DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY AND AGRICULTURE. 81

Peradeniya in increasing numbers to work at botanical and
economic problems in the tropics. No charge is made for the
nse of the Laboratories, and every reasonable facility is
provided. There is good residential accommodation at Peradeniya
 and most of the branch establishments, and the
climate is favourable to work. Visitors of all nationalities are
aqually welcome.
The second division includes six botanic gardens in the
ordinary sense, which are kept up at different climatic centres
in the Island: Peradeniya (wet zone, elevation 1,600 ft.,
mean temperature 76°), Henaratgoda (wet zone, 30 ft., 81°),
Hakgala (wet zone, 5,500 ft,, 61°), Nuwara Eliya (wet zone,
6,200 ft., 59°), Badulla (eastern wet zone, 2,200 ft., 73°), and
Anuradhapura (dry zone, 300 ft., 81°). Of these, the chief
are Peradeniya and Hakgala, in which an endeavour is made
to have representatives of all plants known in Ceylon,
whether native or introduced, and in which theintroductions
from abroad are first planted. The other gardensare mainly
small, intended for the
trial of a few selected
economic and ornamental
plants in the different elimatic
 conditions which
they represent. In addition
 to making these index
 collections of the
plants which can be
grown in different parts
of Ceylon, the gardens
try experiments in horticulture,
 growing plots of
fruits, flowers, and vegetables
 for trial of the best
methods of cultivation
and treatment; they form
beautiful places of resort
and instruction for the
public; they supplyseeds
and plants in small quantities
 toapplicants,and by
example and correspondence and in other ways endeavour
to keep up and improve the standard of horticulture in the
Island.
The improvement of agricultural crops, methods of
cultivation, or preparation of products for market requires
experiments on a large scale, quite impracticable in the small
area of the Botanic Gardens, and to attend to this branch of

TREE FERN. HAKGALA.