( 2 ) 
Weather . — The rainfall for the year was only slightly under average, yet the usual monsoons 
were not well-marked, and there was remarkable deficiency in the usually very wet months of May 
and October. On the other hand, January and February were much more rainy than usual, 
and April and September slightly so, whilst the fall in November greatly exceeded the average. 
Though we experienced a sharp thunderstorm with rain from the south-west on April 4, the regular 
south-west rains did not set in till June 11 ; and the north-east monsoon was not evident till the 
heavy rains of the niiddle of November. 
The following is the record for the year 1890, with averages for the past seven to eight years : — 
Rainfall at Peradeniya. 
1890. Average. 
Eainfall. 
Rainy Days. 
Rainfall. 
Rainy Days. 
January 
3-61 
7 
1-86 
4'] 
February ... 
4-85 
8 
1-43 
4 
March 
1-95 
7 
3-59 
8 
for 7 
years 
April 
10-94 
18 
9-48 
13 
< 1884-90 
May 
4-17 
7 
7-67 
12 
June 
8-79 
17 
9-94 
20J 
July 
8-24 
18 
7-66 
161 
August 
3-36 
13 
6-62 
15 
September ... 
8-47 
16 
7-83 
14 
for 8 
years 
October 
6-.30 
19 
11-21 
18 
— N 
00 
GO 
GO 
-90 
November ... 
12-75 
19 
9-96 
17 
December ... 
8-75 
9 
7-92 
... 11. 
Year ... 82-18 
168 
84-99 
149 
for 7 years 
1884-90 
The heaviest fall in any twenty-four hours recorded was 3‘34 in., v/hich fell on December 4. 
2 . — Hahgala Garden. 
I give below, as usual, copious extracts from Mr. Nock’s report of the work carried on during 
the year. Every attempt is made to keep the Garden up to a good level, biat to do this thoroughly 
and pay full justice to the numerous and varied kinds of plants now grown require a larger 
expenditure than our limited means allow. The character of the Garden, its situation, and climate, 
render its upkeep an expensive matter, and I hope that it may soon be found possible to grant a 
somewhat more liberal vote for its maintenance, and so enable us to carry out more perfectly the 
objects of this useful and attractive institution. 
A few improvements require special remark. The design of relieving the conservatory from 
having to do duty also as a propagating house has been partially met by the erection of a building 
for the purpose, as described below ; and a larger house with a similar object will be put up during 
the coming year. 
I am glad to report that the Officer of the Public Works Department has submitted a plan and 
estimate for the restoration and improvement of the storage reservoir for the supply of water to the 
Garden, and that these being approved, work is to be commenced immediately. 
The picturesque appearance of the lower pond having become impaired by serious 
leakage through the bund and retaining wall, which caused the level of the water to be often much 
below the spill, repairs have been effected and the level restored. 
A further portion of the old carriage drive has been remade, and another piece will be taken 
in hand shortly. Nothing is more required at Hakgala than the improvement of this badly-traced, 
irregular, and uneven road. 
The only, very unsightly building now remaining on the grounds is the thatched shed for 
visitors’ carriages. This is in a dilapidated state and not worth further repair, and ought to be 
superseded by a more permanent and ornamental structure. 
The following extracts are from the Superintendent’s report for the year : — 
Fernery . — A great deal of work has been done in the fernery, and this took up the greater part of the labour 
for two m()nths. It was found that the jungle shade trees had thoroughly exhausted the soil. Some of the beds 
were liter.ally one mass of entangled roots, and the ferns and begonias could not hold their own among them. The 
beds and Ijorders were taken one by one, and nearly all the plants were lifted. The ground was deeply dug over 
and the roots removed, and a large addition of fresh soil made, composed of leaf mould, old silt from the lower pond, 
a little manure, and the decomposed portions of the rubbish holes. To show the heavy nature of this work I may 
mention that no less than 20 cartloads of roots were removed, and GO cartloads of leafmould, silt, &c., were used 
in remaking the beds, 8, .GOO ferns were replanted in them, and the duplicates were planted under the trees near by. 
After this was done a lil)eral dressing of lime was sprinkled all over the surface of ithe soil and pointed in. 
Tlie little jiaths here are in bad repair, but it is intended to put them in order soon. 
