July i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AdRIOULTURIST. 
9 
due regard to the nature of the soil and locality. On 
very fine soil, and in sheltered situations distance 
in rows 6 feet apart and rows from each other, 
7 feet is in my opinion not too much— in poor 
soils and exposed situations 57* square is about 
the medium, the former I would top at 6 feet 
high, the latter at 4 ft. 6 in. high ; when this oper- 
ation is performed it should not be when the top 
may be pinched off with the thumb and finger, 
but when it has grown 6 or 8 inches higher 
than the height intended, thus a plant throws 
a little of its luxuriance in a natural way, and 
in the other system a bundle of suckers is the 
inevitable consequence. J. G. Leae. 
EEPORT ON THE ROYAL BOTANIC 
GARDEN, PERADENIYA, NEAR RANDY. 
{By the late Dr. W. C. Ondaatje, Acting Botanical 
Superintendent, 1st June 1813.) 
Uses of Botanic Gardens . — In submitting my first 
Report on the Royal Botanic Garden to His Ex- 
cellency the Governor, I beg very respectfully to 
avail myself of the opportunity to direct public 
attention to the great importance and utility of such 
an institution, both in a scientific as well as in a 
practical point of view. It is much to be regret- 
ted that so few seem to be alive to the benefits 
which may be derived to a country by the estab- 
lishment of a Botanic Garden, which, while it assists 
men of talent and research in their studies of 
Natural Science, affords at the same time the best 
means of ascertaining the richness and variety of 
the vegetable productions, with which an all-boun- 
tiful Providence has adorned each land. 
The excellent and learned Doctor William Carey 
in his introduction to the “ Hortus Bengalensis” 
thus forcibly observes on the uses of Botanic Gardens : 
“ By the formation of Botanic Gardens the labors 
of scientific men have been called forth and greatly 
aided, as these afford facilities for the improvement 
of Botanical Science, which might have been sought 
for in vain without the aid of such institutions. 
But the Botanic Gardens and other noble collections 
of plants in Europe could never have been brought 
to the perfection in which they now appear, had not 
public or private repositories of plants been formed in 
the different settlements in Asia, Africa and America; ’ 
and further thatthe|reat object of anin«titutionof this 
kind is, “ the propagating of useful plants, natives 
of other countries, and the consequent enriching of 
the country into which they are introduced.” 
These observations of Doctor Carey, a Botanist 
of no small eminence, and who was himself of the 
Utilitarian School of Philosophy, appear to be sound, 
rational and conclusive. 
But if such be the advantages of cultivating 
Botanical Science in a general point of view, of what 
greater importance must the study of that Science be 
in this fine country, where plants, the most beautiful, 
singular and useful are found spread over its whole 
extent, and where every effort to become acquainted 
with its economical productions, will most certainly 
be attended with no small profit. 
I shall now proceed to the various points which I 
am anxious to submit to His Excellency’s consider- 
ation, noticing them in the following order : — 
Subject of the lieport.— 1. The condition in which 
I have found the Garden. 
2. A brief notice of some of the most useful plants 
at present growing in it. 
3. Tlie improvements I have been effecting. 
4. A few aiggestions for the advancement of the 
Garden. 
1. Condition of the Garden. — It is with extreme 
reluctance that I enter on this point of my report 
* V 5’ 7’’ square.— Ed. A. A. 
as it may perhaps be considered that I take occasion 
to reflect on the labors of my predecessors. I beg 
therefore that it may be distinctly understood that 
I have not the remotest wish of detracting aught 
from the merit of their services; but a sense of 
duty to the Government and my own anxiety for 
the advancement and success of the Garden, render 
it obligatory on me briefly to advert to the condi- 
tion in which I have found it. 
When I took charge of the Garden which was in 
February last, nearly a month after the death of 
Mr. Normansell,* I feel bound to state, that it pre- 
sented to me no very encouraging aspect ; nor was 
it by any means in the condition in which I expected 
to find it. Little attention appeared to haye been 
given to conduct it scientifically and with a reference 
to public good ; or to preserve it in order and extend 
its cultivation. Several portions of land, surrounding 
the small extent of cultivated ground, are covered 
with thick jungle, and such even a.i were in a state 
of cultivation, as far back as the days of the 
indefatigable Moon and some of his immediate suc- 
cessors, from having been sadly neglected, are now 
overgrown with weeds, <fec. 
This useless exuberant vegetation occupies various 
conspicuous parts of the Garden, and I need hardly 
observe, that it greatly impedes the improvements 
which I propose effecting, independently of its being 
productive of no small injury to the cultivated 
parts themselves. 
On examining these jungles, I find traces of exotic 
plants, roads, &c. which are evident indications of 
their having been at one time properly cultivated; 
Several roads and walks in the Garden have also 
been totally obliterated from various causes. 
It affords me however much pleasure to be able 
to notice, that Mr. Normansell made a commence* 
ment of labelling all the plants he cultivated and 
began setting apart portions of ground for the 
purpose of planting them according to the “ Natural 
Order,” and I cannot also in justice omit to remark 
that the Garden is indebted to Mr. Lear (one of 
its former Superintendents) for many of the beauti- 
ful arrangements and orderly disposition of plants 
flower beds, &c. now found in it. ’ 
2, A brief notice of a feiv of the most useful 
■plants in the Botanic Garden. — One of the chief 
objects of a Botanical Garden being the introduction 
and cultivation of rare and useful plants, it may 
perhaps be desirable that I notice a fewt of such as 
are at present growing in the Garden, 
Sisso Seedlings sent to the Garden, by the Hon'ble 
P. Anstruthcr, Bsq. — I have much satisfaction in 
being able to report on the success which has at- 
tended the introduction of the Sisso (Dalbergia 
Sisso, Roxb.) The seedlings of this most useful tim- 
ber tree were chiefly obtained through the instru- 
mentality of the Hon’ble P. Anstruther, Esq., and 
it will no doubt be gratifying to that gentleman 
to know the fact, as he has always felt an interest 
in the progress of the Botany of this Island. 
From the vigorous growth of the plants (of 
which there are 160 in the Garden) it may be 
fairly anticipated that much benefit will be derived 
of the Colony, as they become generally iutroduoed | 
(To be continued.) 
* To whose memory we believe we do no injustice in 
saying that during his short career in Ceylon he devo- 
ted much more attention to earning money by report- 
ing on coffee land, than to the Botacical Gardens 
—Ed. L. li. 
t For more plants, vide Appendix A. 
( Teed.: and Mahogany thrive luxuriantly in the 
Garden, Alesiia ferra (Iron wood) and Dodonesa viscosa 
(Switch Sorrel) yield wood which is dose grained, and 
I think may boused for woodcuts. They are natives 
of Caltura, but ate also fou-d in toe Oeitral Provmoo 
