Miscellaneous. 



826 



[October, 1910. 



lease 10 acres of land to cultivate paddy 

 by transplanting and applying artificial 

 fertilizers. The experimental garden at 

 Weragoda is assisting in the distribu- 

 tion of solid bamboo plants, golden Caro- 

 lina paddy, cluster sweet potato cut- 

 tings, and Guinea gra.ss roots. This 

 Branch holds it? next Show on December 

 15 and 16. 



The garden worked by Rayigam 

 Korale Branch, at Bandaragama, has 

 come under the scheme for experimental 

 gardens, and continues to make satis- 

 factory progress. 



The garden at Rajakadaluwa, where 

 a rotation of crops is being adopted, is 

 just completing its first seasonal year. 

 The crops raised were kurakkan, cotton, 

 cassava.and mun. Owing to the extreme- 

 ly dry year the kurakkan was practi- 

 cally a failure, the mun was only mode- 

 rately good, the results of cotton culti- 

 vation very encouraging, and the cas- 

 sava (which is still in the ground) 

 decidedly promising. The garden will 

 also work under the general scheme, and 

 the Assistant Government Agent (Mr. 

 Alexander) expects to raise a larger 

 local fund, which, with a similar sum 

 granted by the Society, should help to 

 place the garden cn a firmer financial 

 footing, and enable the work co be 

 carried on with better prospects of suc- 

 cess. With October rains fruit and 

 vegetable cultivation will be commenced, 

 in addition to the regular rotation crops. 



Arrangements are in train for starting 

 an experiment in the rotation of chena 

 crops at Balalla, in the North- Western 

 Province, with the assistance of the 

 Government Agent of Kurunegala, Hulu- 

 galla Adigar, and the Korala of Balalla, 

 thi ough whom land was secured for the 

 experiment, which will begin with the 

 October rains, 



Inspections. — The Secretary organized 

 a motor trip to Maha Iluppalama on 

 August 19, in which the following gentle- 

 men took part :— Messrs. J. D. Vander- 

 straaten, M. Hohl, Francis Daniel, James 

 Peiris, W. A. de Silva, A. E. Rajapakse, 

 and C, Drieberg. The party were met 

 at the Experiment Station by Dr. Willis, 

 Messrs. M. Kelway Bamber, Edward 

 Gowan, and G. Harbord, and 'a very 

 interesting day was spent in studying 

 the crops (tobacco, cotton, paddy, rubber, 

 coconut) being grown under the tank. 

 Every one was struck with the promising 

 results of the excellent work- -the only 

 example of real tillage in Ceylon — done 

 by Mr. Harbord, the Superintendent. 

 One of the most instructive object-lessons 

 to the visitors was the successful use of 

 farm implements, the ploughs and culti- 

 vators employed on the land resulting 



in a fine surface tilth, and the reduction 

 of general evaporation to a minimum. 



The Organizing Vice President paid a 

 visit to Ruanwella and inspected Yakkala 

 and Weragala school gardens. The latter 

 is thus referred to by him : "The garden 

 is in very fair order, and contains a good 

 variety of plants. It is one of the best 

 that I have seen in the low-country. It 

 is a pity that it is so far from the road , 

 other local teachers might be sent here 

 to see how to arrange a school garden. 

 1 am very pleased with the work of the 

 place and the keenness of the school- 

 master." 



The Secretary visited Kandy, Nawala- 

 pitiya, Gampola, Anuradhapura, Uku- 

 wela, and Chilaw. 



Mr. N. Wickremaratne inspected ex- 

 perimental gardens at Rajakadaluwa, 

 Weragode, Chilaw, Bolawalana, Amba- 

 langoda, and Balalla, was present at the 

 Ibbagamuwa Agricultural Show, and 

 attended an Agricultural Meeting at 

 Hungantota in Bentota convened by 

 Mudaliyar Livera, who is himself carry- 

 ing on a series of experiments in trans- 

 planting and manuring paddy. 



Mr, S. Chelliah itinerated in the Nor- 

 thern Province, visiting Point Pedro, 

 Karanavai South, Achchiveli, and Anu- 

 radhapura. He has made periodical 

 visits to Maha Iluppalama to study the 

 methods of preparing tobacco for the 

 foreign market. 



Mr. W. Molegode spent most of his 

 time in renovating the Silk Farm. He 

 also visited Ibbagamuwa, Doluwa, and 

 Morape in connection with shows and 

 gardens. 



Mr. S. R. Breckenridge, who was on 

 sick leave during July and August, has 

 been sent to the Chilaw-Puttalam Dis- 

 trict, where he will be in charge of the 

 Rajakadaluwa Experimental Garden 

 and itinerate in the villages. 



Mr, C. K. Sathasivam, the Instructor 

 stationed in the Eastern Province, has 

 been touring in Tampiluvil, Kalmunai, 

 Maduppalai, Nintavur, Samanturai, and 

 Mallikaitivu. He is also engaged in 

 establishing a demonstration garden for 

 Batticaloa. 



• 



Mr. L. A. D. Silva is still a victim to 

 malaria contracted at Tissa, and is 

 attached to the office till he is fit for 

 inspection work. 



Shows. — Prospectuses of the exhibi- 

 tions to be held at Allahabad, India, 

 from December, 1910, to February, 1911, 

 and at Mysore City in October next 

 have come to hand. Exhibits intended 

 for these Shows will be received and 

 forwarded by the Society. 



