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most of them ripened. The largest berry measured two' inches and three-eighths in circumference. This compai-( 
very favourably with the size of those usually grown in England, and being so productive there is no doubt th; 
with good cultivation this sort at least will thrive well in the hills. 
Two hundred and ninety-two scions of the large plum were grafted on to stocks of the small inferior kind 
and the greater part have taken well and will be soon ready for distribution. 
Potato Cultivation at Hakgala. — Mr. Nock has forwarded the following valuable practict 
information : — 
There is no doubt that potatoes can be grown very profitably in this locality, provided they are planted f 
such a time as will enable them to make their growth during the dry weather. The main thing to be borne i 
mind is to plant them in rich, well-drained and well-prepared land, and to use good varieties and good sets. It : 
best to use whole tubers of an average weight of from one and a half to two ounces, and not to cut them until the 
are being planted, at which time a little piece is sliced off. This is merely to assist them to decay as soon aspossibl 
after the sprouts have taken good hold of the soil. It is time well spent to prepare the sets for planting by layin 
them out in a room exposed to the light, occasionally giving them a turn round. This causes the eyes to send ou 
strong sturdy sprouts, and when these are from one-half to one inch long they are in the best condition for planting 
For all ordinary sorts tbe rows may be two feet apart and the sets one foot apart in the row. The very strong 
growing sorts may be allowed a little more room between the rows. When the sets are prepared as above describee 
they start into growth as soon as planted and show above the surface in about seven daj's. In a week or ten day 
more they will be fit for moulding up. From the time they begin to show above ground a sharp lookout must b 
kept after the black grub, which is very destructive, and has a special liking for young potato shoots. These niiis 
be carefully sought for and killed by hand. I know of nothing else that is practicable, but the following mixtur 
is of some use : — Equal parts of soot, fresh lime, and sulphur lightly dusted about the shoots makes them distasteful 
as also does a mixture of one tablespoonful of soluble phenyle to two gallons of water. The mixture must be kep 
well agitated, and applied to the roots with a syringe or fine-rosed water-can. 
The stems of the potatoes should not be earthed up more than six inches, as more would place the tubers toi 
far out of the influence of the sun and air. 
It may be interesting to give the results of a crop of three varieties which were planted here on August 22 
and lifted on November 14 — thus they were only in the ground 84 days. During that time 12-70 in. of rain wa 
registered. Tliis fell on 47 days. On only 10 of these days did -50 or more fail. On 27 days the amount registerec 
was -15 or less, so that this was just the sort of weather that suited them. 
The tubers used were saved from the third crop grown in Ceylon, and were prepared and planted in the wa-^ 
above described. The result was a beautiful even crop, both as regards shape and size, as follows : — 
Chiswick Favourite. — From 48 sets the produce was 482 tubers, weighing 85 pounds. The twelve larges 
weighed 7 pounds and the largest single tuber, 11^ ounces. 
Iniperator . — From 48 sets of this sort 375 tubers were produced, weighing 75 pounds. The twelve larges 
weighed 8 pounds and the largest single tuber 12 ounces. 
Adirondack. — From 48 sets the produce was 457 tubers, which weighed 65 pounds, the twelve largest ( 
pounds, and the largest tuber 11 ounces. 
Every tuber of the two first-named was perfectly sound, but 15 of “ Adirondack” were diseased ; all tlie.st 
were taken from the bottom of the row, where the soil was a little damper. As this was the fourth crop grown here 
from the produce of imported sets, a little over two years ago, I think it proves that with careful selection and 
preparation of seed tubers the potato improves in this locality instead of deteriorating, as, I believe, is generally 
supposed. 
Slianhmg Cahhage. — Mr. Nock reports from Hakgala : — 
The seeds of the two varieties — white and green — of this vegetable, received from Kew this year, came up 
well and were carefully planted out, but nearly every one ran prematurely to seed — a circumstance wliich usually 
occurs when plants are kept too dry or too crowded. As far as I am aware, the plants in question, however, wore 
subject to neither. The cold windy weather which prevailed during the early part of their growth is the only 
cause I can suggest for this result. 
9. — Perkarium and Library. 
Ceylon Herbariuni. — Considerable additions have been made during the year, and very 
numerous specimens laid into their places. I made two collecting tours, one to the Jaffna ajid 
Mannar Districts in February and another to Haputale and Horton Plains in September. The former 
of these was very productive of interesting species, and afforded several additions to our flora. The 
coast-country between Punakari and Mannar has not been botanized effectively since 1781, when the 
Danish Missionary Koenig, from Tranquebar, who was a first-rate botanist, travelled along it 
collecting : I was so fortunate as to rediscover some of his finds, which had not since been collected 
in Ceylon. 
From Mannar itself 1 have since also had the pleasure of receiving from Mr. M. S. Crawford, 
Assistant Government Agent, about 200 species carefully ticketed by him with the Tamil local 
names. 
General Herbarium. — The only addition during the past year has been a valuable donation 
from Dr. King of tbe Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, consisting of 405 sheets of mounted and 
named duplicates from the herbarium there. 
