March 1908.] 



267 



done to check the pest by repeatedly 

 burning off the grass on the bunds and 

 in the fallow fields during the off season. 

 The insect subsists at that time on 

 the wild grasses, and lays its eggs on 

 the grass stems." 



Ground Nuts. — Writing in October 

 last, Messrs. Finlay, Fleming & Co. of 

 Rangoon state that they purchase 

 groundnuts in the shell, the price ruling 

 at that date being Rs, 150 to Rs. 155 per 

 100 baskets of 25 lb, each -2,500 lb. They 

 mention Ruffisque, Mauritius, and 

 Mosambique* as good varieties, and state 

 that though the groundnut was intro- 

 duced into Burma only four years before, 

 the area under cultivation at date was 

 80,000 acres, so far confined to the dry 

 zone, where the annual rainfall is 25 to 

 35 inches. It is considered a very pro- 

 fitable crop with a yield on an average 

 of 1,300 lb. 



Messrs. Finlay, Fleming & Co. express 

 their willingness to purchase Ceylon 

 nuts in ton lots from 2,240 lb. gross 

 weight delivered Rangoon, price to 

 include cost, freight, and insurance. 



Messrs. A. S. Jamal Bros. & Co., also 

 of Rangoon, writing in October last, 

 state that they have been purchasing at 

 gross Rs. 115 to Rs. 135 per 100 baskets of 

 25 lb, each =2, 500 lb. They, too, express 

 their willingness to purchase Ceylon 

 nuts, c.i.f., on Rangoon terms. 



Messrs. Ralli Bros, of Pondicherry, 

 writing in August last, offer to supply 

 Senegal groundnuts for planting in 

 April. In forwarding a sample of these 

 nuts raised in Pondicherry, they draw 

 attention to the fact that "the kernel 

 is in excellent condition." 



Mr. Benson, Deputy Director of Agri- 

 culture in Madras, records that the 

 Pondicherry Chamber of Commerce 

 reported very favourably of the Senegal 

 groundnut as a vigorous grower and 

 heavy cropper. The oil from this variety 

 is described as so good that the most 

 fastidious epicure may use it in making 

 salads. The seeds, according to the 

 report referred to, are round and rosy in 

 appearance, with an agreeable taste like 

 fresh filberts. Regarding the Mauritius 

 (or Mosambique) variety, it is stated that 

 the seed contains a " resino gommeuse " 

 substance, which, as it remains in sus- 

 pension in the oil, delays the settling 

 and gives a very pronounced taste to 

 the oil. 



According to Sir Thistleton Dyer, the 

 following are the proportions of oil from 



* The last two, according to Benson, are 

 identical, the name Mauritius being traceable 

 to the fact that the Mozambique seeds reached 

 India via Mauritius. 



the different varieties : Senegal 51, 

 East Africa 49, American 42, Madras 43. 

 Dr. Leather gives the percentage of oil 

 in the Mauritius variety as varving from 

 44 to 49. 



A limited supply of Senegal ground- 

 nuts is expected about April. 



Agri-Horticultur al Shows. — Trinco- 

 malee Society has decided on holding a 

 Market Fair on March 7; Wellaboda 

 pattu (Galle) a cattle Show and Fair (no 

 date fixed) ; Nuwara Eliya Show takes 

 place on April 21 and 22. It is probable 

 that a Show will be held in Colombo 

 under the auspices of the Colombo Agri- 

 Horticultural Society, but no definite 

 arrangements have yet been made. 

 Writing in reply to a suggestion that a 

 show be held in Pasdun korale, Mr. 

 H. A. Samarakkody, Mudaliyar, Pasdun 

 Korale East, says: "It is not possible 

 to organize an Agri-Horticultural Show 

 this year. Horticulture has been greatly 

 neglected in this division, and steps are 

 being taken by me to encourage the 

 cultivation of vegetables and other fruit 

 trees. To gain this end I have obtained 

 permission from the Assistant Govern- 

 ment Agent, Kalutara, to open out two 

 experimental vegetable and fruit 

 gardens, and early application will be 

 made to you for seeds and plants. I 

 think I will be able to organize a success- 

 ful show in 1909." 



Cotton.— Out of the supply of Sea 

 Island and Egyptian cotton seed im- 

 ported by the Society, 220 lb. Sea Island 

 and 785 lb. Egyptian have been supplied 

 to Branch Societies and members. The 

 seed will be grown in Dumbara, Jaffna, 

 Badulla, Katunayaka, Randy, Marawila, 

 Kegalla, Wanni Hatpattu, Katana, 

 Hambantota, Peradeniya, &c. 



Teff Grass.— A small supply of seed of 

 Teff Grass (Eragrostis abyssinica)—a, 

 cereal suitable for dry regions — has been 

 received through the courtesy of the 

 Department of Mines and Agriculture, 

 Sydney, N.S.W., and is being grown at 

 the Government Stock Garden and other 

 centres. 



Improved Pomelo {Grape Fruit) from 

 U.S.A.— The, United States Department 

 of Agriculture has kindly supplied the 

 Society with seeds from selected speci- 

 mens of the best varieties of this popular 

 fruit, some of which are practically 

 seedless. 



Cassava.— Growers of this product will 

 be interested to learn that the latest 

 sales of cassava flour produced in 

 Jamaica were at the rate or £14 per ton, 

 c.i.f., Liverpool. It is stated that con- 

 tracts are being made at this rate. 



