Supplemmt. 
THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, CEYLON. 
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OP THE DIRECTOR FOR 1897. 
3. — The Wobk oe the Gardens. 
(1) Introduction of new and important Economic Plants ; Experiments in Gultrvation, &c.- 
A fair amount of ground has been laid out during the year in experimental plots of economic plants, 
chiefly at Peradeniya (see below). The labour required for this work has been provided partly by 
discontinuing the sale of common pot plants for verandahs, partly by neglecting the ordinary work 
of the gardens, such as weeding, &c. An increased vote for labour has, I am glad to report, been 
sanctioned for 1898, the increase amounting to Rs. 1,150. The whole of this labour will be devoted 
to experimental work. Money has also been voted to provide the salary of an efflcient native officer 
to supervise this work, under the immediate direction of the European officers. 
(2) Other Work. — The completion of the late Director’s “ Flora of Ceylon ” has been undertaken 
by Sir Joseph Hooker. 
A large amount of time and labour has been expended in the study of the cacao disease (see 
below), and various diseases of tea, cocoanuts, betel, nutmegs, and other plants have also been 
studied by the Director and the Honorary Entomologist. 
Much work has been done in the laboratory and in the open by students and others from 
abroad (see below). 
A good deal of travelling has been done during the year by the staff of the Department. The 
Director was absent from Peradeniya 115 days, including 50 days spent in visiting the branch 
gardens (chiefly in attending to the rubber experiments at Henaratgoda), 26 days spent in collecting 
and the study of local agriculture, and 20 days spent in investigating the cacao disease. 
An attempt has been made to bring the Department more into touch with the public by 
issuing periodical circulars dealing with horticultural, agricultural, and botanical subjects. These 
will be continued during 1898. Each circular deals with one subject only. Three were published 
during the latter half of 1897, one being introductory, the others dealing with the cacao disease. 
Copies are sent free to all Government officers, to Planters’ Associations and similar bodies, and to 
Botanic Gardens and similar institutions abroad. Residents in Ceylon can obtain these circulars 
free at the various gardens, or by post on prepayment of postage ; to persons residing abroad a small 
sum is charged. 
(3) Sale of Plants to the Public. — Permission was granted in May to discontinue the sale of 
common pot plants for verandahs, and this branch of work has been gradually given up as the stock 
of plants in hand was cleared off. This change has caused some dissatisfaction, and complaints are 
often made that such plants cannot be obtained from local nursery men. The matter is receiving 
attention. The prices at which such plants have hitherto been sold at the gardens are very low 
and do not nearly repay the cost of the labour expended. Many persons have been in the habit of 
buying plants in the gardens and immediately re-selling them to the public at a considerably higher 
price. If it be found necessary to resume the sale of these pl.mts, the price should be considerably 
increased. It should not, however, be necessary, in the present condition of the Colony, for the 
gardens at Peradeniya, Hakgala, and Henaratgoda to do such work as this. (The gardens at Badulla 
and Anuradhapura continue for the present to sell common pot plants.) The sale of valuable 
economic plants and of such ornamental plants as cannot easily be obtained from local sources is 
of course one of the chief duties of the Department. With a view to making this more generally 
known advertisements are periodically inserted in the local papers, and during 1898 price lists will 
be published of the various kinds of plants and seeds that may be purchased in the gardens. 
4. — Peradeniya Garden. 
From the report of the Curator I make the following extracts : — 
CuUivalim . — The borders of shrubs and other flowering plants flanking the central drive have been much 
improved by judicious attention to pruning, forking, and manuring, .Advantage was taken of the wet weather in 
November and December to lift and re-plant the bulbs growing at the edges of the borders, which had become much 
crowded and had exhausted the soil. The semi-circular bed at the middle of the drive (No. 9 on the map), formerly 
occupied by a large euphorbia surrounded by overgrown crotons, was cleared, partly turfed, and neatly laid out with 
beds of the best cannas. 
A number of succulent and other plants have been planted out on the rocky bank of the road below the 
Gardner memorial. A collection of Codiaeums (crotons) has been planted along both sides of the walk leading to 
the octagon conservatory. 
The herbaceous ground has bad special attention bestowed upon it. The beds were all forked and manured ; 
many of the commonest and tallest shrubs were cleared out and replaced by more suitable species. 
The following species flowered here for the first time in 1897, viz,, Caraipa giuctnensiSy Cassipourea sp., 
Dracaena Godsefiana, Gardenia sp., Geonoma acauliSy Grevillea BaTiiuya7iUy Lonclwcarpus sp. (the Trinidad species 
used here as shade for young cacao), Loureh-a cochinchinensiSy Pachira sp,, Pinanga 'Kuhlii, Strophanihxts hispiduSy 
Dicca laeohy Zanthoxylon capensis. The cannon-ball tree ( Cowoupiia gulanensie) ripened a full-sized fruit here in 
18117 for the first time. 
. Experimental Plots . — The plot of vanilla at the end of the nursery has been renovated and a number of fresh 
vines have been planted. 
, , laud on the west side of the avenue of Oreodoxa palms (section H on the map) has been partly cleared 
an lam out in experimental plots, as well as part of the land between the palm avenue and the river. Small plots 
ave been planted out with cardamoms, Para rubber, rhea in its two forms {Boelmeria niuea and B. tenacissima)y 
<»ca, ious les mois (Cannu edulis, a useful vegetable), various species of bow-string hemp (Sansemera)y Calaihea 
umia (edible tubers), and Carludovica palmata (see report for 1 890, p. 1 2). "With the increased labour, skilled and 
uns 111 ^, that will be available next year a considerable extension of these experimental plots will be made. 
Viswirs.— i he book kept at the lodge was signed by 2,390 persons not resident in Ceylon, as against 2,520 in 1898. 
the number ot local visitors was about 13,600. The King of Siam, with his suite, visited the gardens on April 22. 
