August, 1912.] 



137 



Sericulture. 



The Silk Farm at Peradeniya has been working steadily under the control 

 of the Salvation Army, and making practical progress in the direction of a local silk 

 industry. The special sericultural exhibit which the Society is making at the 

 All-Ceylon Exhibition will better explain the position to which the work at the 

 farm has attained than any mere description. 



Samples of silk forwarded to the Imperial Institute were reported on as 

 marketable silks, and valued at from 12s. to 13s. per lb., with East Indian Surdah at 

 lis. 3d. to lis. 9d. per lb. 



Apiculture. 



The long-expected machine for making comb-foundation for Apis indica has 

 been received, and should give a considerable fillip to the operations of local api- 

 arists, chief among whom are Messrs. A. P. Goonatilleka, J. P. Obeyesekere, and 

 J. A. Victor Perera. The demand for comb-foundation is likely to extend to India 

 and other tropical countries. 



It would appear that the ultimate success of a local industry depends upon 

 the exploitation of the indigenous honey bee, rather than that of a foreign species. 



Acknowledgments and Thanks. 

 In conclusion, I desire to record the thanks of the Society to His Excellency 

 the Governor as President of the Board, as well as to the Hon. the Colonial 

 Secretary and to other Government officials who have in various ways furthered the 

 work of the Society. 



The Society owes much to Prof. Wyndham R. Dunstan, Director of the 

 Imperial Institute, for the ready manner in which he has responded to the many 

 inquiries that have been submitted to him, and the investigations and reports he 

 has made. The Society has been fortunate in having so well-equipped an insti- 

 tution as its ally, and the periodical Progress Reports that have been published 

 afford ample testimony of the valuable assistance it has rendered. 



The expert advice of the scientific officers at Peradeniya has been frequently 

 sought and willingly afforded. 



I would extend a hearty welcome to the new Director of Agriculture, Mr. 

 R. N. Lyne, in whose hands the future destinies of the Society are in safe keeping, 

 and before whom lies a great work in consolidating the various economic interests 

 (agricultural, horticultural, and botanical) of the Colony. 



C. DRIEBERG, 



Colombo, June 29, 1912. 

 18 



Secretary. 



