Sbp t embbr, 1909.] 



255 



Miscellaneoiis, 



The " Meston " plough stocked by- 

 Messrs. Walker, Sons & Co., Ltd., is now 

 in demand ; a number of other light im- 

 plements for paddy land have been 

 imported by the same firm. The latter 

 will be reported on after trial. Both 

 Messrs. Walker, Sons & Co., and Messrs. 

 Brown & Co. sent exhibits of implements 

 to the Galle Show held on 16th June 

 and following days. 



The irrigation of fields by means of a 

 steam pump for raising water from the 

 Deduru-oya is being tried by Messrs. 

 Fernando Bros, of Marawila. 



The set of Duchemein fibre machines 

 imported by the Society has been sent 

 for trial to the Experiment Station, 

 Peradeniya. 



Inquiries from Burma about rice 

 hullers have elicited some useful inform- 

 ation, which has been placed at the 

 disposal of a local firm dealing in agri- 

 cultural implements and appliances. 



Sericulture, — The Society's operations 

 at the Peradeniya Mulberry Silk Farm 

 have been entirely suspended, and the 

 farm leased for a nominal sum to Mr. 

 Percy Braine, the local expert in seri- 

 culture. In the meantime a proposal to 

 establish an eri silk farm in the low- 

 country is under consideration. A 

 further sample of 200 lb. of eri cocoons 

 has been sent to Paris, in addition to 

 the previous consignment of 200 lb. for- 

 warded to Switzerland, both the French 

 and Swiss firms already referred to 

 being favourably impressed with the 

 possibilities of the silk. In the mean- 

 time a communication has been received 

 from the Imperial Entomologist of India 

 inviting the co-operation of this Society 

 to establish eri silk as an industry for 

 India as well as Ceylon, and inquiring 

 for the address of likely buyers which, 

 after persistent efforts, the Society has 

 succeeded in discovering. The Seri- 

 culture Committee have advised that all 

 information be placed at the disposal of 

 the Indian authorities. 



Reports and Analyses.— Specimens of 

 a resinous substance received from the 

 Agricultural Instructor, Batticaloa, was 

 first submitted to Mr. Fredrick Lewis, 

 who reported :— " The sample you sent 

 of leaves and wax I think without doubt 

 is Gardenia latifolia (Gallis S.), which 

 occurs in the dry country as well as the 

 wet up to about 1,200 feet elevation. 

 The wax is obtained from the top of the 

 leaf buds, and often forms quite an 

 appreciable mass." On being forwarded 

 to the Imperial Institute, the Director 

 reported: — "The material appears to 

 resemble the " dikemali " resin obtained 

 from Gardenia gummifera- The latter 

 h as been known from a long time, and 



has been frequently investigated. It 

 was at one time held in high repute as a 

 drug, but is of no commercial importance 

 at present. If the exudation from the 

 Gardenia latifolia is obtainable in large 

 quantities, it would be worth examin- 

 ation with a view to its possible commer- 

 cial utilization. At least 2 lb. of the 

 resin would be necessary for this pur- 

 pose," 



i - T j, e lowing analyses have been 

 kindly made for the Society by the 

 Government Agricultural Chemist :- 



Analysis of a Fodder Grass (Cenchrus 

 biflorus) introduced by the Secretary 

 from South India. 



Moisture lost in sun ... 



Sun-dried Sample. 

 Water 

 Solids 



Per Cent. 



.. 68 78 



.. 24-60 

 .. 75-40 



100-00 



On Dry Sample. 



Solids containing- 

 Carbohydrates 



*Proteids 

 Woody fibre 

 Oil ... 



tAsh ... 



Per Cent. Per Cent. 



34-26 ... 45-43 

 7-18 ... 952 



23-46 ... 31-11 

 078 ... 103 

 9 72 ... 12-91 



75-40 



100-00 



* XT -x Per Cent. Per Cent. 



♦Nitrogen .„ i- 15 ^ 



Water soluble extracts 20*60 27-30 

 fAsh analysis — 



Lime ... „... 



Magnesia ... - |*" 



Phosphoric acid ' 



Potash ... - 



Insoluble ... " of..rn 



Carbonic acid, &c. g.JJ 



100-00 



Analysis of Chou Mcellier (a Species of 

 Cabbage recommended as a Fodder Crow) 

 introduced by the Secretary 

 from Australia. 



Received — 

 Leaves ... 



stalk ... 



Root 



Grammes. 

 ... 261 



... 334 

 50 



Moisture lost in sun ... .^"S?'" 



Analysis of the Sun-dried Sample 

 Moisture at 212° F. ... ,..' r 

 ♦Organic matter ..." "' 74 !^ 



I- Ash 



U-0 



100-00 



