54 MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 



of tillage the coconut palm can be made to grow well 

 and yield good crops. Unfortunately this station is 

 difficult of access and has been visited by comparatively 

 few of those who are likely to be benefited by learning 

 first-hand the lesson it teaches. But it has not been 

 without its influence on the coconut industry of the 

 island through the attention it has directed to the advan- 

 tages of tilling on dry farming lines. Through the 

 exertions of the Director of Agriculture a more acces- 

 sible dry zone station is being opened an Anuradhapura, 

 which is on the railway, while a coconut trial ground for 

 the Chilaw-Puttalam District is also about to be 

 established. The more intelligent coconut planters 

 are already adopting improved methods of cultivation 

 encouraged by the better price of nuts that has recently 

 ruled the market. 



In travelling through the Chilaw-Puttalam District 

 during the dry season one cannot but be struck with the 

 difference in the appearance of the palms on hard-baked, 

 grass-covered estates on the one hand, and loose soil- 

 mulched lands on the other. On the former one sees 

 drooping withered fronds, on the latter healthy spreading 

 foliage, indicating as clearly as does the garden balsam, 

 the flaccid and turgid condition of the plant cells under 

 dry and moist conditions. 



It has recently been stated that the area available for 

 coconut cultivation in Ceylon has almost reached its 

 limit, but it may be anticipated that under up-to-date 

 management the dry tracts that have so long lain idle 

 as being unsuitable for coconuts will before long come 

 under cultivation; and indeed one is led to believe that 

 the palm may suffer more from too great than from too 

 small a rainfall. Extensive tracts of Crown land in the 

 dry zone are now being offered for sale and find ready 

 purchasers. 



Attention has recently been directed to the possi- 

 bility of growing the African oil palm and Sisal hemp 

 in the driest portions of the island. 



For the small cultivator who favours annual crops 

 much remains to be done in the way of demonstrating 

 the possibilities of raising suitable products in districts 



