80

AGRICULTURE.

for new ones to take their place if they should collapse as
coffee collapsed, though it is still desirable to introduce new
ones or increase others to form second strings to the bow.
To meet this phase of the situation the old organization of
the Botanic Gardens hasbeen much enlarged, and the Department
 now has three distinct branches, the Scientific Division,
the Division of Botanical and Horticultural Gardens, and the
Division of Experiment Stations. The first comprises the
scientific staff, five in all, who carry on researches into the
botany, entomology, and agriculture of the Island, and give
advice and help in all matters connected with these subjects,
and especially in diseases of plants and methods of combating
their attacks, plant breeding, &amp;c. In connection with the

AVENUE OI" ROYAL PALMS, PERADENIYA,
work of these officers, an economic Museum, with specimens
of all the economic products of the Island, designed to show
methods of cultivation, preparation, &amp;ec., is kept up at Peradeniya,
 as well as a Herbarium and Museum of the native
and introduced plants of Ceylon, Laboratories, and a large
Library. The results of work done are published in two
journals, the strictly scientific results in the “ Annals,” and
the practical and technical deductions, recommendations as
to diseases, new products, methods of cultivation, &amp;ec., in the
“ Circulars and Agricultural Journal ” of the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Rooms are also reserved in the Laboratories,
&amp;c., for scientific visitors from other places, who come to