December, 1912.] 457 



PROGRESS REPORT OF EXPERIMENT STATION: 



Maha-Iluppalama, prom September 13th to November 7th, 1912. 



Coconuts.— In September steps were taken to have all the rubbish 

 from the trees burnt before the rains set in. 



It has been found necessary to burn four trees which were badly 

 infested with red beetle, other affected trees are being treated and watch- 

 ed daily. 



The heavy rains of October have been especially beneficial to the plot 

 of year old coconuts growing on unirrigable land. 



Paddy. — The trial plots extending over 9 acres were harvested in 

 September, and the following results were obtained : — 



The plots are all one acre plots. 



Kaivarasamba 4 months paddy. 



1 bushel sown broadcast gave ... ... 37£ bushels 



f ii it ii i< ••• ••■ 38| |i 



^ ii >i ,i u ... ••• 37 | j 



4 , , ,1 > , ,1 • • • ••• 104. , , 



Heenati. 3 months paddy. 



2\ bushels sown broadcast gave ... ... 38 bushels 



2 ,, >i ,, ,, ... ... 27 



1 ,, 1 , ,• «• ••• ••• 35^ ,, 



^ 11 ,, ,1 I, ••• »•> 27 ,, 



J ,, 1, ,1 »i • • t.» 37 



The 9 acres are now being prepared to receive a crop in the coming 

 season, the idea being to make comparative trials with eight varieties of 

 3 months paddy obtained from different parts of the Island, the 9th acre 

 will be control plot of the local " Heenati" variety. 



With regard to the trial which was recently carried out with the 

 object of obtaining some information concerning the damage the paddy 

 bug is capable of doing, the following results were obtained :— 



Two small plots, each being 36 square feet in extent, were prepared 

 side by side. One plot was completely protected by mosquito netting, 

 and the other plot was left unprotected. 



The protected plot gave a return equivalent to 8(5 bushels per acre. 



The unprotected plot ,, ,, ,, ,, 43 ,, ,, 



Cotton.— During the second week in October, a 10-aere block of recent- 

 ly cleared jungle land was sown with American Improved Upland 

 variety— Allan's Long-stapled. 



Method oj Sowing in rows 4 feet apart. 



Six seeds to each hole at 18 inches apart in the row. The crop is 

 coming up satisfactorily. 



On October 29th 2 acres were sown with Egyptian Variety Sakkelari- 

 des, as a catch crop under year old coconuts on unirrigable land. 



Sisal Hemp.— A 7-acre block of recently cleared jungle land was 

 cleaned up in September and October. 



The land is being pegged out at 5 feet x 8 feet, and suckers are being 

 planted out as the work proceeds. 



G. HARBORD. 

 Superintendent. 



58 



