Dec. 1906.] 



510 



10. Improved Avocado Pears.— Thvee parcels containing seeds of improved 

 varieties of avocado pears were received from the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. As the seeds were long on the journey and some appeared to have 

 suffered by the voyage, the consignment was sent to the Director, Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Peradeniya, where the seeds will be tried aud supplies will be sent to 

 applicants by the Director according to the number of plants successfully 

 propagated. 



11. Insect Pests: (1) Mealy Bug on Cotton— Specimens of some insects 

 found by me on the bolls of a few plants of cotton growing in the Weligama Stock 

 Garden, when recently on a visit there in connection with the Fruit and Vegetable 

 Show at Telijjawila, were forwarded to the Government Entomologist, who 

 reported as follows :— 



"The white insect is the common ' mealy bug' (Dactylopius citri). I do not 

 anticipate that this will prove a serious pest of cotton in Ceylon ; but should it show 

 signs of increasing to a dangerous extent, it may be kept in check by spraying with 

 kerosine emulsion. I was unable to find the small black fly, which had probably 

 escaped in transit. There is a small black-winged bug that frequents cotton bolls, 

 especially after they have burst— and often swarms in the lint. It can be readily 

 driven off by exposing the lint to the hot sun for a few hours. The name of this 

 insect is Oxycarenus laetus" 



(2) Cucumber Fly.— Specimens of a yellow fly which attacks gourds, &c, 

 have been sent by the Trincomalee Agricultural Society to the Government Entomo- 

 logist, who identifies them as Dacus sp., the well-known cucumber fly, and states 

 that :— 



"They will attack gourds, melons, cucumbers, vegetable marrows, and all 

 allied fruits. The only satisfactory method of circumventing this pest is to enclose 

 the young fruits (immediately the flower has set) in muslin bags large enough to 

 contain the mature fruit. Any diseased fruits of this kind should be systematically 

 collected and destroyed- If allowed to rot upon the ground, the flies will mature 

 and infest other fruits." 



12. Fruit Trees for School Gardens.— Mr. M. D. S. A. Wijenayake, Stock Inspector 

 at Kurunegala, has offered to make a present of mangosteen, nutmeg, clove, and 

 num-num plants to all school gardens in the North- Western Province. These will 

 be sent to 26 school gardens by the Superintendent of School Gardens, who has 

 accepted the offer. Cost of transport will be met by the Society. 



13. Examination of Agricultural Instructors. — Under the scheme recently adopted 

 of training Stock Inspectors in agricultural work, an examination in Botany, &c, 

 was held on the 1st instant at the office of the Government Veterinary Surgeon. 

 The papers were prepared by the Dierector, Royal Botanic Gardens, and the 

 Controller, Experiment Station Peradeniya. The following candidates were ex 

 amined : P. C. J. Ferando, A. M, Fernando, M. D. S. A. Wijenayake, B. D. Stephen, 

 and D. L. Dias, and the two Agricultural Instructors of the Society — N. Wickra- 

 maratne and L. A. D. Silva. 



14. Castration of Cattle— The progress made with regard to castration of 

 cattle is as follows :— 



Number of demonstrations held during 1906 ... ... 138 



Number of cattle operated upon during 1906 ... ... 2,868 



Number of owners who brought cattle during 1906 ... ... 2,239 



Number of men trained in the operation during 1906 ... 136 



at an average cost, including all expenses, of about Rs. 1'06 per head of cattle 

 operated upon— training of men free. 



