456 



I December, 1912. 



On September 14th row E in the five acre plot of young Forastero was 

 manured with 100 lbs of Sulphate of Ammonia and then disc-harrowed. 



Rubber.— The selected seed obtained from the best yielding tree at 

 Heneratgoda has produced a high percentage of healthy plants. On 

 October 10th nurseries were sown with some 26,000 seed from old Pera- 

 deniya trees. The germination is fairly satisfactory. 



The lower halves of plots 17-78 measuring one acre in extent which 

 were under old cacao and coconuts, have been felled and cleared prepar- 

 atory to being planted with seedling Hevea. 



Trials with Mr. Wickham's Smoking Machine were started on October 

 22nd. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining sufficient latex from any one 

 experimental plot, it was decided to start tapping all the trees in plots 

 83—86 ; the method adopted is the single V half way round, 18 inches from 

 the ground, tapped daily. 



Coconuts.— Of the rnanurial plots 



Plot No. 8 was ploughed on October 21st — this is the second time 

 during the year. 



Plot No. 9— the necessary bi-monthly cultivation and application of 

 artificial soluble mixture was carried out on October 22nd. On November 

 4th a start was made to free the plots from cheddy gowth, — the green 

 material being mulched round the trees on Plot 6. Weight of material 

 applied per tree 50 lbs. 



In mid-October, red beetles were found to be attacking the young 

 palms in plot 62. One tree had to be destroyed, but it is hoped that the 

 other half dozen trees under treatment will recover. A special cooly has 

 been put on for this work. 



Two young plants, from nuts recently brought from Perak, which 

 were growing near the offices in the Gardens were on October 25th remo- 

 ved to the pineapple plot close to the Experiment Station Office. • 



Paddy. — The nursery plants having arrived at a suitable size the 

 operation of transplanting was started on October 17th, single plants being 

 put out at 12 inches apart. Nursery plots 3, 4 and 8 were dealt with in the 

 order named, the lower end of the field being planted first. 



The cost of transplanting per acre was Rs. 8. 



Maize.— One acre of Hickory King was harvested on October 23rd, the 

 product of each row being kept separate for line seed selection. 



Green Manures.— A small bed of Indigo >j 'era anil has been established. 

 The following green manure plotir have been cut, yielding as below for 

 l/lOOth of an acre. 



No. 1 LeucaBna glauca 229 lbs. 



No. 2 „ , 241 „ 



General.— 55 visitors have been conducted round the Station since 

 the last meeting, 



G, HARBORD, 



Acting Superintendent. 



