JAN. 1908.J 



63 



Miscellaneous , 



While on the subject of education I might refer to my good fortune in 

 meeting with two exponents of the later developments of Education Science, viz., 

 Nature Teaching and Sloyd. 



A letter of introduction from the Inspector-General of Education gained for 

 me a meeting with Miss Latter, one of the leaders of the Nature Study movement 

 n England, who has come out on a six months' engagement with the Mysore Govern- 

 ment to introduce her methods of work into the State Schools. Miss Latter has 

 fully expounded her scheme in her work on School Gardening, but the advantage of 

 a personal conference was considerable. The progress of School Gardening in Ceylon 

 was a pleasant surprise to her, and it is not unlikely that, before returning to 

 England, she may visit the Island to satisfy her curiosity as to the conditions and 

 results in Ceylon of the work in which she is personally so greatly interested. 



Dr. Larsson, at present organiser of Sloyd in Mysore, and who has come out from 

 America on a similar term of engagement, was another interesting personage. He is 

 a Swede, who is in charge of the Sloyd school in Boston, from which, up to date, 

 275 teachers have graduated. Sloyd is best defined as educational manual training 

 or tool work so arranged and put into practice as to stimulate and promote vigorous, 

 intelligent self-activity, for a purpose which the organizer recognises as good. The 

 practical application of the principles involved I had the opportunity of seeing for 

 myself by attending Dr. Larsson's class at the Memorial Hall, Bangalore, where the 

 full significance of his system of instruction was evidenced. Papers handed to me 

 by Dr. Larsson I have transmitted to the Director of Public Instruction. 



While in Bangalore, Dr. Lehmann was kind enough to take me over his 

 chemical laboratory and also show me the experimental work he is engaged on. 

 The laboratory is a monument to the intelligent administration of the State, repre. 

 senting as it does a large expenditure of money for the development of the natural 

 resources of the land— agricultural and mineral. The appliances are of the most 

 recent make, and the general provision for work is as satisfactory as one could desire. 

 I here saw a series of interesting tests in potculture to determine the value of 

 different manures applied under different conditions to one of the common grain 

 crops of the country (Eleusine corocana, ragi or kurakkan), as well as other outdoor 

 experiments. 



Before leaving Bangalore I took the opportunity of visiting Tata's Silk Farm, 

 where I was glad to meet the permanent Manager, Mr. Odzu, who on the occasion os 

 my previous visit was away on leave in Japan. Mr. Odzu very willingly showed mj 

 all there was to see both in and out of doors, and gave me all the information e 

 desired to have. He claimed that the silk from the Mysore mulberry worm was 

 superior to that of Bengal, and that the most recent valuations obtained from 

 England were decidedly encouraging to the local industry. I procured samples of 

 silkworm nets of different dimensions for facilitating the feeding and cleaning of the 

 worms as they pass from one stage of development to another. I am inclined to 

 think that those who prefer to keep mulberry instead of castor-oil worms in Ceylon 

 could not do better than select the Mysore species, distinguished as Bombyx 

 meridionis, which appears in every way to suit local conditions, as I have shown by 

 rearing them at the Government Stock Garden. 



I was forcibly struck with the suitability of Casuarina for seaside planting 

 in South India, and would suggest that an attempt be made to utilise it for growing 

 in coast towns like Chilaw, as well as in sandy wastes such as occur in the Jaffna 

 peninsula. I shall be glad to procure seeds for anyone wishing to make the attempt, 

 The cost of a pound will be about Rs. 3. Casuarina is being extensively planted 

 in Southern India for fuel, and as such is a profitable cultivation. 



I am, Sir, 

 Your Obedient Servant, 

 0. DRIEBERG, 

 Superintendent of School Gardens. 



The Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, 



