Jan. 1908] 



61 



Miscellaneous. 



is their immediate object, such societies hav^, in every country where they have 

 taken root, proved great moral educators and promoters of mutual confidence, self- 

 reliance and honest enterprise. Government have given the facilities, it is for you 

 to take advantage of them." 



On my first visiting the Exhibition I was fortunate in having for guide Dr, 

 Lehmann, State Agricultural Chemist, who combines in himself all the duties of an 

 Agricultural , Department. Dr. Lehmann had much to do with the Exhibition, and 

 being thoroughly conversant with the exhibits, was able to explain them tome very 

 fully and give me a great deal of useful information. 



Among the agricultural exhibits paddy, grains and pulses made a large 

 show, ragi (our kurakkan) being much in evidence. The Agricultural Chemist 

 himself had a most interesting exhibit of his own, illustrating the chemical side of 

 food stuffs and soils. 



Sugar cane was prominent among plantation products. Mysore cane is a good 

 yielder of sugar, and demonstrations in its manufacture were given for the 

 benefit of visitors. Under ordinary circumstances a good deal of sugar is 

 lost by fermentation of the juice, which is preventable (1) by boiling the juice as soon 

 after extraction as possible, (2) by keeping utensils thoroughly clean, and (3) by 

 avoiding earthenware vessels. Oilier points to be borne in mind with a view to 

 getting a maximum yield of sugar are the adding of enough lime, sufficient to turn 

 red litmus fairly blue, and skimming thoroughly in the boiling. The only exhibits 

 from Ceylon were to be found in the Plantation Products Section, and consisted 

 of a few samples of chewing and smoking tobacco from Jaffna. The specimens were 

 by no means very attractive, and it is a pity a small exhibit of our chief estate 

 products could not have been placed on view. Coffee, as was to be expected, was 

 well to the fore as a product of the State. 



Among Forest Products were a number of familiar Ceylon woods such as 

 Satinwood, Tamarind, Suriyamara (Albizeia odoratissima), but others little known 

 to us, except by name or as manufactured articles, were also to be found. Chief 

 among the latter was white sandal (Santalum album), widely distributed 

 throughout the State, except in the high forests. The wood is hard and oily and 

 the heart-wood red or yellowish-brown with a strong scent. The best specimens 

 of this wood fetch as high as Rs. 780 per tou, while even the saw dust is saleable 

 at Rs. 250. The artistic carving in sandal wood is one of the chief local industries. 

 In the Forestry Section was also included some fine mounted specimens of the 

 denizens of the forest. 



The reeling of Mysore mulberry cocoons was one of the many interesting 

 demonstrations, which included a competition in cloth weaving in various indi- 

 genous and improved looms, ploughing, etc. 



The Public Health Exhibit was very striking. The subject of malaria and 

 its causes was fully dealt with. Sewage contrivances, model houses and conservancy 

 methods were all illustrated, and brought home by actual specimens and structures 

 howing for comparison and inference the old and new systems. 



An attractive exhibit was the loan collection from the Maharajah's palace- 

 rare specimens of art in stone, wood and metal. 



Printing and photo-engraving processes, leather goods and locally distilled 

 liquors were also in evidence. 



The State is very rich in minerals from gold downwards, and the Geological 

 E xhibits were fairly representative- 



tUL 



