Miscellaneous. 



3S0 



[October, 1909. 



makes it decompose very slowly, and 

 oil itself has no manorial value, not 

 being absorbed by plants. 



Precaution. 



Before sowing a crop like Cotton, 

 green manures must be turned down at 

 least two mouths, or they will interfere 

 with the germiuation of the seed. 



The same applies to the opening up 

 of new land, and it is nearly always ad- 

 visable to turn under all surface growth 

 at least two months before planting. 

 Some plants can stand this fermentation 

 better than others, it does not seem to 

 influence Maize to any extent, and it 

 is generally better to grow Maize for 

 the first year on new land rather than 

 Cotton, 



Summary. 



1. Green manuring conserves moisture 

 in the surface soil, and makes plants 

 drought-resistant. 



2. Additions are made to the nitro- 

 gen of the soil, a constituent usually 

 deficient in Tropical soils. 



3. Soil washing and loss of soluble 

 nitrogen is reduced to a minimum. 



4. Plants are stronger and more able 

 to resist fungoid diseases and insect 

 attacks. 



5. Growth is healthier, and crops give 

 better retuns. 



6. The life of the plant is longer, and 

 the soil is more capable of supporting it. 



7. Weeding is reduced to a minimum, 

 and hence cost of production. 



REPORT ON A VISIT TO INDIA 

 AND CEYLON. 



By H. Powell. 



(Prom the Agricultural Journal of 

 British East Africa, Vol, II., Pt. I., 

 April, 1909.) 



The visit to India and Ceylon was 

 undertaken on the recommendation of 

 the Honourable the Director of Agri- 

 culture with the approval of His 

 Excellency the Governor and His 

 Majesty's Secretary of State for the 

 Colonies. 



The object was to enquire into the 

 methods of agriculture carried on in 

 those countries, more especially as 

 regards rubber, cacao, tea, rice and such 

 other tropical and siib-tropical products 

 as might be likely to succeed in this 

 Protectorate, and to obtain plants and 

 seeds of economic importance for trial 

 at the Government Experimental Farms, 



I arrived at Bombay from England on 

 January 1st, 1909, and left the same port 

 on the return journey to Mombasa on 

 February 18th. The actual time spent 

 in India and Ceylon was only forty-eight 

 days, but owing to the extremely favour- 

 able railway and other travelling faci- 

 lities provided, I was able to undertake 

 the greater part of the journeys by night, 

 thus leaving the days freefor observation 

 and study. 



The centres visited in India were :— 

 Bombay, Poona, Nagpur, Calcutta, Pusa, 

 Darjeeling, Madras, Bangalore, Tuti- 

 corin ; and in Ceylon :— Colombo, Hena- 

 ratgoda, Peradeniya, Kandy, Matale, 

 Hatton, and Nanuoya. Under the head- 

 ing of most of these centres will be 

 found remarks regarding agriculture, 

 horticulture or botanical subjects which, 

 it is hoped, will prove of interest and 

 use. Every facility for obtaining in- 

 formation was afforded me by the 

 officials of the Governments of India and 

 Ceylon as well as by the proprietors and 

 managers of the various plantations, 

 etc., inspected, and by private persons, 

 all of whose kind help was highly 

 appreciated. 



Ceylon is a veritable tropical planter's 

 delight, and I regretted that time did 

 not admit of my seeing more of the agri- 

 culture of the Island. 



The vegetation is of a luxuriant rank 

 nature, and the intensive cultivation as 

 seen in the case of tea, rubber, cacao, 

 etc., can perhaps scarcely be surpassed ; 

 the agriculture generally being of a very 

 high order. 



In India it is very apparent that a 

 great forward movement in agriculture 

 and its kindred branches is now going 

 on. The work being done by scientific 

 and technical experts at the great cen- 

 tres is doing much to encourage better 

 methods of cultivation and preparation 

 of produce among the small holders in 

 the outlying districts. 



A special feature in connection with 

 Indian ^Agriculture is the " Water 

 Buffalo." As a draught animal and for 

 general field work this beast appeared 

 to be indispensable, and was seen in 

 considerable numbers almost every- 

 where. 



Lists of seeds and plants obtained in 

 India and Ceylon are submitted with 

 this report. 



As will be seen from these lists the 

 collection of plants aud seeds is of an 

 extensive aud comprehensive nature, and 

 will be the means of adding many 

 tropical and sub-tropical species of 

 economic importance and beauty to 

 East Africa, 



