THE 



TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 



AND 



MAGAZINE OF THE 



CEYLON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Vol. XXVI. COLOMBO, FEBRUARY 15th, 1906. No. I. 



The Past, Present and Future of the Ceylon 

 Agricultural Society. 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen,— At the close of the first year of the working of the Society 

 it is well to consider our position, and to see how far we have progressed 

 towards the attainment of the purposes for which Ave have associated ourselves. 

 The purposes for Avhich the Society was formed are clearly defined. They are : — 



Firstly, to create a public opinion amongst the mass of the native popu- 

 lation that improvement of agricultural methods is desirable. 



Secondly, to show how such improvement can be effected. 



Thirdly, to assist every class interested in land by placing at their disposal 

 the latest and best information on the subjects in which thty are severally 

 interested. 



Fourthly, to procure seeds of the best varieties of crops now grown and to 

 introduce and experiment upon new products. 



Fifthly, to improve the breed of native cattle and thus increase the wealth of 

 the population. 



Sixthly, to introduce as soon as public interest is sufficiently awakened 

 a system of co-operative credit banks, and to save the peasant cultivators from the 

 burden of extravagant interest paid for short loans advanced by money-lenders 

 against the growing crops. 



My right to congratulate you on the result of our first proposal will not be 

 disputed when I tell you that the 



MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY 



has increased from 40 at the end of 1901, just after the first meeting, to 911, and 

 applications are being daily received that briug the number practically up to 1,000 

 Besides the membership of the Parent Society there are now 41 local Societies 

 formed and affiliated with the Parent Society. Of these 41 local Societies, 16 have 

 not sent in the lists of their members, but the total number on the books of the 

 25, who have reported, is 1,373; so we may fairly assume the total local membership 



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