516 Dec. 1906. 



Agricultural Society Progress Report, XXV. 



1. Local Branches- Two new branch societies have been formed— one for 

 Gangaboda Pattu (Galle) and one for Hinidum Pattu, The total number of branch 

 societies is 48, while the total membership of the Society is 1,127. It has been decided 

 to amalgamate the Gangaboda Pattu (Matara) branch with the local branch at 

 Matara from 1907. 



Gangaboda Pattn Branch {Galle). — An inaugural meeting was held at the 

 Baddegama Gausabhawa on the 16th October. One of the Society's Agricultural 

 Instructors, Mr. N. Wickramaratne, was present and assisted in the pioceedings. 

 At a subsequent meeting on the 3rd November Mr. H. D. Perera, Mudaliyar of the 

 Pattu, was elected President of the Society, and Mr. C. E. Gunatileka, President of 

 the Village Tribunals, Vice-President. The new society proposes to undertake the 

 establishment of a seed bank, the opening of an experimental garden, and an experi- 

 ment in growing castor oil plants with a view to starting silk cultivation. Mr. M. A. 

 Jayasinlie, Deputy Coroner, has presented the society with a piece of land at Nagoda 

 for the experimental garden. In connection with the seed bank, it was agreed 

 that as a beginning the members should contribute two or more bushels of paddy 

 apiece ; that 25 per cent, interest be charged on paddy lent from the bank ; and that 

 the contributors be at liberty to take back their paddy after five years. Seventy 

 bushels were promised by thirty-eight members. 



Hinidum Pattu Branch —The local branch at Hiniduma was formed follow- 

 ing an inaugural meeting held at the Nagoda resthouse under the presidency of 

 Mr. A. L. Amarasekare, Mudaliyar. The Agricultural Instructor was again present. 

 The programme of work adopted at this meeting includes the opening of an experi- 

 mental garden ; sericulture ; popularising of school gardens, &c, 



Mr. Wickramaratne took with him on his tour two trays, specially made at 

 the Peradeniya Silk Farm, containing silk worms, eggs, and cocoons, and gave ocular 

 demonstration of the method of handling the worms. Amongst those who express- 

 ed their interest in the subject of sericulture was the Rev. Father Schaefer of 

 Hiniduma, who contemplates its introduction amongst the boys of his school and 

 orphanage. 



This is the first occasion on which one of the Society's Agricultural Instruc- 

 tors has been on tour. It is hoped that by February next the course of training 

 which they are at present undergoing will be sufficiently complete to justify their 

 being regularly sent on tour in different districts. Any local societies desiring their 

 services should apply for them in the course of the next two months. It is intended 

 that the Instructors should visit the various local branches, attend their meetings, 

 95 ive lectures and instruction, and ascertain in what directions the local societie 

 require the assistance of the parent society, or the expert advice of the scientific 

 staff at Peradeniya. 



Dumbara Branch.-— I was present with Mr. M. Kelway Bamber, Government 

 Chemist, at a general meeting of the Dumbara Agricultural Society, held on the 3rd 

 November at Teldeuiya. The main object of our visit was to ascertain how far 

 Teldeniya would lie a suitable centre for the experiment the Sqpiety proposes to 

 make in the improvement of native tobacco by a more scientific method of curing. 

 A number of tobacco growers were present at the meeting and availed themselves of 

 the opportunity to consult Mr. Bamber on the question of manuring, plucking, 

 Curing, &c. The Secretary read an interesting report of the progress of the Society 

 since its formation in April last. 



