12 
WILLIS : HISTORY OF THE 
next to the Director’s office, was turned into a laboratory for 
their use, by aid of a grant made from the funds of the 
British Association for the Advancement of Science. Mr. M. 
C. Potter, now of the College of Science, Newcastle, was the 
first to work in it. He was followed, in 1891, by Mr. J. B. 
Farmer, now Professor at the Eo^^al College of Science, 
London, and in 1893 by Mr. F. W. Keeble of Cambridge, 
During the last few years of Dr. Trimen’s Directorship he 
was mainly occupied with the preparation and publication of 
his “Flora of Ceylon,” which forms a splendid monument of 
his work here. His health failed very much in later years, 
and on June 30, 1896, he retired on pension, remaining in the 
Colony to work at the Flora, which unfortunately he was pre- 
vented from completing by his death on October 16 of the 
same year, in the 53rd year of his age. Hehadreceivedthe dis- 
tinction of F.R.S. in 1888, and a brass to his memory has been 
erected in the Museum by the Planters’ Association of Ceylon. 
The writer, then Assistant in the University of Glasgow, 
was appointed to succeed to the Directorship, and commenced 
work on September 14, 1896. Mr. Nock had taken charge as 
Acting Director since Dr. Trimen’s retirement. 
During the last four years, which have been years of great 
prosperity in Ceylon, owing to the growth and success of the 
tea industry, many changes have been made in the Depart- 
ment. Under the Curatorship of Mr. H. F. Macmillan, 
appointed in 1895, the Peradeniya Garden has been greatly 
improved, and a number of new experimental cultivations 
started. There is not, however, enough space for the 
efficient carrying out of real experimental cultivation of 
important plants, and the Government has now under consi- 
deration the opening of an Experimental Garden near to the 
Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, in which such work can be 
properly carried on under a skilled Superintendent. With 
this garden will be combined the training of students, 
hitherto carried on at the Agricultural School in Colombo, 
which was closed in March of the present year. 
