261 



[March 1908 



substitution of jute for rice is probably 

 now being discovered to have been a 

 mistake. In the next place, as Dr. Willis 

 says, jute does not grow satisfactorily 

 in the equatorial regions or below 

 Orissa. Local experiments in jute grow- 

 ing, made through the School of Agricul- 

 ture many years ago, at the instance of 

 Mr. (afterwards Sir) Alex. Swettenham, 

 did not give satisfactory results. 



Lace Bark. — The nearest approach to 

 the lace bark of the West Indies is the 

 bark of Nava (Sterculia Balanghas). 



M. (Moratuwa.)— Rambuk (Sachcharum 

 spontaneum), so common in Ceylon, is 

 much used for paper making. Another 

 useful paper fibre is got from Isdioemum 

 angustifolium, which is found to grow 

 well in the Government Stock Garden 

 under far from favourable conditions. 

 It is certainly to be wondered that no 

 paper mill has been established here. 



M. P. — I am sending you the seeds you 

 want. Sour Sops are very common about 

 Colombo suburbs — particularly in the 

 Cotta direction, where the soil is decom- 

 posed cabook (laterite) which the tree 

 seems to affect ; and yet the fruit is 

 seldom seen in the town markets. I have 

 just secured a few seeds for trial of what 

 is said to be a hybrid between the cus- 

 tard apple and cherimoya. The Bullock's 

 heart is not a favourite, though there is 

 no good reason for despising the fruit. 



H. G. M.— Yes, blue stone and blue 

 vitriol are one and the same thing, viz., 

 sulphate of copper. Green vitriol is 

 sulphate of iron, and white vitriol is 

 sulphate of zinc. Vitriol is another name 

 for sulphuric acid. 



Bee.— You should get your hives as 

 strong as possible, so that you may take 

 advantage of the "honey flow" (as it is 

 called) which may be expected in April, 

 when there is a rush of blossom includ- 

 ing those of honey plants. Mr. Shanks 

 lays great store by the Padouk (Ptero- 

 carpus indica), and all bee-keepers should 

 be ready to take advantage of its flower- 

 ing periods. Those who wish to make 

 use of an honey extractor should apply 

 to the Superintendent of School Gardens 

 at the Government Stock Garden. 



F. V.—Next month I shall be able to 

 give you freshly imported cow pea seed ; 

 but, if you are particularly anxious to 

 have seeds, I can send you a packet 

 of some that have been raised locally. 



BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



Minutes op the 39th Meeting. 



The 39th meeting of the Board of Agri- 

 culture was held at the Council Chamber 

 at 12 noon on Monday, the 9th March, 

 1908. 



His Excellency the Governor presided. 



Present : — The Hon'ble the Colonial 

 Secretary, the Controller of Revenue, 

 Colonial Treasurer, the Government 

 Agent W.P., John Ferguson, c.M.G., F. C, 

 Loos, W. M. Abdul Rahiman, and A, 

 Kanagasabai ; Drs. Willis and H. M. 

 Fernondo, Messrs. A. N. Galbraith, R. W. 

 Smith (Acting Director of Irrigation), E. 

 T. Hoole. W. A. de Silva, F. L. Daniel, 

 and the Secretary. 



There were also present as Visitors : — 

 Messrs. Tudhope, H. P. Rudd, Gerard 

 Joseph, Alex. Perera, J. Mathias de Mel, 

 and two others. 



Business. 



(1.) Minutes of the previous meeting, 

 held on the 3rd February, were read and 

 confirmed. 



(2.) Progress Report No. 38 was adopt- 

 ed. 



(3.) The annual report on Castration 

 work carried on by the Government 

 Veterinary Department was laid on the 

 table. Mr. W. A. de Silva criticised the 

 method of castration adopted, and sug- 

 gested what he claimed to be a better 

 method in vogue in India. Dr. Fernando, 

 Mr. Hoole and Mr. Ferguson also spoke. 

 H.E. the President thought the matter 

 might be left over till the return of 

 Mr. Sturgess to the Island. 



(4.) The Organising Vice-President 

 submitted a statement showing the 

 apportionment of votes under the Gov- 

 ernment Grant for 1908, and moved its 

 adoption. The Hon'ble the Colonial 

 Secretary, in seconding the motion, 

 which was carried, deprecated the reten- 

 tion of large accumulated balances to 

 the credit of the Society. 



(5.) A statement of expenditure in- 

 curred during February was tabled. 



(6.) The Hon'ble Mr. Ferguson read a 

 paper entitled " The Possibilities before 

 me Ceylon Agricultural Society : its 

 Board and Branch Associations." The 

 Hon'ble the Colonial Secretary moved a 

 vote of thanks to Mr. Ferguson for his 

 valuable and suggestive paper. His 

 Excellency, in thanking Mr. Ferguson, 

 outlined a scheme for more effective 

 work, particularly among the cultivating 

 classes. 



The Organising Vice-President moved 

 the re-constitution of the Board as 



