miscellaneous. 



[JANUARY, 1910, 



to securely fence the grass fields against 

 cattle trespass by fences made of mul- 

 killivai (Balsamodendron Berryi), a tree 

 extensively employed for fencing in the 

 Jaffna Peninsula. 



The only possible apprehension in 

 introducing the grass into Ceylon is the 

 possibility of its proving a weed in cul- 

 tivated laud ; but, as Mr. Jowitt states, 

 there does not appear to be the sanjp 

 danger to be feared from Cenchrus 

 mutabilis as from Cyperus rotundus. 

 The bulletin referred to mentions that 

 the vitality and propagating power of 

 the grass are remarkable, but as the 

 roots are very short it can be cleared 

 off the land without much difficulty. 

 This opinion, compared with that of 

 Duthie, that the grass is "a most 

 excellent fodder, thriving best where 

 the soil is sandy," gives a good char- 

 acter to this new introduction. For 

 long the great cry from the dry districts 

 has been for a drought-resisting fodder 

 grass, and here is one at last. Those 

 who wish to see how freely Cenchrus 

 mutabilis grows can do so at the Govern- 

 ment Stock Garden, and any one wish- 

 ing to lay down the grass in the drier 

 parts of the Island should apply for 

 seed to the Secretary, who is expecting 

 a large consignment in March next iu 

 time for planting during the south-west 

 monsoon rains. 



Errata. — In Progress Report No. 

 XLVL, for Phalaris gay ana (Rhodes 

 grass), read Chloris gayana, Var. 

 Miscellaneous. 



The description of a mechanical 

 polisher J or cacao, known as Barnard's 

 patent, referred to in the West Indian 

 Agricultural Neivs, was sent to a well- 

 known local cacao planter, who writes:— 

 "This will not help us in Ceylon, as we 

 wash before drying and do not clay after 

 fermenting as is done in some places. 

 We do our drying in special rooms with 

 fans and heaters." 



The Superintendent of School Gardens 

 has forwarded an excellent report on the 

 work going on at the Weragala School 

 Garden, which is said to be one of the 

 best in the Kegalla district. He says :— 

 '• The whole place is under systematic 

 management, and the work well organ- 

 ized. The teacher is of a type not 

 often met with, and has the children 

 under good discipline and careful in- 

 struction." 



Mr. K. Bandara-Beddewela has for- 

 warded to the Secretary an interesting 

 memorandum on fruit cultivation as 

 carried on by him in the neighbourhood 

 of Kaudy. 



Mr. James Perera of Molligoda has 

 forwarded a specimen of a fancy cur- 



fain in imitation of those imported from 

 Japan, and made entirely of local 

 materials. The article is submitted for 

 inspection of members. 



C. DRIEBERG, 



Secretary. 



December 18, 1909. 



REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE ON 

 MODEL AND EXPERIMENTAL 

 GARDENS. 

 (Submitted to the Board, Dec. 18th, 1909.) 



The Sub-Committee consider that there 

 is no reason for anxiety on the score 

 of expense. They think it very unlikely 

 that a larger sum than Rs. 18,000 can be 

 profitably spent on model gardens within 

 the next five years. Even if the whole 

 of this sum is spent at once the Society 

 will still be left with a balance sufficient 

 to defray the cost of an experiment in 

 Tobacco Cultivation and Curing. The 

 Committee therefore recommend that a 

 sum not exceeding Rs. 18,000 be voted 

 by the Board to be used as grants-in- 

 aid for the establishment of model and 

 experimental gardens in the different 

 Provinces. 



2. It is recommended that grants 

 should be made under the conditions 

 laid down in the annexed statement, 

 each garden to be under the manage- 

 ment of a genuine Branch Society re- 

 presented by a properly appointed 

 Secretary. 



3. A proper account of all experi- 

 ments should be kept by the Secretary 

 of the branch society, showing the area 

 of ground devoted to each experiment, 

 the cost of seed, manure, &c, used and 

 the amount and value of the labour em- 

 ployed, These details, as well as the 

 results of each experiment, should be 

 recorded in a book kept for the purpose, 

 and the proceeds of sale of any crops 

 should be shown as a set-off against the 

 cost of growing. 



4. As regards the profits which may 

 be expected to accrue from the sale of 

 certain crops, the Committee recommend 

 that, should any.'garden show a surplus 

 at the end of the year, such surplus 

 should be placed on deposit with the 

 Parent Society to form a fund to be 

 used for the ultimate benefit of the Ex- 

 perimental Garden Scheme. 



5. It is further recommended that a 

 permanent Advisory Committee be ap- 

 pointed to discuss what plants should 

 be grown and what experiments made 

 at each garden, and that a programme of 

 the work to be carried out at each 

 garden should be submitted periodically 

 for the approval of the Committee, 



