FHE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
41 
July i, 1897.] 
ROYAL BOrAMIC GARDENS: 
ADMINISTRATION RETORT OF MR. 
DIRECTOR WILLIS FOR 189(5. 
ENCOUKAGEMENT FOR PARA RUBBER CULTIVA I IONU 
The first Administration Report of a new 
Director of tlie Royal Botanic Gardens is 
always regarded with special interest. It usu- 
ally affords an indication of the tastes of the 
writer, and of the direction in which he ex- 
pects to make him.self most useful to the Uov- 
ernm.?nt and the Colony. Mr. M^’iHis follows 
three notable men— two of whom, at least, 
achieved a European reputation for their scienti- 
fic attainments. The list includes the late Dr, 
Gardner, Dr. Thwaites, and Dr. Trimen. We 
need not dwell on what the Colony owes to 
each of these Directors ; hut we may say that, 
perhaps, Dr. Trim 311 best combined las love 
and ijursuit of science witli the desire to do 
his Ijest for the country Ijy “ Notes on Eco- 
nomic Plants,” by experimental Gardens at 
different elevations, and by readily attending 
to private enquiries, for the benefit of tlie 
planting and general agricultural industries of 
the Colony. It was in hi.s time that the 
Badulla, Heneratgoda and Anuradhapura Gar- 
dens were established. We need scarcely refer 
to the notable scientific work done by Drs. 
Thwaites and Trimen. The former gave bota- 
nists a very full and learned compilation on 
Ceylon plants ; while the latter in a far more 
popular, and yet truly scientific form, very nearly 
completed his Ceylon “ Flora.” 
Now, it is a fortunate thing for the Colony 
and, from what we think we discover of his 
tastes, for Mr. Willis, that the way has thus 
been cleared, so far as purely scientific work is 
concerned. No doubt, Kew and Botanists else- 
where will be making their demands from time 
to time ; no doubt there are new forms of plant 
life still to be discovered and de.scribsd even in 
Ceylon. Certainly there must be many life- 
histories ” of importance, scientifically, to be 
worked out. But the great matter is that there 
is no special and purely scientific work laid 
on Mr. Willis as a duty, and that he is there- 
fore free to give himself to the department of 
Economic Botany to which his choice naturally 
inclines. This is truly good news for our planters 
and agriculturists generally, and we congratu- 
late them on the full evidence afforded, again 
and again, in this opening Report, of the good 
work which Mr. Willis, — if health and strength 
are spared — is prepared to attempt, and, if pos- 
sible, carry out for them. 
For ourselves, we may say at once, that 
we have seldom read a Report that has 
given us more satisfaction. On Monday we 
gave our readers a taste of Mr. Willio’s “ Econ- 
omic Notes.” His moderate but wise words on 
our Tea industry will have been duly noted by the 
Government, and by the planting and mercantile 
community; and all he tells us of Rubber is 
much to the point and will afford the best 
possible guide to intending cultivators. Dr. 
Morris has lately been telling Jamaica planters 
he could not seriously advise them to commence 
cultivating “rubbers” in view of the enormous 
development behind Lagos and in other [larts 
of Africa of sources of supply from original 
forests. And there is no doubt much i:i this, 
especially in regard to the West In lies, where 
they have (at least in Jamaica) the prospect of 
cultivating a variety of products tor the imme- 
diate supply of the finest mai'kot in the world 
6 
namely the United States, But in Ceylon -Mr. 
\Viliis’.s sober statement of fact is by no means 
(-liscouraging to the actual, or intending, rubber 
))lanter. Indeed, 50 trees of Para rubber [>er 
acre, well cared-ior, should yield after ten years 
a regular annual haivest of' 100 lb., worth £12 
or £13 (or even £10) in London, — rubber culture 
would be preferable to, and far more profitable 
than, that of coconuts. The expense of attend- 
ing to 70 to 80 palms, harvesting, etc., must be 
as great as that of dealing with 50 Para trees, 
including tapping, etc. ; while the gross return, 
even at a liberal estimate for the nuts, is well- 
nigh 100 per cent more in the case of rubber. 
There is, therefore, clear encouragement to go 
into “rubber” with the Para kind, provided suit- 
able land be carefully selected and the work of 
planting properly attended to. 
Turning now to the Report generally, it will 
be noted how jiractica! is the view taken by 
Air. Willis of his several GarLiens, He regards 
them all with interest and as serving a special 
purpose with reference to the agricultural 
and general public, although the Hene- 
ratgoda Garden niay, perhaps, be considered 
his favourite. He is quite prepared to extend 
their usefulness, and Air. W’illis’s references to 
the necessity of experimental plots, to the work 
of the Agricultural Chemist, and especially to 
the distinctive character of “tropical agricul- 
ture,” show that he is fully alive to the way in 
which practical aid can niok truly be extended to 
the planters and other Agriculturists of the Colony. 
But clearly Mr. Willis will want help, and that 'of 
Experts, to co-operate with him in several de- 
partments. He plainly indicates where the Ana- 
lytical Chemist comes in, as also the Entomo- 
logist— for insect pests ought to be thoroughly 
investigated — and no less the Fungologist. Giv'e 
Air. Willis the hearty co-operation of a “Scientific 
Agricultural Board such as we have been 
advocating— and we feel sure he and they will 
soon show the great practical value of their 
labours to a Colony like Ceylon, so pre-eminently 
dependent on “tropical agriculture.” In every 
branch of our planting— in hill or lowcountry 
and rice, fruit , libre and vegetable culture by 
natives, we see room for investigation and ex- 
periments such as could not fail’ to yield note- 
able results. Such a Board would helji Mr. 
Willis and his able Assistants, Messrs. Nock and 
Alacmilian, to turn the Gardens to far more 
practical use. It wmuld also help Government 
and the Colony to a really successful, because 
liberally and scientifically supported. Agricul- 
tural School— not a half-starved crippled ^insti- 
tution such as now exists. Planters' could fear- 
le.ssly go for such a “Board” for advice and 
instruction, to have jrests examined, diseases 
worked out and remedies fully tried. Capital, 
time and labour would be saved in many direc- 
tions through seasonable warnings given — as in 
the case of unsuitable situations for cacao gar- 
dens, &c. — or through the demonstration that it 
would be wiser to abandon one and try another 
new product, tl.an to go on in the old groove 
leailing to disappointment and loss. 
But we must close with a word of tiiauks 
to Mr. Director Willis for ids full, interest- 
ing and sugge--tive, first Annual Report — 
may many move follow from the same pen — 
and also some acknowledgment to Mr. Nock 
of the llakgala Gardens for much useful informa- 
tion-some of which we quoted— in reference 
to the work he so conscientiously and admirably 
carries out at our Hill Gardens par excellence. 
