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Cupreiniui tree at the top comer of the herbaceous garden. Stone edging was laid along the side next the path, and 
over this was planted Se.rhim stoloniferum, and the border was planted with mixed plants. 
Considerable improvement was made round the summer arbour. The floor of this was raised 3 in. 
and a layer of gravel spread on the surface. In front and around the building the land was made even and turfed. 
The little shrubbery at the back was overrun with roots of Acacia decurren>i, which had choked out nearly all 
other plants, and a number of Leptospermum scoparioiden plants have now been planted this year, in the hope 
that they will hold out against the Acacia roots, as they are very hardy and usually grow fairly well in 
poor soil. 
Two retaining walls have been built to support the new borders running along the lower side of the portion 
of drive reconstructed this year. The larger measures 168 ft. long with an average height of 4 ft., and the other 
is 36 ft. long with an average depth of 2i ft. A large amount of filling in was required to make these borders. 
The borders have been planted with a large variety of roses, small shrubs, herbaceous plants, and showy annuals. 
In the space of ground between the nursery and the rubbish yard, large holes were got out 20 ft. apart, and 
prepared for growing specimens of trees and large shrubs. Eighty-two assorted plants were planted out in them. 
A large flight of steps made of dressed stones were ^aid down the long bank below the flower garden. This 
makes a very convenient and short way to reach the new pits, the anemometer and nurseries, and saves much time. 
The steps are 23 in number, and 4 ft. wide. 
In August the old pond was cleared of growing weeds and of leaves and stalks, and the silt from the two 
inlets was removed. 
Plants of Cupressiis macrocarpa were planted on the bank near entrance gates at equal distances of 12 ft. 
apart, and 12 ft. from the edge of the drive. Those planted last year on the opposite side are making good growth. 
170 English oak plants and 54 plants of various Acacias were set out on the patana near the cooly lines, 
and 105 plants of several varieties of Eucalyptus on either side of the bridle-path leading down to Gorindakela. 
New turf verges, measuring 373 running yards, 12 in. wide, were laid down along the sides of the drive and 
paths, and 220 square yards of turf on banks by new flight of steps, and around the summer arbour. 
It is with much regret that I have to report the loss, by fire, of nearly all the young trees of Junipers, 
Citpressiis, Freuela, Pinus, d-c, which were growing so nicely on the patana above the entrance gates. The fire 
occurred on April 2 during my absence on a visit to Peradeniya. The fire originated near the public road, 
and w;is evidently lighted by some one passing by, but all efforts to find out who did it failed. This loss is most 
annoying, as the plants were doing well, and some of them were fully 9 ft. high. We had been unable, for want of 
labour, to do more than clean occasionally round the collar of each plant, and the patana grass had grown so thick 
between them, that the fire, v;hen once alight, spread rapidly, and it was not discovered until it was too late to put 
it out. 
During the high winds in June a considerable number of trees were blown down and destroyed. The cold 
damp weather in the following month, assisted by the strong gusts of wind twisting and shaking about soft and 
tender plants, killed out more plants than is usual for these months. 
Flower Garden.— 'No alteration of any importance was made in the flower garden. The beds and borders 
were kept supplied with the usual showy garden jilants, and were maintained in good order all through the year. 
I may mention one bed which was very attractive. It was planted with mixed varieties of PTdox Druminondii (of 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons' strain) and edged with Antennaria margarilucea. None of the Pldox plants grew higher 
than y in., and formed one compact mass of thirteen distinct colours, and they remained in full bloom for several 
months. 
Rose Garden.— K few new varieties were added during the year, and the plants on the whole have done well. 
There were some very fine blooms out during the month of March. I was able to stage forty varieties at the 
Nuwara Eliya Show at the end of that month. The plants were all pruned well back in the middle of January, 
in order to get them to come in for the Show. Experience has proved that from nine to ten weeks is about the 
time to allow, in this locality, from the time of pruning till they are in full bloom. The treatment the plants 
received was the same as last year, with the addition that they were supplied liberally with liquid manure after 
the flower buds began to show. Great difficulty was experienced this year in getting rose cuttings to strike, and 
two fine batches were complete failures, owing in a great measure to the severe drought. 
Herbaceous Garden. — In March, 232 supplies and additions were planted out in the beds. As a quantity 
of plants had grown too large for the beds, and a considerable number of the weaker and tender sorts were killed 
out by the drought, it became necessary to re-arrange the whole garden. This was done in November. All the 
beds were dug up for a depth of 18 in., and roots and rough stones removed. The beds were [heavilj- manured 
and filled up with old potting .soil and decayed matter from the rubbish yard. Fifty-two cart loads of manure and 
twenty-nine cart loads of the above-named soil, besides a large quantity of burnt earth and ashes, were used in this 
work. The jjlants were all replanted in their Natural Orders as before. Many jilants of interest flowered during 
the year. A fine plant of the " tree daisy " flowered profusely, and continued in bloom for many months. 
Ulawire ShjI^^;/?/.— Manure is a great necessity in a Garden like this where the soil is naturally poor. The 
want of a good supply is more and more felt, and without which it is impossible to do justice to the plants. We 
have received sixty-five cartloads from the coach shed at the foot of the Garden, the coach proprietor kindly 
allowing us to have all the manure made there, for the use of the shed which was built by the garden coolies. The 
only other manure we get is what is made by the five bullocks belonging to the Garden and that made by my own 
cattle and pigs. Considering the importance of this matter, and the fact that there is a large acreage of 
Government patana land pasturage in the vicinity of the Garden,! would respectfully suggest the advisability of the 
purchase of, say, at least half a dozen breeding cows. These could be kept at little cost, and with the young ones 
they would produce would always be worth the money spent on them. The Garden would thus receive an increasing 
supply of valuable manure. Manure is readily sold liere for two rupees per load, and considei'ing the first cost of 
half a dozen cows would not be more than one hundred and twenty rupees. They would more iliim jiay this otV in the 
first year. 
