44 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July i, 1897. 
In this connection I would draw attention to the 
desirability of greater communication and co-oper- 
ation between the Glardens and those whom they are de- 
signed to benefit. More effectual means of bringing 
before those who are interested in them the advantages 
offered by this Department, and the results of work 
done, or particulars of work being done, in the Gardens 
are very desirable. And, on the other hand, it is also 
much to be desired that the Gardens should be kept 
better informed of all that is going on in planting and 
cultivation of all kinds in different parts of tlie 
Colony. I hope, before long, to complete my organiza- 
tion of a scheme for the attainment of both these 
ends, 
(2) Otheb Scientific Work. —Under this heading 
I have grouped together all the other branches of 
scientific work carried on in the Gardens ; many of 
these, though of much importance, have received but 
scant attention in Ceylon. 
The native flora has been very fully studied, and 
when the remaining volume of the late Director’s 
“Flora of Ceylon’’ is completed, the Colony will be 
in possession of a really first-class handbook to its 
native plants, and their local uses. To provide such 
a work, as well as a good reference Herbarium and 
a collection of drawings of the native plants, is one 
of the first duties of a Botanic Garden. This work 
is now approaching completion, and the energies of 
those officers who have been engaged with it may 
now be gradually diverted to new fields 'of scien- 
tific W'ork, The further elaboration of the details 
of the Flora can now he left largely to local bota- 
nists, aided by occasional collecting tours by the staff 
of the Department, especially in those distrcts which 
are as yet insufficiently explored. It may be remarked 
however, that the construction of a Flora is only 
the beginning of a proper scientific investigation of 
the botany of Ceylon, and that there is an milimited 
field for further observation and research. 
Important work has yet to done in the study of the 
economic uses of native Ceylon plants as sources of 
food, fruit, fibre, drugs, &o. It is intended to devote 
a certain amount of land to such questions but there 
are verv many which require the aid of chemical or 
other experts. 
Cultivation in the tropics is carried on very 
much iu the dark, and very little is really 
known about it. A cousideratiou of its gene- 
ral state, and an application of the knowledge gained 
in the temperate zones, point almost irresistibly to 
the conclusion that if really permanent success in 
agriculture is to be attained, such subjects as rotation 
of crops, scientific manuring, and so on, must receive 
as much attention as in Europe For such work, 
hov/ever, the aid of the chemist is indispensable. 
Another direction of work is the study of the 
diseases of plants in Ceylon, wheLher they be the 
result of animal or vegetable (fungoid) parasites, 
the latter especially. The spread of reliable inform- 
ation among cultivators as to the real nature and 
meaning of diseases is much to be desired. The 
experience of the coffee disease has clearly empha- 
sized the general principle that it is but rarely that 
there is a specific cure for a specific disease, but 
that we must rather trust to“ prevention,’’ or aid 
nature in throwing off the disease. Much harm is 
done in this direction through iguorauce or selfishness, 
and it is hoped that this Department may aid in the 
dissemination of sound knowledge upon this subject. 
The advance of scientific agriculture in Europe 
and America is largely due to research iu vegetable 
physiology and in allied subjects. It is very desirable 
that such work should be conducted to a larger extent 
iu the tropics, where much of the experience gained 
in Europe is of no avail, owing to the different climatic 
conditions. Many botanical experts and students visit 
the tropics every year for such work, and it is very 
desirable that 'every encouragement be offered to 
them to choose Ceylon as a field of work. The 
laboratory here is, however, very small, and needs 
extension. 
Another branch of work recently commenced in 
the Department is photography. A dark room is 
being fitted up at Teradeniya for the purpose. The 
usefulness of the art in all scientific and horti- 
cultural work needs no explanation. 
(Sj Sale of Plants to the Public. — The Gardens 
sell not merely economic, but also ornamental and 
other plants aud seeds at low prices. The sale of 
economic plants is of course one of the chief duties 
of the Depaitmeut, nor can any objection be made 
to the sale of such ornamental and other plants as 
cannot be got from local sources, nor to the sale e£ 
any plants whatever at the outlying Gardens ; but 
there is no good reason why the time of the most 
skilled men at Peradeuiya aud Hakgala should be 
largely taken up iu propagating and selling plants 
of the commonest kinds at low prices. Such work 
should he left to local florists and nurserymen. The 
revenue thus obtained is small, the cost of its collec- 
tion is large, and it does not even come to the De- 
partment at all. 
PEIIADENIYA GAEDEX. 
Eoads and Paths. — The main drive, for a dis- 
tance of 135 yards from the entrance, and the 
monument road, were thoroughly repaired iu Jan- 
uary and February. A road was made leading up 
to the Curator’s bungalow. 
Buildings, Ac. — T he site of the old Head Gar- 
dener’s bungalow, close to the public road was taken in 
hand in February and transtormed from an unsightly 
mass of riiius to a tennis court, bordered by a hank of 
turf. Most of the buildings in the garden, other than 
those kept up by the Public Works Department, being 
in a more or less ruinous condition, were 
taken in hand iu the latter quarter of the year. 
The work of rebuilding and repairing them will 
continue into 1897. The cart shed, w'hose roof w-as 
only prevented from falling by the support of a 
large tree at one end, was rebuilt in a stronger form. 
Soon afterwards the carpenter’s shed entirely col- 
lapsed during heavy rain the whole structure with 
most of its contents being destroyed ; fortunately 
the accident occurred on Sunday, when there was 
no one in the building. This is also being substan- 
tially rebuilt. The roof of the cattle shed was 
also in a dangerous state, and much of this struc- 
ture has been rebuilt. The fernery roof also proved 
to be rotten ; new timber was cut from trees in 
the garden and the entire roof was rebuilt. The cariy- 
ing out of these repairs involved a large outlay, which 
was met by saving on other votes thau “ Pots, Tools, 
&c.’’ The other buildings of the garden also require 
repairs, e.y., the Museum, Herbarium, Director’s 
and clerk’s bungalows, and others. The bank at 
the back of the Ciuator’s bungalow was cut down 
to a gentler slope and turfed ; au immense improve- 
ment was thus effected in the appearance of this part 
of the garden. 
Landslip. — The heavy rains in December caused a 
flood iu the Mahaweli-ganga on the 17th, resulting 
in a very extensive landslip) at the end of the cooly 
lines. 'The position of these buildings is now a 
dangerous one, and requires early attention. 
Cultivation &c. — A good deal of labcur was spent 
in levelling and extending the space behind the 
stores where the plants iu bamboo pots are kept. A 
number of large trees were cut down to give more 
room and light. 
Special attention was given to the nursery in the 
early part of the year : the paths were levelled and 
straightened ; the beds were forked up, manured, and 
stocked with as large a variety of useful plants as 
they could hold. 
A considerable addition was made to the kitchen 
garden, and a very full collection of native and 
foreign vegetables and medicinal plants put out in it. 
The following species flowered here for the first 
time, in 189(3, viz,, Abroma fastuosa, iBgiphila Marti- 
uicensis, Aphelaudra nitens, Bapihia sp., Barleria 
lupuliua, Bromelia Pinguin, Calpurnea aurea, Oera- 
totheca triloba, Cyanotis kewensis, Diacrium bicornu- 
tum, Frauthemum elegans, Faradaya splendida. 
Hibiscus micranthus, var., Ixora illustns, I. salmonea, 
Justioia Armstrongii, Phyllarthron comorense, Eandia 
niaeulata, Saiutpaulia iouantha, Victoria regia. The 
last-named is worthy of special remark ; it was grown 
