290 



[April, 1912. 



eneral advice on such matters. To take 

 another example. The writer has been 

 occupied during the past four years in 

 experiments on the tapping of Hevea 

 rubber, and is now beginning to consider 

 himself competent to give advice on a 

 few elementary points connected with 

 this operation. Before these experiments 

 were begun, it was found that no records 

 existed anywhere which were in any 

 way adequate for the use of an observer 

 who wished to draw sound conclusions 

 on the physiology of latex formation. 

 How many years must elapse before 

 these problems are even approximately 

 solved it is impossible to estimate. 



The complaint above mentioned has 

 another objectionable aspect. It is a 

 reflection upon the qualifications of the 

 Visiting Agents of the Ceylon planting 

 companies. We have been accustomed 

 to look upon these gentlemen as a highly 

 intelligent body of men, possessed of 

 wide agricultural experience, and emin- 

 ently well qualified to interpret the 

 scientific results obtained at Peradeniya 

 for the benefit of the superintendents 

 whom they advise. It appears to us a 

 proper arrangement that the Peradeniya 

 staff should occupy themselves with 

 research and expound the results of 

 their researches in the Circulars and 

 Agricultural Journal of the Department. 

 The system of visiting is an agency well 

 suited for carrying the light so kindled 

 into dark places of remote plantations, 

 even if the Postal Department should 

 prove an insufficient vehicle. The great 

 majority of Peradeniya Circulars, how. 

 ever.are couched in language which ought 

 to be intelligible to any estate manager. 



As regards the cultivation of the 

 chief native products of Ceylon— Paddy, 

 Coconuts, Cinnamon and many others — 

 we may safely say that little scientific 

 knowledge of any kind exists, and if it 

 does not existit cannot be communicated. 

 For the improvement of these industries 

 therefore the first necessity is research, 

 and in every one of them a variety of 

 problems awaits solution, requiring only 

 time and brains for their elucidation in 



addition to the necessary land and labour. 

 But the brains and especially the time 

 must be forthcoming. Hurried experi- 

 ments and hasty conclusions are worse 

 than none at all. For we think it will 

 be admitted by all who are acquainted 

 with the Goiya that advice wnich leads 

 to failure is likely to make a more per- 

 manent impression upon his mind than a 

 corresponding amount of sound instruc- 

 tion. It i3 therefore important to make 

 sure of the success of the first new 

 product or method introduced into any 

 given district before recommendiog it 

 widely, in order to avoid possible dis- 

 couragement of those whom it is desired 

 to benefit. The innate conservatism of 

 the native cultivator in agricultural 

 matters will only be strengthened if he 

 finds that his advisers are liable to make 

 mistakes. For the same reason the task 

 of advising the villager in cultural 

 operations should only be entrusted to 

 highly-trained and cautious officers. 



In this connection we may call atten- 

 tion to the opinions expressed in Mr. 

 Bateson's address to the Agricultural 

 Section of the British Association last 

 year. The whole of this address, which 

 is reprinted in the January number of 

 the Tropical Agriculturist, is worthy of 

 the careful consideration of all practical 

 men, and no passage is more significant 

 than the following :— 



" Let us on our part beware of 

 giving false hopes. We know no har- 

 mony ' of sovran use against all enchant- 

 ments, mildew, blast, or damp.' Those 

 who are wise among us do not even 

 seek it yet. Why should we not 

 take the farmer and gardener into our 

 fullest confidence and tell them this ? I 

 lately read a newspaper interview with 

 a fruit-farmer who was being questioned 

 as to the success of his undertaking, and 

 spoke of the pests and difficulties with 

 which he had to contend. He was asked 

 whether the Board of Agriculture and 

 the scientific authorities were not able 

 to help him. He replied that they had 

 done what they could, that they recom- 

 mended first one thing and then another, 



