434 



tNov. 1906 ; 



8. Reports from the Curator, Royal Botanic Gardens, the Superintendent of 

 School Gardens, and the Government Veterinary Sur geon on the sections judged 

 by them at the Kelani Valley Agri-Horticultural Show were tabled. 



9. In connection with the report on the proposed Ordinance dealing with 

 Agricultural Pests, which was adopted at the last meeting of the Board, the 

 Secretary submitted a further memorandum on the subject of the proposed Ordi- 

 nance received from Sir William Twynam. 



At the desire of His Excellency the Governor it was resolved that Sir William 

 Twynam's remarks be referred to the Sub-Committee by whom the previous report 

 was drafted, namely:— The Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, the Government 

 Chemist, Hon. Mr. S. C. Obeyesekere, and the Hon. Mr. P. Beven— the names of the 

 following gentlemen being added to the Sub-Committee :— Sir William Twynam, 

 Mr. W. D. Gibbon, Mr. Giles F. Walker and Dr. H. M. Fernando. 



The meeting terminated at 4-15 p.m. 



Agricultural Society Progress Report. XXI II. 



1. Agricultural Shows— The Kegalla Agri-Horticultural Show was held on 

 the 21st and 22nd September. I was present on the first day, when the Show was opened 

 by the Government Agent, Sabaragamuwa, Mr. R. B. Hellings. Though it was not 

 the first time that a Show of the kind had been held at Kegalla, none had been held 

 for several years. But, through the untiring efforts of Mr. M. Stevenson, Assistant 

 Government Agent and Chairman of the Local Agricultural Society, a widespread 

 interest in the Show had been aroused throughout the District ; and not only were 

 the exhibits excellent and varied, but the number of villagers attending the Show 

 far exceeded anything that I have seen at any previous Show. The charge for 

 entrance on each day was only ten cents. Books of entrance tickets had been dis- 

 tributed to every village headman throughout the district— tickets to be issued to 

 all persons subscribing ten cents or over. In spite of the fact that a very large 

 number of people had obtained tickets in this way, the stock of tickets for sale at 

 the gate of the Show grounds was exhausted within an hour and a half of the open- 

 ing of the Show. Mr. Stevenson and the members of the Kegalla Society are to be 

 congratulated on having overcome a difficulty that almost invariably presents itself 

 in connection with these Shows : that is, their liability to become rather a source of 

 entertainment to the local residents of the towns in which they are held than a 

 means of instruction to the villagers of outlying districts, whom it is more especially 

 the object of this Society to reach. 



Another feature of this Show was that, while the sheds containing exhibits 

 of produce were surrounded by an enclosure, to which admission could be obtained 

 only by ticket, the livestock sections were shown on an open space near the roadside, 

 no entrance fee being charged to see them. There was also an extremely interesting 

 collection of art work and curios in the Town Hall, while inside the main enclosure 

 accommodation was provided for laceworkers, cloth weavers, &c. Each class of 

 exhibits in the enclosure was shown in a separate shed— an arrangement which added 

 greatly to the convenience of spectators, and one which might with advantage be 

 adopted at other shows. 



A point to which I should like to call the attention of all Agricultural Show 

 Committees is the advisibility of making the passage-ways between the show 

 counters considerably wider than is usually done. At all the Shows I have hitherto 

 visited I have noticed that the narrowness of the passages has proved a source of 

 inconvenience when the sheds are at all crowded, 



