Miscellaneous 



172 



[AUGUST, 1908. 



Inspection Tours. — On June 25 Dr. Willis 

 and the Secretary visited Jaffna in connec- 

 tion with the proposed experiment in the 

 better growing and curing of tobacco in 

 the North. The Jaffna Tobacco Committee 

 had already submitted a report setting forth 

 their views as to what action Government 

 should take in the matter, but His Excel- 

 lency the Governor soon after paid a visit to 

 the North and announced the conditions on 

 which the experiment in question would be 

 undertaken. The agricultural officers, acting 

 on behalf of the Society's Tobacco Committee, 

 sought a conference with the Jaffna Com- 

 mittee with a view to discovering a modus 

 vivendi. Their report will be considered at 

 a meeting of their Committee fixed for this 

 day. 



On July 16 Dr. Willis and the Secretary 

 visited Chilaw and Puttalam. A meeting of 

 the Puttalam Branch Society was held on 

 the 17th, when various agricultural matters, 

 including irrigation of crops, proper method 

 of tillage, rotation of crops, and coconut stem 

 bleeding disease, came up for discussion. It 

 was decided to institute a series of practical 

 demonstrations in the continuous cultivation 

 of chena land on approved lines in place of 

 the present wasteful system of cultivation. 

 The services of an Agricultural Instructor 

 will be made available for controlling the 

 demonstrations, which it is hoped to start 

 next October in the Demela hatpattu, 

 where agriculture is in a very primitive and 

 backward state. 



At the meeting of the Chilaw Society 

 held on the 19th afternoon Mr. R. G. 

 Saunders, Assistant Government Agent, in 

 the Chair — the subjects discussed included 

 agricultural banks and distribution of seeds, 

 as well as the importance of proper tillage 

 ;md rotation. It was decided to join Puttalam 

 in a series of comparative trials on the lines 

 already indicated, the sites selected to be 

 in Pitigal Korale North. 



A meeting of the coconut planters of 

 Chilaw followed, when an interesting con- 

 ference on the bleeding and other diseases 

 of the coconut took place. It was reported 

 that the eradication of the stem disease was 

 progressing very satisfactorily. Dr. Willis 

 advised those present not to relax their 

 vigilance, but to give steady and continuous 

 attention to the siippression of the disease 

 with a view to bringing it to the same 

 position as the canker disease in cacao, which 

 is kept well in check by a little extra regular 

 expenditure. 



Branch Societies.— The Wellaboda Pattu 

 (Galle) Branch held a meeting of the Work- 

 ing Committee an June 24. Arrangements 

 for the Cattle and Vegetable Pair proposed 

 to be held in December were entrusted to a 

 Sub-Committee. It was decided, with a view 

 of encouraging change of seed paddy, that 

 as many members as possible should each 



procure at least two amunams of a suitable 

 paddy new to the district and distribute it 

 by sale or loan to cultivators. Seven mem- 

 bers undertook to carry out the suggestion. 

 The question of the establishment of Co- 

 operative Credit Banks was also discussed, 

 and it was agreed to defer final decision till 

 next meeting, when Mr. C. A. D. S. Wickre- 

 mesuriya undertook to read a paper on the 

 subject, explaining at the same time the lines 

 of an experiment now in operation in con- 

 nection with coconut crops. 



The Wanni Hatpattu Branch held a meet- 

 ing on July 15. Among the matters dis- 

 cussed was the damage done by the drought 

 which prevailed in the district. The tobacco 

 plantations in several centres were reported 

 to be badly affected, the leaves being in 

 many cases scorched and their full develop- 

 ment invariably retarded. The paddy, too, 

 suffered. The present yala cultivation is 

 practically a total failure. The Society was 

 of opinion that restoration of old tanks cannot 

 be expected to help in contingencies like the 

 present without the restoration of storage 

 tanks, which have long been lying aban- 

 doned since they fell into a state of disrepair. 

 The question of extending the cultivation 

 of cotton on chena was discussed, and it 

 was decided to urge on the Government 

 Agent the desirability of granting permits 

 for Crown chenas for the purpose. 



Agri-Horticultural Shows. — Shows have 

 been arranged to be held in the following 

 centres in the North-Western Province on 

 August 15, 22, and 29 :— 



On August 15, 1908, at Kuliyapitiya, for 

 Katugampola Hatpattu (Medaketiye Korale, 

 Yatikaha Korale, Karandapattu Korale, 

 Kiniyama Korale, Yagamapattu Korale, Ka- 

 tugampola Korale North, Katugampola 

 Korale South, Medapattu Korale West, 

 Medapattu Korale East, and Pitigal Korale). 



On August 22, 1908, at Balalla, for Wanni 

 Hatpattu (Mi-oyen Egoda Korale, Hatalispaha 

 Korale West, Hatalispaha Korale East, 

 Pahalavvisideke Korale, Gantihe Korale, 

 Magul Medagandahaye Korale East and 

 West, Magid Otota Korale, and Katuwana 

 Korale). 



On August 29, 1908, at Pilessa, for Weuda- 

 wili Hatpattu (Madure Korale, Hewa- 

 wisse Korale. Weuda Korale, Gannawa 

 Korale, Gandahaye Korale, Maha Galboda 

 Megoda Korale, Kuda Galboda Korale, and 

 Katuwana Korale). , 



Kegalla A gri- Horticultural Show. — It 

 has been decided to hold an Agri-Horti- 

 cultural Show at Kegalla on September 25 and 

 26. The Catalogue has already been issued. 



Kandy A gri- Horticultural Show. — The 

 idea of holding a Show at Kandy this year 

 has been abandoned. At a general meeting 

 of the Branch Society held on May 23 it was 

 resolved to hold a Show in August, 1909. 



