Sept. 1, 1903.] . Suppleynent to the " Tropical AgricuUtirid" 
215 
2. The programme kindly arraaged for me 
by Mr. Driebei'g, the Superiatendeiit of School 
Gardens, together with the guidance of the 
Director, Royal B )tanic Gardens, assisted rae 
considerably in my task. Tiie conclusion \ 
arrived at was to a^vard Handapangoda 
School 1st prize (Rs. 50), Kumbaloluwa 2nd 
pri^e (special silver medal), Kiriwitudua 
3rd prize (silver medal), and Mirigaraa 
4th prize (certificate). Had there been a fifth 
prize I should have recommended tiie Girli' Sciiool 
at KumbaloUivsra for it, altliongh it did not com- 
pete, for I think it is exceptional to find native 
women taking such interest in garden work as is 
here displayed. Next to the above, in order of 
merit,- were the schools at Danowita, Oorapolln, 
Jambureliya, and Galahitiyawa. Kesbewa school, 
although visited, did not enter the competition, 
3. At the outset I arranged to base my decision 
on the following points ;— Area cultivated, variety 
of jjlants grown, (a, economic, b. ornamental 
plants), skill, and method. Other conditions, how- 
ever, had also to be considered, viz., the locality, 
facilities available, and natural drawbacks, Con- 
trary to expectation the most inaccessible localities 
have accounted for the best gardens. Subjoined 
are brief notes on each garden, with a list 
of the chief contents which I noted growing. 
4. I am not however disposed to conclude that 
the uusuccesful competitors have hidden their 
talents. Some of the schools, notably Knuiba- 
loluwa and Kesbewa, are struggling with such 
obi'ious disadvantages as poor soils, want of 
manure and scarcity of water; whilst Galahi- 
tiyawa, and, to some extent Danowita, have not 
yet passed the initial stage of clearing the site 
of jungle. 
5. There was noticeable a general sameness in 
the variety of plants grown. Betel, Manyokkn, 
Sugarcane and Habaralas formed as a rule the 
elii'ef constituents of the garden, the first-named 
always predominating. In most gardens there 
were a few seedlings of Buckwheat, which I 
think should be replaced with something more 
useful ; also some Mulberry plants, which were 
generally flourishing. Small beds of English 
vegetables were in some cases represented, though 
only as meagre specimens. Good curry-making 
vegetables are the most appreciated, and for this 
reason other sorts have indifferent values set upon 
them. For instance, the leaves of radishes are 
used, I am told, in preference to the roots, and the 
plants are therefore allowed to grow ou indefinitely. 
6. The absence of ornamental plants was 
generally conspicuous, and where grown they 
mainly consisted of Caunas, common Caladiums, 
and Alternauthera. Ornamental gardening as a 
whole is obviously, and perhaps wisely, held in 
secondary importance. Only in two gardens, 
Danowita and Mirigama, were attempts made at 
labelling the beds; at the former school these were 
writtenln Sinhalese, and the laiter in English. 
7. Although none of the gardens cm be said to 
have yet atiained to any standard of merit, the 
average progress made is remarkable and praise- 
worthy. Tliis can only be fully appreciated by 
a consideration of the surrounding conditions 
ftUd influences, at well as of the natural iaapti^ 
tude of the teachers and, their want of any special 
training. The poorer people are indifferent to 
gardening of any sort, and the batter-to-do classes 
are apparently averse to it owing to the manual 
labour it involves. Therefore, anything even 
approaching a methodical arrangement of beds and 
borders filled with useful plants, is a step forward, 
and should be encouraged. 
8. As to the functions of the School Gardens, 
I have been much impre.-sed with the need there 
exists for any system by which the better kinds 
of fruits and vegetables could be introduced into 
districts where these are unknown, and which 
would conduce towards the natives cultivating 
the be.'jt kinds and varieties in preference to the 
most inferior sorts. The reason of the scarcity 
of good, or any, fruits in the native districts is 
diflicult to understand. Coconuts and plantains 
were pr^tetically the only fruits met with, and the 
latter only of the poorest va^^etie.^, viz., Embul- 
honarawala and Puwalu. Kolikuttu and Suwandel, 
the best plantains, are not grown in the districts 
visited by me, and on the whole tour I noted only 
two Papaw trees, which were young specimens 
without fruit in two different school gardens. 
Q, Were I asked to make suggestions, I would 
recommend that each teacher should keep a sort; 
of record-book for the garden, entering in it all 
seels and plants as received, with date of receipt, 
and from whom received. This would not add 
much to his duties, and once the system was e^tab- • 
lished, it could be extended according to the 
resources of the teacher. A list of the plants grov?ri 
in each garden might also be prepared and kept 
up to date by the teacher respousible. This would 
be instructive and would also serve as -a check on 
vandalism in the event of transference of teachers. 
10- The use of labels should be encouraged, as 
they add considerably to the interest, appearance 
and even usefulness of a garden. 
11, A piece of lawn about a school always looks 
attractive and affords a playground for the 
children ; it requires but little trouble to keep it 
up, and it may help to feed a cow. I would 
therefore recommend that where practicable 
the making and maintaining of playgrounds 
be encouraged. , 
12. The teachers, and if practicable the pupils, 
should be encouraged to visit centres of gardening 
activity, more particularly the Peradeniya 
and Branch gardens. They could thus acquire 
much information and new ideas regarding plants 
and methods of planting, propagating, &c. 
In the interests of the agricultural and horti- 
cultural development of the Island, and as an aid 
tn the object of the Batanic Department, I would 
strongly advocate all supp ort and encouragement 
to be given to the School Gardens. 
I am, Sir, 
Your obedient Servant, 
H. F. MACMILLAN. 
Cwtttor, R. B. Gardens, Peradeniya. 
The Director, 
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, 
