Miscellaneous. 



550 



[June, 1910. 



only source of agricultural revenue to 

 the Tamils cf the North, Within the 

 past few months a serious check has 

 been experienced by tobacco growers in 

 consequence of the Indian Government 

 raising the import duty on tobacco 

 from Rs. 90 to Rs. 900 per candy. So far 

 as Ceylon is concerned the new tariff 

 has practically killed the trade in chew- 

 ing tobacco, and the grower of this leaf, 

 which is raised on a particular type of 

 soil, is much exercised in mind as to 

 what can take the place of the tobacco 

 crop. Cotton is likely to do, and the 

 Society is taking advantage of the situ- 

 ation to encourage cotton cultivation in 

 the North, but at present the tobacco 

 grower is inclined to look askance at 

 any product that will not yield him the 

 magnificent returns that tobacco .does. 

 The Society, in the meantime, has em- 

 barked upon a comparatively big enter- 

 prise with a view to proving the possi- 

 bility of turning out an improved 

 smoking tobacco for the foreign market. 

 The system of cultivation practised at 

 present results in the production of a 

 large coarse leaf, while the method 

 of curing induces a rank tobacco only fit 

 for the manufacture of a crude form of 

 cigar for local consumption. By the 

 employment of superior seed, a better 

 system of cultivation and harvesting, 

 and an improved method of curing, it is 

 hoped that the object sought will be 

 attained. The scene of the tobacco ex- 

 periment is the Experiment Station at 

 Maha Iluppalama, where 50 'acres of 

 land were made available by the Botanic 

 Department for the purpose. The 

 Society voted a sum of Rs. 27,000, and 

 Government contributed half the cost of 

 the salary of the expert (Mr. Edward 

 Cowan). Operations began practically 

 at the commencement of the year, and 

 reports of progress have so far been 

 satisfactory. Mr. Brecken ridge, Agri- 

 cultural Instructor, has been sent on 

 special duty as conductor under Mr. 

 Cowan, with whom the Superintendent 

 of the Experiment Station (Mr. Harbord) 

 is co-operating. Both Sumatra and Java 

 tobacco are being tried. 



In Trincomalee the Messrs. Molesworth 

 Bros, have been carrying on tobacco 

 cultivation on improved lines, and are 

 now turning out a cigar of a superior 

 type, with which they are trying the 

 market. 



School Gardens. 

 The Society has done much to push on 

 tho work of the School Garden Depart- 

 ment, which is making very satisfactory 

 progress. With the exception of a 

 handful of teachers of the old school, 

 who are nearing their time of retire- 

 ment, there is a general desire on the 



part of school masters to work under 

 the scheme, and in most cases with 

 gratifying results. The advantages ot 

 the education which the scheme provides 

 to the rising generation in the rural 

 districts are undeniable, and its influence 

 upon village life and character is 

 material. Under these circumstances it 

 would be a wise policy to gradually 

 develop this department by additions to 

 the staff as well as to the votes, so that 

 the scheme may ultimately embrace all 

 the schools of the Island. At present it 

 is impossible to grant aid to the extent 

 that it is demanded by both Govern- 

 ment schools and those under private 

 management. 



Loans to Cultivators- 

 The Committee appointed by His 

 Excellency the Governor to report on 

 this subject have sent in their recom- 

 mendations {vide Sessional Paper VIII. 

 of 1910), the more important of which 

 are that an Ordinance be introduced on 

 the lines of the Indian Co-operative 

 Society's Act, No. X. of 1901, by which 

 societies formed in Ceylon can be cor- 

 porated ; that the accounts of the 

 societies should be submitted for Govern- 

 ment audit ; that there should be joint 

 and unlimited liability of the members ; 

 that Government should allow similar 

 fiscal, legal and executive privileges to 

 societies as in India; that where necessary 

 financial aid will be rendered by Govern- 

 ment, but that in no case should mone- 

 tary grants be given unless a sum equal 

 to that asked for be first raised by the 

 members. 



These recommendations have still to 

 come into effect, but in the meantime 

 some attempts are being made by local 

 societies to go to the aid of the culti- 

 vator by means of loans of paddy and 

 manure, and in some cases of small sums 

 of money. The most successful of these 

 is the movement set on foot by the 

 Dumbara Branch, and as it is the first 

 local body that has launched so far in 

 this enterprise, a report on the working 

 of the Co-operative Credit and Loan 

 Society is given below for the infor- 

 mation of other branches : — 



This Society was started in August, 

 1906, with 22 members and a deposit of 

 Rs. 420. Since then the increase in 

 membership and deposits has been as 

 follows : — 



On December 31, 1906, there were 37 Rs. 



members with a deposit of . . 670 

 On December 31, 1907, there were 43 



members with a deposit of ... 740 

 On December 31, 1908, there were 49 



members with a deposit of ... 810 

 On December 31, 1909, there were 69 



members with a deposit of ... 1,000 



