( 6 ) 
yielded at the rate of nearly 9^ tons pei- acre. A quantity of the roots wan dried and nliced, and was 
t'orwardfed to England for report. 
Fruit. — A large number of different kinds of papaws have been planted at Peradeniya, chiefly 
for the purpose of trying experiments upon the yield of pepsin. Pineapples continue to do well at 
Henaratgoda, and it is much to be regretted tliat when such magnificent fruit can be so easily and 
cheaply grown here, no attempt has been made to place it upon the home market, whether fresh or 
in tins. No other country can produce such large pines as those mentioned, and their flavour is 
excellent. 
The oranges in the North-Central Province have suffered much from an obscure disease that 
manifests itself by gummy exudations from the bark, the parts above the gummy place dying off. 
Many of the best trees in the Anuradhapura District have fallen victims to this disease. 
The fine varieties of mango in the south garden have begun to flower, but no fruits were obtained 
this year. 
The European fruit trees at Hakgala have fared very badly this year, sixty of them dying 
during the severe drought. One of the plants of " Alucha yellow plum " raised from cuttings received 
from Saharanpur in 1895 fruited this year. This is a very promising plum ; the flavour isgood, and 
the colour a fine lemon yellow. The largest fruit was 5^ inches in circumference. 
Fodder Plants. — A small bed of the tree lucerne, Genista prolifera. was planted at Hakgala in 
July. It looks healthy and grows well, but is not likely to rival the true lucerne. The lucerne, 
Medicago sativa, has done very well at Hakgala this year. A small plot was cut over close to the 
ground on 5tb February and dressed with Oldendorf's Peruvian guano. It grew in six weeks to a 
height of 24 to 4,5 inches, and gave a yield at the rate of 6i tons of green fodder per acre, or over 50 
tons per year— a splendid yield. 
The much-talked-of Florida velvet bean, Mucuna pruricns, var. utilis, does not thrive at all 
well at Hakgala, but does better in the more low-lying gardens. 
Polygonum sacaliitense, the sachaline is quite a failure at Hakgala, the plants merely existing. 
The soybean, Glijcinc hispida, was tried in Hakgala garden. Seed was sown in February, 
and grew very well indeed, but the monsoon, coming on just as they were ripening up, damaged them 
very much. The seed collected from these was sown in July, and began to grow well, but in Augiisi 
all tlie plants were eaten by some animal, presumably mouse-deer. 
Garludovim palviata. — This plant was mentioned in tlie last report. A small plot of it has been 
laid out at Peradeniya, and during the year specimens of the leaves were prepared for plaiting as 
described in the written accounts of the manufacture in America. We were not however able to 
prepare specimens so good as those made in America and preserved at Kew. 
Ornamental Plants. — The fine new varieties of cannas planted at Peradeniya have flowered 
well, and have been a great success. Victoria regia has been flowered successfully both at Peradeniya 
and at Anuradhapura. A fine specimen of the talipot palm flowered in the nursery at Peradeniya. 
Seeds have for the first time been obtained of the pretty Malayan palm, Cyrtostachys renda, which 
has red leaf sheaths ; the specimens of it at Peradeniya are much admired and inquiries are often 
made for young plants, which we shall in future be able to meet to some extent. 
Report op the Honorary Entomologist. 
Mr. Green has done an immense amount of work during the year ; from his full report I make 
the following extracts : — ^ 
Owing to the drought up-country in the early months of the year and to the comparative failure of the south- 
west monsoon, there has been a marked increase in damage from insect pests of all kinds during 1898. Numerous 
complaints have been received of widespread injury from various insects that have hitherto attracted little attention. 
The more important insects of the year are noticed below. 
Orthezia inaignis, Dougl. (the lantana bug). —Considerable attention was drawn to this insect by its rapid 
increase throughout the Kandy District and along the railway. Besides the unsightly effect of the unhealthy and 
blackened vegetation, it was feared that the pest might spread on to the tea. That such fears were not altogether 
groundless was proved by the receipt from the Rangalla district of tea shoots thickly infested with Orthezia. Two 
small fields surrounded by chena scrub and native gardens were said to be attacked ; but it is hoped that the strong 
measures taken have successfully checked its further extension on the tea. Fortunately tea does not appear to be a 
congenial food plant, and so far has only been attacked where the bug, has been crowded off the lantana or other infested 
shrubs. The danger lies in the possibility of the insect acquiring a taste for the tea plant when it has once obtained 
a foothold there. On this account it is strongly advised tliat wide boundaries should be cleared back wherever lantana 
scrub or chena impinges upon tea fields in infected districts. It is most desirable too that measures should be taken 
to check the extension of the pest in waste lands. This is best effected by firing the scrub twice a year, if it can be 
safely done. At present the pest is principally confined within a radius of twenty miles round Kandy ; but if 
unchecked, it may be expected to range over the whole Island within the next few years. A full account of its life 
history, with recommendations for its treatment, is now in the press as the next " circular " to be issued. 
Paddy Pests. — In May and June considerable alarm was caused to cultivators of and dealers in paddy by the 
-sudden increase of " weevil " among the stored grain, resulting in considerable loss of grain and depreciation of the 
value of the ren)ainder. At the height of tlie panic paddy was sold in some places at the ruinous rate of 2h cents aj 
