January, 1910.] 



Miscellaneous. 



and grapes to oranges and mangoes, and 

 from potatoes and cauliflowers to 

 brinjals and chillies. A day was given 

 to the 



MYSORE FRUIT SYNDICATE'S FARM 



of over 40 acres, where especially select- 

 ed strains of fruits are being cultivated 

 according to the most up-to-date 

 methods, and three visits paid to the 

 State Botanical Gardens, which, under 

 its new Superintendent, Mr. Krum- 

 biegel, is fast developing the economic 

 side of horticulture. These experiences 

 presented opportunities which it would 

 have been a pity for the Instructors to 

 have altogether missed, as they would, 

 had they terminated their tour at 

 Satur ; and personally I am glad— even 

 at the cost of my holiday— that I ac- 

 companied them to Bangalore, and 

 snowed them much that should prove 

 useful to them in their sphere of work 

 in Ceylon. 



Mr. Drieberg Thanked. 

 H. E. the Governor : I am sure mem- 

 bers will agree with me that we are very 

 much indebted to Mr. Drieberg for 

 having passed his holiday in such a very 

 useful manner, and having furnished 

 us with the remarkably able memoran- 

 dum which he has just read. (Applause.) 

 It is full of practical remarks, and shows 

 that he has certainly exercised his 

 powers of observation to the maximum 

 extent. I think I am voicing the views 

 of this meeting when I say that our 

 hearty thanks are due to Mr, Drieberg 

 for his paper. (Applause.) 



REPORT ON SCHOOL GARDEN 

 SHOW: 

 Held at Mirigama School, 

 30th October, 1909. 



Fruits.— There was a comparatively 

 large number of entries in this class, 

 and the quality of the exhibits was 

 generally good. Oranges, limes and 

 woodapples of good quality were much 

 in evidence ; but, contrary to what 

 might be expected, pineapples and plan- 

 tains were poorly represented. Rambu- 

 tan, Mangosteen and Durian, being out 

 of season, were of course not entered. 



Vegetables. — Of these there was a good 

 miscellaneous. display. The most stand- 

 out exhibits were in the Gourd family, 

 there being very fine pumpkins. Among 

 the "yams" there were numerous gro- 

 tesque specimens, and the task of the 

 judges in deciding on the best was a 

 difficult one. 



Plants in Pots.— These were few in 

 number, but the specimens shown were 

 well grown and of good quality. 



The Show on the whole, though the 

 first of the kind held in Ceylon, would 

 compare well with many a village show, 

 and reflected credit on those School 

 Gardens participating in it. 



H. F. Macmillan, Co-Judge. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, 



Peradeniya, 4th Nov., 1909. 



DRY FARMING PRINCIPLES. 



(Prom the Queensland Agricultural 

 Journal, Vol. XXIII. I., Part 2, August, 

 1909.) 



From evidence given by practical farm- 

 ers engaged in dry farming through- 

 out the State of "Wyoming, U.S.A., in 

 response to letters addressed to them by 

 the authorities of the Wyoming Univer- 

 sity and Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion, it would appear that, with the em- 

 ployment of proper methods, com bined in 

 a measure with stock-raising, dry farm- 

 ing is a profitable enterprise. In that 

 State there are over 14,000,0000 acres of 

 land with a rainfall of over 15 in, per 

 annum. There are nearly 3^,000,000 acres 

 with an annual precipitation of between 

 124 and 15 in. All the arable land in these 

 areas will grow profitable crops by dry 

 farming in a majority of seasons. Then 

 there are nearly 19,000,000 acres, of 

 which probably one-half receives less 

 than 10. of rainfall. 



Under the most favourable conditions 

 crops have been successfully grown on a 

 precipitation of less than 10 in., but still 

 it would be hazardous for a settler to 

 venture much in the hope of gaining a 

 livelihood on a 320-acre homestead when 

 he knew that 10 in. per annum was the 

 average, and that iu one-half the seasons 

 it would fall short of that amount. 



Total annual precipitation is no con- 

 clusive guide in locating districts where 

 dry-land farming can be successfully 

 practised. The quantity and character 

 of rainfall during the growing seasons, 

 together with altitude, length of 

 season, amount and severity of wind, 

 hail storms, early and late frosts, are 

 all factors which contribute to the solu- 

 tion of the question. The heavy dews 

 which frequently occur in Queensland 

 would also be a factor in this State. 

 Now, as to the "Principles of Dry Farm- 

 ing," the first to be considered is— 



