August, 1908.] 



175 



Miscellaneous. 



mises on June 15. The implements consisted 

 on a slightly improved form of the Sinhalese 

 plough excellently suitable for paddy-field 

 work designed by Mr. A. E. Rajapakse, 

 Mudaliyar, Chairman of the Katunayaka 

 Bi'anch Society ; another light iron plough, 

 locally turned out, the design of Mr, C. 

 Drieberg and Mr. P. Samaranayake ; two 

 American cultivators shown by Messrs. Brown 

 & Co. ; a number of English ploughs (by 

 Howard and Ransome) shown by Messrs. 

 Walker, Sons & Co. ; and a collection of 

 labour-saving hand implements exhibited by 

 Messrs. Brown & Co. and the Director of the 

 Royal Botanic Gardens. These were worked 

 in the presence of His Excellency the Pre- 

 sident and a fairly large gathering of 

 members. The Assam plough got over from 

 Calcutta by the Secretary is under trial at 

 Tissamaharama. 



Messrs. Walker, Sons & Co. have just report- 

 ed the arrival of some light iron ploughs 

 weighing 28 lb., and priced at Rs. 7 - 50, 

 specially designed for paddy-field work. 



The disc plough recently brought from 

 England by Mr. Kelway Bamber is on view 

 at the Government Stock Garden. It is hop- 

 ed to arrange another demonstration before 

 the end of the year on a site better adapted 

 for showing the working of different types of 

 agricultural implements and appliances. 



Katunayaka. — As the Progress Report is 

 going to press comes a copy of the minutes 

 of a meeting of this Society held on July 13, 

 when there was a full attendance of members. 



A discussion on the possible improvement 

 of paddy cultivation took up most of the 

 time, and in the end a Sub-Committee was 

 appointed to ascertain the views of paddy 

 cultivators in the district. A list of questions 

 was also drawn up for the guidance of the 

 Sub-Committee. 



It was resolved to undertake the liming of 

 certain peaty soil belonging to members with 

 a view to their improvement. This will be 

 done under the supervision of Mr. A, E. 

 Rajapakse, Mudaliyar, the Chairman, about 

 Septembe r next, soon after the harvest. 



The "Govikam Sangarawa" Magazine and 

 a lot of Jamaica guava seed were distributed 

 at the meeting. 



The Chairman announced that fruit plants 

 in bamboo pots were available to members of 

 the local Society on application. 



Indian Market for <Je\jlon Arecanuts.— 

 In answer to enquiries made from India on 

 behalf of a member as to what market exists 

 there for Ceylon arecanuts, the following 

 information has been received through the 

 courtesy of the Central Agricultural Com- 

 mittee, Madras :— The price of the different 

 varities of arecanuts used in Malabar District 

 is appended. There is hardly any prospect 

 of Ceylon arecanuts finding a favourable 

 market here. Enough nuts are produced 

 locally to allow of considerable export trade, 

 after meeting all demands for consumption] 

 Further, there is an impression that Ceylon 

 nuts are inferior. 



Local Name. 



Lavunga churnul ... 



Moonuvettu 



Erasal 



Kati attaka ( boiled 

 and dried nuts ) ... 

 Green nuts (ordinary) 

 Ezudathalan 

 Ripe nuts (ordinary) 



Price per Tulam 

 of 1,000 nuts. 

 Rs. 8 to Rs. 8. 8. 0. 

 „ 8. 



„ 4. 12. 0. 



,, 7 to Rs. 11. 



,, 1 to Re. 1. 8. 0. 

 Annas 8 to 12. 

 Re. 1.8.0. toRs. 2.8.0. 



Publications. — The annual report sub- 

 mitted at the General Meeting held on June 

 15 will be found in the "Tropical Agriculturist 

 and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural 

 Society" for that month. 



_ A leaflet by the Secretary on the cultiva- 

 tion and preparation of arrowroot was pub- 

 lished and circulated. 



Castration of (>attle.— The Government 

 Veterinary Surgeon reports that up to date 

 611 cattle have been castrated, the property 

 of 516 owners, and that 16 men have been 

 trained to do the operation at the different 

 centres. 



C. DRIEBERG, 



Secretary, 



August 3, 1908. 



