
ment on probation of Mr. J. M. Alwis, second upper gardener. The vacancies in the upper gardener 
ship were filled by the appointment of Messrs. T. Young and W. de Alwis. 
2. — General. 
The general condition of the two principal gardens has been much improved during the yeai 
and there has also been an improvement in the branch garden at Badulla. The extension of th 
scientific side of the Department has also progressed steadily during the year. A new laboratory, ii 
which there will be room for the proper cai-rying out of researches into the physiology and patholog; 
of plants and the investigation of their properties and uses on a small scale, has been constructed b; 
the Department of Public Works, and should be ready for occupation early in 1900. In it there i 
also sufficient room for a few workers from abroad, whom it is hoped to attract to Ceylon in increasini 
numbers. The scientific staff has been strengthened by the appointment of an Entomologist. Mi 
Parkin left after carrying out some very useful investigations into the chemistry, &c., of rubber whicl 
are described elsewhere. 
Much attention has been given to the thorough reorganization and equipment of the Depart 
ment, and in a couple of years more this will, it is hoped, be J'airly complete. The Library, tha 
most essential part of such an establishment, has been overhauled, catalogued, and re-arranged, am 
some of the most serious gaps in the literature filled ; a large number of periodicals dealing wit] 
agriculture and botany are now received, and the Library will in a few years become a very good on€ 
It may be well in this place to call the attention of the general public to the fact that this Librar 
exists, and that reading permits may be obtained on application. The publication of circulars ha 
been continued, and seems to be appreciated by those for whose use they are designed. With th 
increase of the stafi: these publications will be more frequently issued. A considerable number o 
experiments with economic plants have been carried on, but we are much handicapped by want o 
space for larger experiments, which would be better carried on in a special experimental garden. 
3. — Peradeniya Garden. 
This has been much improved during the year. From the Curator's report I make th 
following extracts : — 
General.— T\xQ process of rendering useful and attractive as far as possible every portion of the extensiv 
grounds has been vigorously carried on. Special attention has been given to the old arboretum which was hithert 
more or less beyond our means, and much useless and superfluous growth removed in favour of young and mor 
