( 151 ) 
or two moulded capitals of gate pillars belonging 
to the forts, are the only specimens of the stone- 
cutter's art that I have seen in the island, with 
the exception of the tombstones, and the only 
ornamental tiles a number of blue tiles with 
pictorial representations of scriptural and classical 
subjects which were found some years ago in a 
house at Galle. 
LEGACY OF THE DUTCH BUILDKRS. 
Dutch architecture, however, has left its mark 
on the native house-building and furniture making 
of the island, and this is to be seen even at the 
present day. When the wealthier natives — chiefs 
and traders — began to build houses in what they 
considered to be the European style, they and their 
workmen naturally copied what they had been 
for many years accustomed to see in the houses of 
their Dutch masters, especially such features as the 
pillared and railed verandah or stoep with its scroll- 
shaped end walls and seats built of masonry, the 
large doorways with square fanlights, and many- 
paned windows with shutter painted in bright 
colours. The doors and shutters were panelled in 
the Dutch style, and the large fanlights have 
also been adopted from the Dutch, and are to 
be seen in houses built after they left the island, 
filled in some eases with the floriated woodwork 
designs which the Sinhalese carpenters seem to 
have themselves developed. The Dutch boundary- 
wall, with its square pillars and pedestal and series 
of chain like divisions, still remains a favourite. 
So it has come about that many houses belonging 
to well-to-do natives have a suggestion of the 
Dutch about them, though the Dutch never built 
them or inhabited tliem. Even the small detached 
belfry is often to be found as an adjunct of 
English churches built in recent years in Ceylon, 
though one never finds it in England. The heavy 
wardrobes and settees found in most native houses, 
as well as the door screens, are also a legacy from 
the Dutch if not now in every detail, at least in 
their general idea. — Architectural Review, Jan. 
(To the Editor, Ceylon Observer.) 
Dear Sir, — In the paper on 'Dutch Architecture in 
Ceylon' in Architectural Review of January, the 
following are errata, for which 1 am not responsible. 
(l^ 'Hon' on title page before name of contribntor. 
(2) Galle spelt Galle. with accent on last syllable 
thronghont. 
(3) 'Doorway Galle Hospital' should be 'Door- 
way, Hospital Street, Galle'. 
(4) The note 'Diospyros qucesita' (misspell Diopyroa) 
Bhould oome under 'calamander' in text. 
(5) Similarly 'Pericopsis mooniara' should be nnder 
'nadun' and not where placed on wrong page 
(6) 'Which resembles that at Vredenburg' should 
be 'and resembles &o.' 
Twenty-three photogr-ipha out of 75 photographs 
and sketches, which accompanied the article, were re- 
produced. Some of the most characteristic illustrations 
were omitted. One of those omitted is referred to in 
the second paper as if it had been reproduced, viz., 
that 'representing the fanlight of a house in the Jaffna 
Pettah' It is apparently cheaper to reproduce photo- 
graphs than sketches, bat this one was a photograph. 
Two excellent photographs by Mr H W Cave, of 
the pulpit in the Wolveiidahl Charch and the belfry 
at Kayman'a Gate, were omitted— possibly because 
they were sent in later than the others. 
I understood that the names of the photographers 
would be piintod under the photographs, but this has 
not been done. Lest I should be credited with what is 
not my due, may I give the name9 here ? 
Photographs of gateways at Galle and Matara and 
belfry at Galle by Mr H E H Hayes, late of the PWD. 
Organ gallery, doorways of Dotch Church at Gallo 
and gate of Dutch Cemetery there, by the late Mr 
P W Burleigh Campbell of the Survey Department. 
Gateway, Trincomalee Fort, Dutch Church, Galle, 
^'exterior and interior) Wolvendhahl Church and 
Dutch Church, Jaffna by Messrs W L H Skeen, late 
of Colombo and Kaudy. 
Photographs of details of Jaffoa Dutch Church and 
other Jaffna views by Messrs S K Lawton & Co.. of 
Jaffna. J. P. L. 
♦ 
MR. W. NOCKS' APPROACHING 
RETIREMENT. 
AN INTERESTING AND MERITORIOUS 
(JAREER. 
Is'ew Galway, Feb. 23rd, 1904.— The Hon. Mr 
John Ferguson, — one of the first to oflera welcome 
to Mr Nock on his arrival in the Colony in 1882, 
— before leaving on his present tour, requested me 
to obtain for publication in the Ti'opicnl Agricul- 
turist a few particulars re the Hakgala Gardens, 
and Mr Nock's woi k generally in Ceylon, and as the 
latter gentleman's innate modesty will not allow 
him to publish a " Ueview of his Administration," 
I send you herewith a short resamd, which, though 
very incomplete, vill give a general idea of the 
changes he has brought about. 
THE HAKGALA GARDENS, 
it may not be generally known, were started in the 
sixties, for the propagation of the cinchona plant 
under the supervision of W MacNicol, followed 
by E J Thwaites, but beyond plantin? out a few 
exotics, very little vas done in the shape of practi- 
cal Horticulture, and when Mr No3k took charge 
in 1882, there were less than 600 varieties of plants 
represented in the Gardens, whereas there are now 
catalogued, over 4,000 species and varieties re- 
presenting 145 natural orders and 1,180 genera. 
Among them are a great many useful and orna- 
mental trees, shrubs and economic plants, bub 
space will permit mention of only a few. For 
instance, in 
Fruit Trees.— The Cherrimoya, Japanese 
Plum, Tree-tomato, mountain papaw, the Loose 
skinned Nagpur Orange and English blackberry. 
Trees.— Cedrela Odorata, Soap bark tree, 
Cork and other oaks, Casuarina montana and 
several varieties of Pinus, Cupressus and Eucalyp- 
tus, 
Shrubs.— English Laurel, Lauristiuu«, Choisya, 
Tree daisy, Streptosolen, Holly, etc. 
EcoNokic Plants — Cho-cho, Arracacha, Cam- 
phor, Lucerne, and Paspalum. 
Ceeepers.— Ficus Pumila, Wistaria, White 
Passion Flower, Solauum Jasminoutes, Schraidtia, 
and Variegated Periwinkle. 
Herbaceous Plants.— Australian Daisy, Afri- 
can Violet, Chrysanthemums, Thalictrum, Salvia, 
Nemesia, etc. 
Bulbs.— Cyrtanthus (or African Bride), Antro- 
podium Authericum Variegata, Star of Bethlehem, 
etc., 
Kdgikg Plants.— Echeveria, Sedums, San- 
talina, Selaginellas. Altenantheras, etc. In 
general improvements. 
I will first mention the carriage drive, which 
originally only led up to the Bungalow and was 
about ^ of a mile in length and of various grea- 
dients. This has betn practically re-made, and 
connected with a new and longer drive around aud 
