Miscellaneous. 



54 



[January, 1910. 



MINUTES OP A MEETING OP THE 

 COMMITTEE OP AGRICULTURAL 

 EXPERIMENTS : 



Held at the Experimental Station, 

 Peradeniya, on 11th November, 1909. 



The following members were pre- 

 sent: — Mr. R. H. Lock (Chairman), the 

 Entomologist, the Mycologist, the Agri- 

 cultural Chemist, the Secretary (C. J- C. 

 Mee), the Hon'ble the Government Agent, 

 Kandy, the Hon'ble Mr. Edgar Turner, 

 Messrs. Rosling, Jowitt, Anderson, 

 Davies and Vanderstraaten, 



Mr. Bamber read the Progress Report 

 on the Experiment Station since the 

 previous meeting, and the following 

 resolutions were passed :— 



1. That quarterly measurements of 

 rubber trees, referred toiu Mr. Bamber's 

 report, be taken, and that Plot 87 be 

 forked every three months very deeply. 

 Por the first time 9" and later forkings 6". 



2. That an estimate of expenditure 

 for 1910 be drawn up, showing the dis- 

 tribution over the various itetrfe. This 

 was placed in the hands of sub-Committee 

 consisting of Mr. Jowitt, Mr. Bamber, 

 and the Superintendent. 



Mr. Vanderstraaten suggested that co- 

 conut trees be scientifically investigated 

 as regards planting distances, habit of 

 flowering and maturing nuts, and the 

 time occupied during the various stages. 



Rosolved, that a scheme be drawn up 

 for the future, and the plan definitely 

 followed out during a period extending 

 over seveial years, and that Messrs. 

 Bamber and Vanderstraaten submit 

 it at the next meeting in January, 1910. 

 Chas. J. C. Mee, 



Secretary and Superintendent, Experi- 

 ment Station, Peradeniya. 

 16th November, 1909, 



Progress Report on Experiment Sta- 

 tion, since Previous Meeting held on 

 9th September, 1909. 



Tea— Plots 141-113 and 151-155 have 

 been tipped. 



Polts 116-150 of Manipuri indigeuuus 

 have been pruned. 



Plot 142 had Iudigofera cut at 8" in 

 September yielding 1,62t lb. It has again 

 formed a good cover. 



Plot 148 was sown with Crotalaria 

 just before pruning at. 8 lbs. per acre, 

 broadcast up alternate lines. 



The plots of Single Indigenous were 

 supplied again with plants from Cool- 

 bawn Estate, poor Jat plants being 

 removed. 



Plots 151-154 have been re -supplied with 

 Udapolla Para stumps. 



Cacao. — The 5 acres of Forastero from 

 No, 2 tree have been fully supplied, and 

 the Dadaps cut on the various half-acre 

 plots as required for high and low shade 

 &c, 



The plot of Crotalaria and Indigofera 

 half-acre was pruned at 3' and gave 5,204 

 lbs. of material which was mulched. 

 More space was cleared round the cacao 

 plants, which were fully supplied. 



The steep banks were all sown with 

 Crotalaria and Iudigofera. The growth 

 is good and the heavy wash almost 

 entirely prevented. 



The Iudigofera recovers more rapidly 

 and comuletely than Crotalaria, and is 

 gradually killing out the latter. 



Cacao— Old. — All the plots were spray- 

 ed with Bordeaux mixture. All plots 

 have had Canker removed. It was and 

 is most prevalent iu the riverside plots, 

 8, 9, and 10 and 94-95 by the paddy-fields. 



Plot 8 receives 5 cwt. Kainit. Plot 9 

 5 cwt. Bone Dust. Plot 10 Control. 

 Plot 94a had Potassium Chloride. Plot 

 94b Potassium Sulphate. 91a Sodium 

 Nitrate. 95b Groundnut Cake. 96a 

 Concentrated Superphosphate. 96b Pre- 

 cipitated Phosphate. Apparently none 

 of these manures have any preventive 

 effect. 



A new ceusus of the trees on the plot 

 is being taken, so that the yields can be 

 reduced to a standard. 



Manufacture. — The fermenting process 

 was changed according to the sugges- 

 tions of the Committee at the last 

 meeting, and samples are submitted for 

 inspection. 



Experimental fermentation for the 

 production of Alcohol from fermenting 

 beans was tried, and the distillate sent 

 to Colombo for analysis. It was found 

 to contain much ethyl acetate as well vts 

 alcohol, and further experiments are 

 being made to regulate the acetic 

 fermentation going on simultaneously. 



Coconuts.— The 10-acre coconut plot 

 has been supplied with the seed from 

 Mr. Nicholas, of which only 9*6 % failed 

 to germinate. 



A further 100 germinated coconuts 

 were obtained from Mr. G. T, Nicholas, 

 Goluwapokuna Estate, Negombo, of 

 which 92 were supplied, completing the 

 10-acre plot. 



A further 100 seed have been put 

 to germinate for future supplies if 

 necessary. 



Twelve varieties of coconuts are being 

 -obtained from Mr. L. W. A. de Soysa, 

 who has kindly offered them free of cost. 



