228 



[September, 1912. 



Cotton. 



It would appear after a great many trials conducted in various parts 

 of the Island with different varieties of cotton seed, that the American 

 long staples are the most likely to suit our conditions, and on the recom- 

 mendation of the local agents of the British Cotton Growing Association 

 (Messers Freudenberg & Co.). based upon their experience at their ginnery, 

 the variety known as Allen's long staple, which is reported to have given 

 the best results all round, will be selected for future growings. This is a 

 point gained, as it is important that we should grow only one variety of 

 cotton so that our produce should be of one quality and characteristic of 

 the Island. 



Mr. W. Sabapathy, who made a trial of cotton and soy beans in Kayts 

 Island last year, has been afforded facilities by Government for cultivating 

 some 40 acres next season. The experiment is an important one for the 

 Jaffna District. 



So far Matale North has been the scene of the most extensive cotton 

 operations, and the results have been extremely encouraging. 



The following report (43,828 of May 7) was received from the Imperial 

 Institute on a sample of Black Rattler seed cotton grown in Tumpane, 

 Central Province : — "Line clean, fairly lustrous, soft, fine, cream-coloured 

 and free from stains. Yield of lint on ginning apparently 30 6 per cent., 

 yield per 100 seeds 4'3 grams. Strength fair, length of fibre from "9 to 1'6 

 inch— mostly from 1*1 to 14. Commercial value 8£c£. per lb. ginned, with 

 ' middling ' American at 6 - 57d .per lb. and 'good' Abassiat lid per lb. 

 The cotton is of good, useful quality and would be readily saleable in the 

 United Kingdom.'' 



The British Cotton Growing Assocation expert, reporting on the same 

 sample, wrote :— " American character, rather dull, fairly clean, staple 

 about 1^, not veiy strong, but hue. Value 8-25d" The Secretary of the 

 Association referring to the cotton says: "This is a very good result 

 indeed." 



Cotton has done very well at Balalla, North- Western Province, and 

 the Government Agent has proposed, with the assistance of the Society, 

 to start two rotation gardens, with cotton as the main crop, at Hettipola 

 and Nikaweratiya. These are about to be inspected by the Director of 

 Agriculture and the Secretary, Ceylon Agricultural Society, and arrange- 

 ments will be made to get the land ready for October planting. 



At Madipola garden (Matale District) the growth of cotton by the 

 teacher is encouraging. Siill another place where a series of carefully 

 conducted cotton trials have been carried on (by the teacher of Mediwaka 

 school) is Kalalgamuwa. Full reports will be available shortly. 



Kekuna (Aleurites triloba.) 



An inquiry was received some time back from a German firm about 

 these nuts which are locally used as a source of oil in the Kandyan Pro- 

 vinces and in response to a circular letter a good deal of information was 

 gathered as to probable supplies that would be available. From letters 

 i eceived it was gathered that the use of the oil for burning was being given 

 up for kerosiue oil and that large supplies of the nuts would be available 

 but for the fact that the timber of the tree was being utilized for making 

 tea-boxes. The oil-kekuna tree (which must not be confused with Carta- 

 rium seylanicum, also called kekuna) is a fast grower and occurs in tjje 



