May 1908.] 



480 



this variety will do well here, provided 

 it be sown on lands that are not very- 

 low. The crop was taken in 4 months. 

 I intend to sow a large extent next time 

 (September) and to distribute the paddy 

 to other cultivators here, as I have 8 

 bushels of it, and it is my belief that with 

 the experience 1 gained this year and 

 with the seed more acclimatized I will be 

 able to raise a bigger crop next year." 



Mr. D. B. Perera, Vidane Arachchi, 

 Milwatta, Miragama, in forwarding 

 samples of several varieties of paddy 

 grown in his fields, reports as follows :— 



" I may mention that Japan " Kiushu" 

 paddy which you sent me last July gave 

 a good return." 



Arecanut Husk Fibre.— A small quan- 

 tity of fibre extracted from the husk of 

 the arecanut (Area catechu) was for- 

 warded to Professor Dunstan of the Im- 

 perial Institute, in January, for favour 

 of report on its commercial possibilities. 

 The Director of the Imperial Institute has 

 furnished the following report thereon :— 



" The sample consisted of about one 

 ounce of light yellowish-brown fibre, 

 which was harsh and lacking in resi- 

 liency. It was of poor strength and 

 generally from 1 to 2 inches in length. 

 Two forms of fibre were found to be 

 present in the sample, one being coarse 

 and somewhat resembling coir, whilst the 

 other was much finer and rather woolly. 

 The diameter of the coarse fibre was 

 006 to 016 inch, and that of the fine 

 fibre 0009 to 0-0023 inch. 



A chemical examination of the mate- 

 rial gave the following results :— Mois- 

 ture 8*1 per cent., Cellulose (calculated 

 on dried material) 55-0 per cent, (ap- 

 proximately). 



Samples of the fibre have been sub- 

 mitted to a number of manufacturers 

 in order to ascertain whether any use 

 could be suggested for it. The general 

 opinion is that the fibre is too short and 

 weak, too irregular in diameter, and 

 deficient in resiliency for employment 

 as a substitute for coir. It might, how- 

 ever, be utilised for the manufacture of 

 paper, for which purpose its probable 

 value would be about £3 to £5 per ton 

 in this country. The fibre wa< regarded 

 by one firm as of no value for upholstery, 

 owing to its lack of resiliency, but ano- 

 ther firm thought that it might possibly 

 find a market for this purpose. The 

 best way of ascertaining the commercial 

 possibilities of this fibre would be to tor- 

 ward a trial consignment of several hun- 

 dred weights to the Imperial Institute, 

 so that large samples could be submitted 

 to manufacturers for technical trials.'' 



Arrangements are now being made to 

 forward a trial consignment of a few 

 hundredweights. 



Grape Fruit Plants.— The Superin- 

 tendent of School Gardens has fifty grape 

 fruit plants to give away to members in 

 order of application — two to each. 



Pililla Grass.— A small consignment of 

 this grass is expected shortly from 

 Manila. It is said to possess an excel- 

 lent fibre for the manufacture of hats, 

 which if properly woven, is believed to 

 be almost as good as the Panama. Mr. T. 

 H. Stephens, formerly of Ceylon, writing 

 on the subject, says: -"The Filipinos 

 make excellent hats from Pililla grass 

 and it is quite an important industry." 



Jute Cultivation. — Mr. C. A. Valoo- 

 pilai, of Anuradhapura, is trying jute 

 cultivation in that district. He has 

 been supplied with 20 lbs. of seed pro- 

 cured from Calcutta, which he is growing 

 as a rotation crop in his paddy lands. 



Ground-nuts. —Senegal ground-nuts 

 are available to members at 25 cents per 

 lb. Early application should be made. 

 Particulars regarding this variety were 

 given in last Progress Report. 



Nitro Bacterine. — A small quautity of 

 the much advertised Nitro-Bacterine 

 is expected shortly for trial. The cul- 

 tures at present available are for legu- 

 minous plants only; but it is stated that 

 cultures for cereal crops will be available 

 before long. 



Queensland Citrus Fruits. — The De- 

 partment of Agriculture, Brisbane, has 

 applied for information as to a possible 

 market in Ceylon for citrus fruits of 

 good quality. The Queensland citrus 

 fruit season lasts from March to June. 

 Information has been gathered from 

 tho^e likely to handle the fruit, and a 

 trial consignment will probably be 

 received shortly. 



Cotton and British Cotton-growing 

 Association. — With the development of 

 the cotton industry in Ceylon, cotton 

 growers will be glad to hear that Messrs. 

 Nieland and Wilson, 2, Baillie Street, 

 have been appointed the Agents of the 

 British Cotton-growing Association for 

 Ceylon. Messrs. Nieland and Wilson 

 are going to put down a proper ginning 

 factory in Colombo, which will enable 

 them to deal with all the cotton grown 

 in the Island. The factory will contain 

 an oil engine to work six gins. There 

 will also be two presses and room in the 

 building to erect from 18 to 20 gins if 

 future developement call for them. As 

 Agents of the British Cotton-growing 

 Association they are open to gin, bale, 

 and ship any quantity of cotton on ac- 

 count of the growers, ensuring the 

 grower getting the best possible return 



