Miscellaneous, 



451 



[May, 1910. 



reliable source, instead of purchasing 

 adulterated stuff from the local bazaar. 

 A market garden is also about to be 

 started at Baddegama, 



The Secretary of the Anuradhapura 

 Branch reports that a series of ploughing 

 demonstrations is in contemplation if 

 the present drought is relieved in April ; 

 also that a show is under consideration. 



The Rayigam Korale Branch holds 

 market shows at Kalutara, Wewita, and 

 Bellana on May 7, 14, and 21 respec- 

 tively. The Wewita show will be held 

 in the Society's experimental garden 

 near Bandaragama. Prizes will be 

 awarded to the best school gardens in 

 the district. 



Paddy (Rice).— The Galle-Gangaboda 

 Pattu Branch approached the Society 

 with a view to repeating a previously 

 successful effort at co-operation for the 

 supply of manure for yala cultivation. 

 Satisfactory arrangements have been 

 made for a supply of crushed bones, 

 which is the manure commonly used in 

 the South. 



Mr. W. K. Bibile, Ratemahatmaya, at 

 whose request a small quantity of the 

 well-known Samudrabali paddy was 

 obtained from India, reports that a trial 

 of this variety by Mr, D. Kotalawala 

 yielded seventy times the quantity 

 sown. The seed was put in the nursery 

 on August 13 last, transplanted on 

 September 6, and the crop harvested on 

 December 23. The land was manured 

 with cattle dung. Agricultural In- 

 structor Wickremaratne reporting on 

 this experiment says ; " I saw the field 

 in November and found the transplant- 

 ing had been done too close, otherwise 

 the yield would have been considerably 

 greater. The large size of the ears was 

 striking." 



Mr. J, A Wirasinghe, Mudaliyar of 

 the Rayigam korale, who supervised a 

 series of experiments by his headmen 

 with a view to proving the advantages 

 of transplanting, reports that the results 

 were very satisfactory. The actual 

 figures will be given in the next Progress 

 Report. 



Mr. Valoopillay of Anuradhapura re- 

 ports that a variety of paddy, known in 

 Tamil as " Tliillanagakam," was able to 

 withstand the attack of the paddy fly, 

 while two or three other varieties sown 

 at the same time were seriously damaged. 

 A sample of the paddy has been secured, 

 and the matter is being further investi- 

 gated with a view to discovering the 

 possible cause of immunity and the 

 existence of other varieties possessing 

 similar properties. 



Cotton. — The following is a report by 

 Messrs. D. J. Ross & Co. on a sample 

 of cottcn grown in the Province of Uva : 

 " Mr. H. E. D'Esterre of Braemore has 

 asked us to write you with reference to 

 the cotton sent to us from Randeniya. 

 To begin with, we understand this 

 cotton was grown from Caravonica seed. 

 Last September we got a small quantity 

 of this seed cotton from Mr. D'Esterre 

 and had it ginned in India by writer's 

 brother. The ginned sample we sent to 

 our friends in Europe, who gave a very 

 favourable report on the cotton, and 

 their valuation, dated Manchester, 

 September 29, was 9d. to 9hd- per lb. 

 This will give you a better idea than 

 anything of the quality. Of course, the 

 lot we have received from Mr. D'Esterre 

 may not have been so well ginned as the 

 sample we got, as he and his people have 

 little knowledge of ginning, and it is the 

 easiest thing in the world to destroy 

 cotton in ginning and reduce the value 

 by half or more, The staple of this 

 cotton is of fair length and good strength, 

 but is what is known amongst spinners 

 as rough staple." 



The Assistant Government Agent of 

 Hambantota is conducting a cotton 

 growing experiment in the Tissama- 

 harama district. 



The Secretary, Wanui Hatpattu Branch 

 Society, in reply to an inquiry, states 

 that in 1909 some 33 cwt. of cotton were 

 produced in his district, 31 cwt. of which 

 was raised by a European planter, and 

 about 2 cwt. on Crown chenas by 

 villagers. 



According to the report of the Secret- 

 ary of the Jaffna Branch 260 acres of 

 cotton were planted in Delft last year. 



The British Cotton Growers' Associa- 

 tion advise the despatch of half a ton of 

 Black Rattler and 25 lb. each of Allen's 

 improved Sunflower and Griffin cotton 

 seed. Black Rattler was specially recom- 

 mended for trial in Ceylon by Professor 

 Dunstan. Intending growers should 

 book early for this seed. 



I regret to have to record the death of 

 Mr. Cobham-Lea, one of the pioneers of 

 cotton cultivation in the North -Central 

 Province, who had been growing Sea 

 Island cotton near Galgamuwa under 

 great difficulties and with indomitable 

 pluck. 



Implements and Appliances-. — The 

 popularizing of light iron ploughs (such 

 as the Meston) suitable to local conditions 

 has occupied the attention of the Agri- 

 cultural Instructors. The services of 

 Mr. Wickramai^atne were placed at the 

 disposal of the Assistant Government 

 Agent, Kalutara (Mr. Plant), for the 



