ii 



as 2,000. We have, therefore, 3,000 active centres of interest distributed over the 

 island — a leaven of progressive instinct from whose beneficent action I entertain 

 the most hopeful expectations. 



But having so far succeeded in arousing this interest, what have we done to 

 satisfy the awakened demand for information ? We have acquired "The Tropical 

 Agriculturist," probably the best known agricultural magazine in the East; and, 

 having recast it, have started it as "The Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of 

 the Ceylon Agricultural Society" under the Editorship of the Director of the Botanic 

 Department who, with every member of his staff, has given the most whole- 

 hearted assistance to the Society— a remark that applies with equal .justice to the 

 Director of Public Instruction, the Government Agents, the Colonial Veterinary 

 Surgeon, and every other official whose position gives him an opportunity of 

 influencing the people and forwarding the movement. Besides the five Experi- 

 mental Stations worked by the Botanic Department, 38 of the local Societies 

 are trying experiments, and over 50 individuals have also formed Experimental 

 Stations under advice from the Society, while the number of school gardens in which 

 elementary agricultural and floricultural instruction is given to the rising 

 generation, is steadily increasing under the supervision of the Superintendent of 

 School Gardens and his assistants. 



The Society has also drawn up rules for the conduct of agricultural 

 shows, of which eight have already been fixed for this year under our auspices, and 

 arrangements have been made for the sale of exhibits, if desired, by the exhibitors. 

 I regard these shows as most valuable means of instruction by exciting emulation, 

 so that pride may be taken in the best cultivation, the best cattle, the best home 

 preparation of native products, &c. To bring the information offered to the people 

 within their reach, editions of the journal of the Society are being issued in 

 Sinhalese and Tamil, and the catalogues of the shows will also be printed in the 

 vernacular. In addition to this, any information of immediate importance is 

 printed in the vernacular, and hundreds of leaflets are sent to the local branches. 

 The monthly Progress Reports have kept you informed of the details of the work 

 of the Society in obtaining fresh seeds and arranging for their distribution and 

 exchange, and the 14th Progress Report now before you shows how active is the 

 work of the Society in every branch of agricultural experiment. We have shown 

 that cotton grows well so far as the first crop is concerned, and while no 

 scientific man will give an opinion based on only one year's experiment, we may 

 hope that capitalists will realise that there are many thousands of acres in 

 Ceylon of equal promise as the area of experimental cultivation. 



The first step has been taken in sericulture, and the houses and feeding trays 

 are all ready at Peradeniya for an experiment on a commercial scale when the 

 plants are sufficiently grown to supply food for the silkworms. The difficulty in 

 the way of all attempts to introduce new cultivation is that of finding a market 

 for the products, especially where the quantity is small. Well, gentlemen, we 

 have met this difficulty by undertaking to purchase at market rates all such 

 products, and we have arranged with gentlemen in Colombo for their disposal 

 until such time as the production readies such a volume as will justify merchants in 

 making contracts for delivery in Europe. 



The Progress Report will show you how successful the Colonial Veterinary 

 Surgeon has been in his efforts to improve the breed of cattle by the elimination of 

 inferior bulls. Under his instructions over 1,500 of these mischievous bulls have been 

 rendered innocuous, and local Societies are now becoming alive to the benefits of his 

 method, which reduces to a minimum the losses experienced by the primitive and 

 hazardous practice heretofore adopted- 



