July, 1909.] 



55 



Miscellaneous. 



stationed at Kurunegala, proved useful 

 iu looking: after the school gardens in 

 the North- Western Province, and has 

 showed his interest in their success by a 

 gift of 100 fruit plants for distribution 

 among them. 



O casionally it has been found neces- 

 sary to utilize Agricultural Instructors 

 for veterinary duties. In connection 

 with the recent outbreak of rinderpest 

 in the Eastern Province, Mr. Brecken- 

 ridge, Agricultural Instructor stationed 

 at Batticaloa, assisted in enforcing the re- 

 gulations of the Veterinary Department. 



Pasture. 



The necessity for providing pasture 

 where cattle could be grazed on certain 

 terms has been pressed upon the Society 

 from more than one quarter, and some 

 practical results will probably be 

 appareut before long in Badulla, 

 Gampola, and Ambalangoda, where 

 the question has been under con- 

 sideration. An elaborate scheme has 

 been submitted by Mr. S Chelliah, 

 Agricultural Instructor, with a view to 

 meeting the difficulty that arises iu the 

 Jaffna peninsula during the dry months 

 of the year, when cattle have to be sent 

 to the mainland for grazing purposes 

 at considerable risk and cost. 



This scheme, which has the sympathy 

 of the Government Agent of the Pro- 

 vince, will, if found practicable, confer 

 a great boon on the agricultural classes, 

 and, if properly controlled, should, even 

 from a commercial point of view, prove 

 a success. At present the selection of 

 a suitable area of 100 or 200 acres is 

 under consideration. 



Plant Pests, &c. 

 The newly-constituted Plant Pest 

 Boards began to operate with the ap- 

 pearance, or rather discovery, of the 

 coconut stem bleeding disease, which, 

 however, under the control of Mr. Petch 

 and his staff of inspectors, has so far 

 abated, as to allay the serious apprehen- 

 sions which beset the coconut planter. 



Specimens of insect and fungoid pests 

 have been forwarded to the Government 

 Mycologist and Entomologist from time 

 to time, and their advice has proved 

 of much value. 



The Agricultural Chemist has kindly 

 furnished analyses of soils and vegetable 

 products for the Society whenever called 

 upon. 



Tobacco. 



The proposed experiment in tobacco 

 cultivation, in order to ascertain the 

 possibilities of raising produce likely to 

 find a place in foreign markets, has still 

 to be undertaken. The initial difficulty 

 a g to site has been got over by the deci- 



sion to conduct the trial at Maha Ilup- 

 palama Experiment Station, where there 

 is suitable land available. A subsequent 

 difficulty arose with regard to the ser- 

 vices of an expert to control the experi- 

 ment. The remuneration expected by 

 such a man is considered out of pro- 

 portion to the funds available, which 

 are made up of a Government grant of 

 Rs. 7,200 plus the Society's vote of Rs. 

 27,500. At present there is a proposal 

 before the Tobacco Committee to send 

 some one to study cultivation and curing 

 in the tobacco growing countries of the 

 East, with a view to ultimately placing 

 him in charge of the experiment. 



The opinion of an expert in the tobacco 

 trade in England is being obtained on 

 samples of Ceylon tobacco. So far, the 

 only encouraging report received is that 

 on Dumbara leaf. 



Cotton. 



The Society's efforts to introduce cot- 

 ton growing on an extensive scale have 

 up to date not been attended with very 

 eucouragiug results, though there is a 

 general desire to take up the cultivation. 

 The chief drawback has been uncertainty 

 regarding (1) the cotton area, (2) the 

 proper season, and '3) the best variety 

 to grow in this country. 



The opportuue visit of Mr. McCall, 

 Director of Agriculture in Nyassaland, 

 will probably prove to be the means of 

 settling all these doubts. Possessing 

 wide and intimate experience of cotton 

 cultivation, Mr. McCall, at the request 

 of His Excellency the Governor, pre- 

 pared a comprehensive report on the 

 subject with reference to Ceylon, and 

 his advice will no doubt be the means of 

 helping growers to successfully place 

 their produce on the English market. 



Implements. 



The introduction or adaptation of im- 

 plements from abroad has been a good 

 deal before the Society, and with the 

 advice and assistance of Mr. William 

 Hunter, of Messrs. Walker, Sons & Co., 

 auumber of suitable ploughs, &c, have 

 been tried on different kinds of soil in 

 various parts of the Island. In the 

 north, where dry-land ploughing is 

 practised, the introduction of improved 

 implements has not met with insuperable 

 ob stacles but in the Sinhalese districts, 

 and in wet cultivation there are serious 

 prejudices to contend with, since the 

 cultivator strongly objects to alter his 

 primaeval programme for the prepar- 

 ation of his field by ploughing it when it 

 is in suitable condition for carrying a 

 mould board plough. 



The success of the implements working 

 at Maha IluppalamaJ Experiment Sta- 



