237 



During recent years the cultivation of shade trees for cacao 

 has also undergone considerable change, and whereas the original 

 plantations contained mixed species of forest types, or a prepon- 

 derance of Erytlirina nmbrosa, they are now giving way to Hcvca 

 brasilicnsis, Erytlirina litliosperma, Castilloa clastica, &c., : further- 

 more, the results of experiments indicate that the shade of 

 Erytlirina litliosperma need not be permanent throughout the whole 

 year, but may be treated so as to form a shade of varying intensity 

 according to the seasons. 



In all the species mentioned above there is observable one 

 important and common agreement /.t'., they all change their foliage 

 annually and return large quantities of organic matter, in the form, 

 of leaves, to the soil. Methods of manuring have also changed 

 to some extent, during the period under consideration, and the 

 effect of the change in modes of cultivation can be shown to affect 

 the quantity or quality of the article produced. The Ceylon 

 methods of cultivation, particularly with regard to pruning, weed- 

 ing and manuring, are almost unique, and the differences obser- 

 vable in Surinam, Trinidad, Samoa, Cameroon, &c., provide 

 interesting material for our consideration. 



In Ceylon the methods of fermenting, washing and curing are 

 often quite different and sometimes quite in contradiction to those 

 of other countries, and the effect of these processes on the 

 quality of the article is only too fully recognised. In the opinion 

 of many, the condition of the trees, whether they are free or 

 suffering from disease, is of importance in determining quality 

 and quantity. 



It is therefore obvious that there are several factors which need 

 to be considered in connection with the present and the past con- 

 dition of the cacao industry in Ceylon. 



The factor which is perhaps more responsible for the range in 

 value of the cured beans than any other is the variety of cacao 

 selected, and with this we will deal. 



GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO TEACHERS ON 

 SCHOOL GARDENS. 



In planning the School Garden, run the boundary lines to har- 

 monise with the lines of the School building and the road by 

 making them parallel or at right angles to them. 



Draw a plan of the proposed Garden to scale, marking adjacent 

 buildings and roads, garden foot-paths and beds, and noting what 

 crops it is intended to cultivate. 



This plan must be submitted in duplicate to the Superintending 

 Inspector of Schools, and approved by him and by the Director 

 of Public Gardens before a grant is made for the commencement 

 of the garden. 



The first requisite is such a fence as will keep out pigs and goats 

 as well as the larger animals. The gate should be strongly made 

 and well hung. 



