( 12 ) 
It is mucli to be wished that the specimens in the General Herbarium should be mounted 
n paper like those of the Ceylon collection, but this would be a very long and laborious piece of 
'ork, and I see no chance of my finding time to undertake it. 
The Draughtsman has added to the fine series of drawings forty-six finished botanical figures 
f Ceylon plants and twenty-six of cultivated orchids during the year. 
Handbook to the Ceylon Flora . — Ever since the commencement of my residence in Ceylon 
liave kept before me the production of a book which shall not only give a systematic and complete 
ccount of all the plants of the Island, but also enable residents and others who possess the neces- 
;iry knowledge of the structure of fiowers and of botanical terminology to ascertain the name of 
ny plant met with, and so be in a position to learn all that is known about it. 
Every day’s experience shows me that such a book is much needed here, and as time and 
pporumity have served I have brought together much of the material necessary for its production. 
)uring the past year I have made some solid progress, but it will be readily understood that to 
cork out and describe accurately the members of a fiora of the size of that of Ceylon, comprising 
t the least 3,000 species, requires a very great deal of time, and more freedom from interruption 
han I can command. It also needs, to secure accuracy in references and nomenclature, access 
o many books raid authentic specimens which I cannot consult here. It is therefore not possible 
or me to promise any very speedy completion of the work, but it is steadily progressing. 
It is right for me to acknowledge here that much of the work has been done for me in the 
)ast by my predecessors Gardner and Thwaites. The “ Enumeratio ” of the latter is a first-rate 
took, but it is now tw'-enty-seven years since it was completed, and it is out of print. It is moreover a 
turely scientific work, and contains no descriptions beyond brief ones in Latin of the species then 
lew to science, and is thus of little use to any one but a professed botanist. My task is also 
•endered much more easy by the existence of the “ Flora of British India,” a book of immense 
^alue and vast scope, commenced in 1872 and now rapidly approaching completion. Its extensive 
•ange includes Ceylon; and all our species find their place in it, but of course interculated amongst 
heir allies from the Indian and Malayan Peninsulas, Afghanistan, the Himalayas, and Burma. 
Jpon this great work my smaller effort must necessarily be largely based, but I purpose to give a 
nuch fuller treatment of, at all events, the more important plants than has been possible in a 
realise which had perforce to be restricted to the briefest description. 
In connection with this contemplated handbook it is my hope that means may be found 
)f publishing a selection of the fine series of coloured drawings made by the native Draughtsmen 
lere, in a manner which shall do them justice and be creditable to this Department. This will 
)f course be very expensive, and it is at present premature to discuss how it might be carried out, 
jut such illustrations of the most remarkable members of our flora Avould add greatly to the value 
n every respect of such a book as I contemplate. 
Library . — Two additional book-cases have been put up during the year, making now ten in all. 
k. number of A^aluable books have been added in 1890, and several of our imperfect works have 
jeen completed. 
10 . — Museum and Laboratory . 
Museum . — The small vote granted for the jjurpose of fitting up a Museum of Economic Botany 
it Peradeniya has been spent to good purpose. Six glass-fronted wall cases have been set up in one 
jf the rooms, to contain such specimens of the food-stuff s, raw products, drugs, &c., of the country 
IS had been accumulated. All these have been put into glass-stoppered bottles, of which twenty-six 
:lozen of various sizes were purchased in Germany at a very moderate cost, and all are properly 
aliclled. The remainder of the vote was expended on preparing, labelling, and mounting timber 
qiecimens, especially the best portion of a series from the Pasdun Korale presented in 1884 by the 
late J. Pieris, Mudaliyar. 
I'he timbers occupy two rooms of the Museum building, the other Ceylon products one room ; 
ind I hope next year to fit up a fourth room for products from India and other foreign countries for 
(■•■fi.-rence and comparison. The other two rooms of the building are in use as the Laboratoi’y 
Old the Office of the Director. 
Jjiboralory . — No student has come out to occupy the Laboratory during 1890, but I am 
t-.\))ectiiig shoj-tly the arrival of Mr. J. Bretland Farmer, Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford,* 
\sho will use the resources of the Laboratory in his researches on the Hepaticse. 
'Ihe British Association has added to the debt of gratitude we owe to it already by a further 
vf)ie of money, and 1 liave devoted ,-£25 of this towards su^iplying the Laboratory with water, 
Oovt-nimeuf having liberally provided the balance necessary to carry out the work properly. This 
• as successfully coni])leleil in October, and adds greatly to the convenience of students working 
le re. 
’ Mr. Farmer arrived on January 27, 1891. 
