3 ° 
THF TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July r, 1890, 
agent; add to these the Convolvalus Tm’pethum, 
Linn. (Ipomea Tnrpethum, E. Br.) Croton Tiglium 
and Hebradendron Gambogioides of Professor 
Graham, ^Yhich are useful Cathartic Medicines. 
Observe likewise the Strychnos Nuxvoxnica, Linn, 
a most formidable poison found abundantly in the 
jungles, but a valuable remedy in paralysis, 
rheumatism, neuralgia, &c. Many others may here 
be enumerated ; but it is not necessary to do this 
on the present occasion. 
I cannot take leave of this subject v?ithout 
inserting the just remark of the learned Professor 
Lindley, who observes, “No one will be bold 
enough to assert that the Physician already pos- 
sesses the most powerful agents produced by the 
vegetable kingdom ; for every year is bringing some 
new plant into notice for its energy, while others 
are excluded because of their inertness. In tro- 
pical countries, where a fervid sun, a humid air, 
and a teeming soil give extraordinary energy to 
vegetable life, the natives of these regions often re- 
cognise the existence of potent herbs, unknown 
to the European practitioner. We are not altogether 
to despise the experience of natives less advanced 
in knowledge than ourselves, or to suppose because 
they may ascribe imaginary virtues to some of their 
officinal substances, as has been abundantly done 
by ourselves in former days, that therefore the 
remedical properties of their plants are not worth 
a serious investigation ; or that their medical 
knowledge is beneath our notice, because they are 
unacquainted with the terms of modern science.’’ 
Nursery established.— In order to possess the means 
of making more liberal distribution of plants, seeds, 
<&c. to applicants, I have commenced, on a small 
scale, a Nursery, which, I beg to remark, is a 
very useful accessory to Botanic Gardens in India ; 
for as my honoured Preceptor, the eminently 
learned Doctor Wallich, has justly remarked 
“From the absence of the facilities which exist in 
Europe, the Botanical Gardens in India are obliged 
to unite in themselves the Offices of Botanist, 
Gardener, Nurseryman and Seedsman.” 
Garden divided into Departments. — It thus ap- 
pears that the Garden at present comprises the 
three following divisions : — 
1. — Plants interesting in a purely Botanic view. 
2. — Medicinal plants, chiefly natives of this country, 
to ascertain their true medicinial virtues. 
3. — A Nursery. 
With a view of obtaining an ample and faithful 
collection of plants of this Island, I intend forming 
an Herbarium, having duplicate specimens (if 
possible more) of such plants ; which may be even- 
tually disposed of in a manner the most advan- 
tageous to Botanical Science. 
Measures necessary for the advancement of the 
Botanic Garden. — I have now in conclusion to 
suggest A, few measures for the advancement of 
the Garden. 
'Ihe first thing necessary to be done, is clearing 
the extensive portions of ground, which are now 
overgrown with jungle, and of course perfectly 
useless for any Botanical or Horticultural purpose, 
which, it must be evident, will require more 
laborers than are at present employed, as it would 
prove but mere fruitless effort to attempt such a 
work with those I have now in the Garden. 
The establishment may however be reduced, as 
soon as the useless exuberant vegetation in the 
place is destroyed, and the Garden well laid out 
and duly organized. 
I beg also to bring to his Excellency’s notice the 
necessity of employing two additional men on the 
fixed Establishment for the Nursery, whose sole 
duty it will bo to practise Horticultural operations 
under my euperinlendenoe. 
In training these men for their work, 1 shall 
endeavour to adopt the excellent principles and 
practice laid down by Professor Lindley in his able 
work on the “Theory of Horticulture,’’ a book 
which deserves to be more extensively known here 
than it is at present. 
An additional Plant Collector is likewise highly 
necessary, I would say indispensable, to make 
proper collections of, and prepare plants for the 
Herbarium. There is at present but one plant 
collector. 
The climate of Nuwera Ellia being so much allied 
to that of the temperate parts of the globe, and 
the vegetation on and around its hills resembling 
that found in those parts ; I would respectfully 
suggest to His Excellency the Governor the establish- 
ment of a little experimental garden there in order 
to naturalize the most useful x^lants of Europe. 
I have been led to make this suggestion from 
having been kindly allowed access to Captain 
Champion’s collection of plants made during his 
little excursions into Nuwera Ellia and Adam’s 
Peak, where I find several plants, natives of a 
cold climate. 
The Keeeipts of the Garden remitted to the 
Government Agent for the Central Province, from 
February to May inclusive, amount 
to £8 9 
viz : 
£. 
s. 
d. 
February 
19 
0 
March 
11 
n 
April 
1 
7 
10 
May : 
5 
12 
0 
Total. . . .£8 
9 
lOfe 
The expenditure of the Garden for the same ' 
amounts to £150 
19 7J, viz : 
Fixed Salaries, 
£. 
s. 
d. 
For February .... 
16 
4 
lOJ 
,, March 
24 
14 
G 
,, April 
: 24 
14 
G 
,, May 
19 
6 
Total.. ..£89 
13 
4i 
Incidental Contingent Salaries. 
£. 
s. 
d. 
February. . . 
8 
9 
4| 
March 
8 
April 
7 
Ilf 
May 
20 
0 
' 
Total. . . .£61 
6 
3i 
Amount voted by the Legislative Council for the 
Botanic Garden, £500 per annum. 
Herewith I beg leave to forward an interesting 
paper entitled “ Eemarks on the state of Botany 
in Ceylon with reference to the knowledge of it 
in April 1843, and an attempt at arranging its 
Flora, as known to Moon and resident Botanists, 
according to locality and elevation, commonly called 
Geographical distribution of a Flora, by Captain 
Champion, 95th Regiment.” (Vide Appendix B.) 
Wm. C. Ondaatje, 
Actg. Both Superintendent 
Royal Botanic Garden, 
Peradenia, 1st June 1843. 
(Appendix to be given.) 
