NOTES. 
265 
yet staples. This station is now opened, the Government having 
purchased at the beginning of this year the almost historical estate of 
Gangaroowa, lying on the opposite side of the river to the Botanic 
Gardens. The estate is of 550 acres, and of approximately horse-shoe 
shape, forming the opposite bank of the Mahaweli-ganga up to the sky 
line all round the north, east, and west sides of the Botanic Gardens, 
while on the east side between the river and the hill there are about 
200 acres of nearly level land with good soil. Visitors to the gardens will 
remember that many of the most beautiful views are obtained at places 
where the river curves, and that their beauty is due to the banks of the 
river itself and to the wooded hills behind. All these hills are included 
in the new experiment station, and are to be worked as forest reserves, 
so that there will be no interference with the scenic beauty of the 
neighbourhood. The experimental plots of economic plants will be laid 
out on the lower and more level land of the estate, which at present is 
mainly cultivated in cacao, pepper, cocoanuts, grass, arecas, and croton. 
The estate is of historic interest in two ways. Round the bungalow 
enclosure may be seen the remains of the earthworks of the former 
Portuguese fort, the scene of a great defeat and slaughter of one of the 
armies which invaded Kandy. About 1824 the estate was opened 
in coffee, indigo, sugar, &c., by the then Governor, Sir Edward Barnes, 
who was one of the very first pioneers in the planting enterprise, 
which soon afterwards spread so rapidly over the central districts of 
the Island. 
The New Branch Garden at Nuwara Eliya. 
The Government having decided to open a small branch garden for 
experiments with cultivation of useful and ornamental plants in the 
peculiar soil of Nuwara Eliya, a small site of about 5 acres has been set 
apart for the purpose in the new park, and is now being brought into 
cultivation. It will be worked, like the Badulla garden, as a branch of 
Hakgala. The land lies at an elevation of about 6,200 feet, and is at 
present mainly patana with scattered Rhododendrons and a small 
piece of swamp. 
The New Resthouse at Peradeniya. 
This building, mentioned on page 21 of the present volume as in 
progress, was opened to the public on 10th March, and is very 
convenient for visitors to, and workers in, the gardens. It lies about 
200 yards from the principal entrance to the Botanic Gardens, contains 
dining and sitting-rooms, and four large bedrooms, and is fully furnished 
( 36 ) 
