( ^ ) 
On the whole, I was filled with surprise and admiration at the completeness of Buitenzorg 
as a centre for botanical work ; the only weak side seemed to be the Herbarium, Avhich is by no 
means kept up on a par with the rest of the means of study. 
The Head Gardener, Mr. Clark, went on leave to England on February 11, and had not 
returned at the end of the year.* For the greater part of this time he has been travelling, for 
the Peruvian Corporation, in the Andes, whence he has sent (through Kew) a few seeds of useful 
and ornamental plants for cultivation here. 
Mr. H. M. Alwis, the Clerk and Foreman at Hakgala Garden, left the Department in July, 
after a very satisfactory service of nine years, to take charge of the Victoria Park Gardens in Colombo 
under the Municipality. His place has been filled by the appointment of Mr. M. G. Perera, from 
the Forest Department, who had previously served under Mr. Nock at Hakgala, and given satisfaction. 
2.— Pbradeniya Garden. 
Roads and Paths. — The almost constant rain throughout the year has rendered necessary 
a continuous attention to all the drives and footpaths, so that no extensive repairs have been 
anywhere undertaken. The road round the Palm Crescent in the South Garden was however partly 
remade, and a portion of the Central Drive, during the dry time at the commencement of the year. 
Buildings. — I regret that my efforts to obtain a suitable dwelling for the Head Gardener have 
been again unsuccessful, and that he will be compelled to still continue to live in the incommodious 
old store, the demolition of which I have so often urged. I trust it is deferred only. Some repairs 
to the roof and flooring of the building have been made by the Public Works Department during 
the year, which have rendered it a little more suitable for a dwelling-house. 
The much-needed repairs and alterations to the Director's bungalow are to be taken in hand 
in 1892 : the other buildings that now require attention, after the long wet weather, are the Museum, 
which needs new pipes and guttering, and the houses occupied by the Garden Arachchi and the 
Draftsman, which both much require repairs to the roofing, &c. 
During the year a small dwelling for the second gate-peon was jsut up in the Garden, and the 
plant-collector's new house finished. These have both been erected at the cost of the Gardens ; and I 
may here remark that it is my practice to effect all small repairs in the same way, the Public Works 
Department being required only to estimate for the larger works beyond our means. 
Improvements. — A balance remaining on the vote granted by Government to supplement the 
sum given by the British Association for conveying water to the Laboratory (see last year's Report), 
I asked permission to be allowed to employ it in the formation of a small tank and fountain. This 
was granted, and the work was carried out in June and July. The tank occupies a little open space 
under the shadow of the largest trees of Ficus elastica ; it is circular, with a diameter of 24 ft., and a 
continuous stream of water flows through it. Its depth, 2 ft. .3 in., allows the growth of water-plants 
in sunk pots, which we have hitherto had no opportunity of cultivating. The fountain in the centre 
is supplied by a small pipe, and can only be played to its full height of 18 or 20 ft. when the water- 
supply to the rest of the Garden is cut off ; otherwise it rises to only about 6 or 8 ft. This change 
has much improved the appearance of that part of the Garden affected, formerly a damp patch of 
rank grass where nothing else would grow. 
I have introduced the use of the scythe to Peradeniya during the year. I observed that in 
Java and the Straits the Malay and Javanese gardeners mowed fairly well, and I now find that 
after a little practice several of our Tamil and Sinhalese men can handle the scj'the after a fashion, 
and produce a better result than with the old grass-knives hitherto used in places where the large 
and small machines cannot be employed. 
Cultivation. — Many of the palms in the grove by the entrance having become with age very 
tall and lanky, some of the commoner ones have been cut out, and s])ecimens of rarer kinds planted 
to supply their places. 
The young palmyra palms (sown in 1889), intended to form an avenue, have greatly suffered 
from the prolonged wet; an endeavour to save them has been made by cutting deep drains on either side. 
The collection of ferns in pots kept in one of the old plant-sheds has been improved in 
appearance by widening the brick stages on which they are placed, and so giving more room for 
their proper development. 
Two or tliree of the fine clumps of Giant bamboo have died during the year without 
apparent cause. I think that this S])ecies is unable to bear excessive and prolonged wet weather. 
The male Coco-de-mer palm ( Lodoicm) again put out a flower-spike, which came into blossom 
in September, and continues at iho end of Llie year to open a few flowers at a time successively. 
* ileturned to dixty on February 10, 1892, 
