Miscellaneous. 500 [Dec. 1906. 



I do not, however, think that the undertaking should stand or fall according 

 to the possibility of commercial success, but rather that the Government would be 

 fully justified in expending money without immediate return. The amount of 

 money spent on the Technical College for instance is large, but the amount of indus- 

 trial instruction in the arts and crafts given is after all small, whereas a tithe of the 

 same expenditure devoted to the support of the already existing crafts would have 

 definite and real results and preserve for the Colony what is in reality a very valu- 

 able asset, and one daily growing rarer and rarer throughout the world, viz., the 

 capacity amongst workmen for sound decorative design. 



" It is the case without doubt that the influence of European domination and 

 civilization is being felt in every direction and operating often very injuriously 

 on the arts and crafts of the country." (Sir George Watt). While this is so, and 

 while it is still not too late to do something to preserve what still survives, it seems 

 to me to be the clear duty of Government, acting in the best interests of the Colony, 

 to have greater recourse to native architects, working under fair connditions, when 

 the smaller public buildings are required, and to set on foot some organization for the 

 more convenient ordering of the production and sale of well-made, substantial work 

 by the best surviving workmen. I do not think these views are at all Utopian- 

 Europeanised Ceylon is of course a long way behind England in some respects ; in 

 matters of taste, lingers still in the early Victorian period ; but this cannot last for 

 ever, and it will be a sad thing if when public taste improves, the workmen who 

 have been hitherto faithful to a former style are gone for ever. 



The Use and Objects of Agricultural Societies. 



By E. B. Dbnham. 



The Ceylon Agricultural Society -was founded by His Excellency the Governor 

 * in November. 1904. It has to-day 1,120 members and 45 branches with a membership 

 of approximately 3,500. The progress report tabled to-day shows the number of in- 

 terests and industries the Society deals with ; while, if further proof of its activity is 

 r equirecl, members can see for themselves the different exhibits sent in by local 

 brauches and members of the Society to this exhibition. The usefulness of the 

 Society has been, I venture to think, abundantly demonstrated by the success of the 

 many agricultural shows held this year and last and by the keen interest displayed 

 in all agricultural subjects. His Excellency's well-known desire to encourage and 

 promote all branches of agriculture has been the principal cause of the increased in- 

 terest in the subject which has now shown itself in the formation of branches, in the 

 holding of shows, in agricultural discussions and debates Agriculture has been in 

 the air, and agriculture has been well advertised. It has been advertised in the 

 vernacular as well as in English. The native press have played a very considerable 

 parts in assisting the Society to explain its object to the "goiya" in his own langu- 

 age. The " Dinakaraprakasa" and the " Sihala Samaya," two of the leading Sinhalese 

 newspapers, record fully in Sinhalese the proceedings of the Board and the papers 

 read before it. The editors of these papers send 100 or 200 free copies of the issues 

 ontaining these proceedings to the Secretary of the Ceylon Agricultural Society 

 for distribution, and these are sent to the local branches. All the leaflets of the 

 Society appear in Sinhalese and Tamil as well as in English ; the " Tropical Agri' 

 culturist and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society has a Sinhalese edition, 

 ''The Govikam Sangarawa," edited by Mr. C. Drieberg, an officer of much experience 

 in all agricultural matters; and a Tamil edition, 'The Kamal Thoti Velakkum," 

 published by the Jaffna " Hindu Organ." The proceedings of many of the branches 

 are conducted in the vernaculars. It is important to emphasise this point, for the 

 Society's utility depends on its being able to reach those who, from their ignorance 

 of the English language, are unable to drink of the fountain of Peradeniya. To 



