Vol. XI. No. 270. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



283 



.ere not grown under field conditions: a few canes were 

 jilanted for experimental purposes in a small garden partly 

 surrounded by building.s and fences in which this insect was 

 known to cc:ur. 



The remedies suggested for the control of termites when 

 they become pests in sugar cane fields are rotation of crops 

 and thorough cultivation. Cotton does not appear to be 

 attacked by termites, and the experience already gained in 

 St. Kitts indicates that when the land has been devoted to 

 cotton for two or three years, the numbers of the termites are 

 reduced to such an extent that they will not cause appreci- 

 able damage for several years after it has been returned 

 to canes. 



Deep close ploughing of the land, with a complete 

 removal of the old stumps as soon as the cane crop is 

 liarvested. followed by thorough tilliige of the surface soil 

 while the cotton i'i growing, would seem to be sufficient 

 treatment for the eradication of termites in such fields. Of 

 course no canes should be used for planting which contain 

 termites. 



The practice of covering the cane stumps with mould 

 Instead of taking them out — the general practice in St. Kitts — 

 <letracts greatly from the value of any rotation system, and 

 it is probably not too much to say that wherever termites 

 become a serious pest in sugar-cane fields it will be necessary 

 to lemove the stumps as soon as the canes are harvested. 



In addition to termites, other insects were ob.served in 

 ihe fields. A root borer and a small brown hardback were 

 the new species studied; while the moth borer, weevil borer, 

 shot borer, and grasshoppers were all observed and reported 

 upon. There is, however, very little that is new to be 

 stated with regard to these last-mentioned forms. The new 

 insects are of considerable interest, and will form the subjects 

 of the succeeding article. 



AGRICULTURE IN CEYLON, 1910-11. 



THE .\i:ricultueal SOCIETY. The Ceylon Agricultural 

 Society has now a membership i.f 98.3. 



Through the agency of the Trofir d Ac/riritllnrist and 

 ilaga^inc of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, its smaller 

 Sinhalese and Tamil monthly publications, and the dissem- 

 ination of leaflets, the Society helps to keep the local 

 agriculturist in touch with the progress of agriculture in all 

 parts of the world, particularly in the tropical regions. 



A number of small village shows was held during the 

 eighteen months, in various parts of the island. 



Demonstrations in the use of improved implements 

 ■were continued, with the result that there is now a consider- 

 able demand for better class ploughs, etc. The dearth of 

 liutt'aloes for mudding and ploughing, owing to the ravages 

 of rinderpest in some parts of the island, has tended to 

 quicken the interest of the paddy cultivator in more modern 

 methods. 



The Society has interested itself in the introduction of 

 improved varieties of fruits and vegetables, has conducted 

 experiments in the improvement of tobacco cultivation and 

 curing, and has co-operated with the local agents of the 

 British Cotton Growing Association to encourage the cul- 

 tivation of cotton. 



Good work is being done by a village Co-operative 

 tJredit Society and Agricultural Bank in the Central 

 I'rovince, and an Ordinance has recently been enacted to 

 promote the formation of such societies. 



POSITION OF ai:ricl'lti;r.\l industries. The continued 

 prosperity of the tea, coconut and rubber industries is 

 sufficiently indicated by the figures already given under the 

 head of E.xports. 



The position of cacao, cardamoms, citronella oil, anc' 

 cinnamon has continued satisfactory. 



The cultivation of cotton and tobacco for export 

 purposes remains still in the experimental stage. That, with 

 the reasonable capital expenditure and scientific methods of 

 treatment both crops can be made to pay, there is little 

 doubt. But so long as the older-established products 

 continue to yield such handsome returns the inducement tf 

 pioneer in new ventures is not great. 



Hitherto the native tobacco plantations of the Northern 

 and Eastern Provinces and the Chilaw and Kandy Districts 

 have contented themselves with supplying the local market, 

 with the exception of a not inconsiderable export of .JafTna 

 tobacco to Trav;incore. The Travancore authorities having 

 recentlj' impo.'ed a limit on the import of this tobacco there 

 is no room for expansion in this direction, and unless the 

 native cultivator can be induced to set himself seriously to 

 the improvement of the quality of tobacco produced, the 

 prospects of the industry are not bright. 



Paddy cultivation remains the principal occupation of 

 the villager, but shows little sign of extension, while the 

 quantity of rice imported for local consumption continues 

 steadily to increase. 



During the latter months of 1910 and the first half of 

 1911, a prolonged drought was experienced in most parts of 

 the island. In many localities the tanks did not fill, and 

 paddy cultivation was seriously affected. The same cause 

 has in many cases interfered with the realization of the 

 estimated yields of the staple export products. 



The Botanic fiardens at Peradeniya have continued to 

 render valuable assistance to the cultivator in all branches of 

 agriculture, both directly and through the instrumentality of 

 the Agricultural Society. From 1912 the staff of the 

 Gardens will be merged in a regular Agricultural Depart- 

 ment, the organization of which has received the sanction of 

 the Secretary of State. The establishment of a school of 

 agriculture, and the modification of the present system of 

 education in vernacular schools with a view to the introduc- 

 tion of a training in agricultural pursuits, await the inaugu- 

 ration of the new Department. Meanwhile arrangements 

 have been made for selected students from Ceylon to undergo 

 a course of agricultural training at the Agricultural College 

 at Poona, and the Government is oftering sholarships for 

 students who take up the course. {Colonial Reports — 

 Annual, No. 716, .July 1912.) 



The Virgin Islands and the Canadian Nation- 

 al Exhibition. — The Agricultural Instructor of the Virgii. 

 Islands, Mr. W. C. Fishlock, has given information con- 

 cerning the representation of that Presidency at the abovb 

 exhibition. He states that there were forwarded to St. Kitts, 

 in time to meet the S.S. 'Oruro' on July 16, two cases of 

 exhibits. These included; glass jars containing starch (arrow- 

 root, ca.ssava and tonsles mois), coffee and cacao; bottles of 

 raw and concentrated lime juice, and bags of cotton. 



Exhibits of fancy work, including a tea cloth, lace doiliea 

 and lace handkerchiefs were also sent. 



