Miscellaneous, 



447 



[November, 1909. 



in a fine state of division. The mineral 

 plant food is rich in lime, which is the 

 cause of the alkalinity of the soil ; 

 while the magnesia and potash are 

 present in fair quantity, the phosphoric 

 acid is deficient in quantity and avail- 

 ability. The poverty of this soil lies not 

 so much in deficiency of mineral matter as 

 the humus and accompanying nitrogen, 

 and I do not consider that such a soil 

 would grow a good leaf, as most tobacco 

 soils are rich in organic matter, besides 

 mineral plant food. Steps should be 

 taken to plant up only those soils which 

 come up to a high standard in these. 

 An analysis of the tobacco would tell 

 nothing. The quality of the leaf can only 

 be dealt with by a dealer accustomed 

 to handling and valuing it, and, like 

 other natural produce, artificial manure 

 exerts an influence more on the yield 

 than in improving the quality." 



A large sample of the resinous secretion 

 found on the leaf buds of Gardenia lati- 

 folia has been forwarded to the imperial 

 Institute at the request of the Director. 



Specimens of Euphorbia pilulifera, the 

 latex of which was reported from Mauri- 

 tius to contain an organism very similar 

 to that of the sleeping sickness try pano- 

 some, were submitted to the Director of 

 the Bacteriological laboratory, who re- 

 ported that the bodies are in his 

 opinion not trypanosomes. 



General. 



Eri silk culture appears to be making 

 headway in India through the interest 

 which the Imperial Government Ento- 

 mologist is evincing in its develop- 

 ment. Mr. Lefroy has contributed an 

 instructive article on the subject to 

 the July Agricultural Journal of India, 

 which is well worth perusal. An im- 

 proved hand machine for spinning eri 

 silk has just been received from India. 

 Writing on September 4, Mr. Lefroy re- 

 fers to another machine which he em- 

 ploys for producing " clean cocoons," i.e., 

 raw cocoons with the caterpillar skin and 

 broken crysalis removed. This cleaning 

 reduces the weight by about 18 per cent. 

 It would appear that various trials are 

 in progress in India in order to ascertain 

 the true market value of Eri silk. 



A beginning has been made with the 

 collecting of grains and pulses from 

 various parts of the Island, as well as 

 from India, with a view to exhibiting 

 those new to districts in which Agricul- 

 tural Shows are held. Cases of a uniform 

 pattern made from samples kindly sup- 

 plied by the Director of the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, have been secured for the pur- 

 pose, and the collection when complete 

 will be an interesting one, and should 

 prove a very instructive exhibit at our 

 local shows. 



Mr, W. Molegode, Agricultural In- 

 structor, is giving trial to a system of 

 examinations for school boys so as to 

 encourage and test their general agricul- 

 tural knowledge. At his request I pre- 

 pared a set of questions, which were sub- 

 mitted to competitors for a prize (offered 

 by the Agricultural Instructor himself) 

 to the boys of Standards VI., VII., and 

 VIII. in Nugawela, Alawatugoda, and 

 Idamagama schools. The best paper 

 was that sent in by E. W. M. Banda of 

 Idamagama school. The scheme is one 

 which is worth developing, if the 

 necessary funds are available for prizes. 



An interesting communication regard- 

 ing the tinning of sardines has been 

 received from Messrs. Rangel & Riberio, 

 of Goa, in reply to inquiries made on 

 behalf of the Assistant Government 

 Agent of Trincomalee. The firm in 

 question has been engaged in this busi- 

 ness over twenty years, and gives much 

 useful information, which is at the dis- 

 posal of any member of the Society. The 

 proposal to grow sunflowers in order to 

 utilize the oil for fish preserving in Trin- 

 comalee does not appear to be feasible. 



The Ratemahatmaya of Wanni hat- 

 pattu (Hulugalle Adigar) reports that 

 Dindigul tobacco seed sent to him made 

 good growth, and that the leaves are 

 thought well of by the growers. He 

 complains of the poor results of curing 

 as practised locally, in that very little of 

 the true flavour of tobacco is developed. 



The Committee appointed by Govern- 

 ment to report on a scheme for Agricul- 

 tural Training in Ceylon has concluded 

 its sittings, and their report was sub- 

 mitted to Government early in the 

 month. 



A Commission to deal with the 

 question of Loans to Agiculturists has 

 since been appointed, and has held 

 several meetings already. 



C. DRIEBERG, 



Secretary, 



Colombo, 18th October, 1909. 



REPORT ON A VISIT TO INDIA 

 AND CEYLON. 



By H. Powell, 



(From the Agricultural Journal of 

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

 April, 1909.) 



(Continued from p. 354.) 

 Royal Botanic Gardens, Pera- 

 dbniya. — To the Economic and Syste- 

 matic Botanist as well as to those inter- 

 ested in tropical and subtropical plants, 



