95 



Mi&eelltmeai i s . 



.->. Mv. 11. T. S. Wjard moved ''That this Board recommends that a 

 tobacco expert be employed by the Society Tor the improvement of the tobacco now 

 grown in Ceylon. ' Mr. Obeyesekere seconded. H. E. the (iovernor, Dr. Willis, 

 Messrs. Ferguson, W. D. Gibbon, Wace, Lushington and Beven spoke on the 

 subject. The motion was carried. 



0. Mr. J. A. Wickremeratne, Mudaliyar of Weligam Korale, and Hon. Secre- 

 tary Local Branch of the Society at Telijjawila, l-ead a paper on "The Work 

 of a Local Agricultural Society." His Excellency and Mr. Gibbon spoke. 



7. It was decided to postpone the paper by Dr. Willis and the other 

 subjects on the minute paper for the next meeting. 



The Board adjourned at 1-30 p.m. 



Agricultural Society Progress Report. XV. 



The number of members of the Society is now 1, 001. showing an increase of 

 67 since the last meeting. 



A proposal is now before the Finance Committee to allow of the election 

 of Life Members of the Society. 



Local Societies.Smce the last meeting of the Board I have visited the 

 Branch Societies at Ratana, Katunayaka, Minuwangoda. Kandy, Anuradhapura. 

 and Ruanwella (Three Korales and Lower Bulatgama). 



At Katana a piece of ground has been rented for an Experimental Garden 

 and a caretaker employed. 



A prize of Rs. 100 was offered by Mr. S. M. Silva for the best work done 

 in the garden by a child from any of the local schools. A small plot of ground 

 is to be given to each child competing. It was decided to limit the prize to Rs. 20, 

 the balance to be expended on other prizes to be decided upon by the Branch Society. 



At Katunayaka an excellent Experimental Garden has been opened by 

 Mr. A. E. Rajapakse, Muhandiram, the President of the Branch. Forty villagers 

 undertook to plant up vegetable gardens, and Mr. Rajapakse offered four prizes 

 of Rs. 15, Rs. 10, and two of Rs. 5 for the best l-esults. 



At Minuwangoda nothing practical had been done. The meeting held by 

 me was attended by 500 or 600 persons. It was decided to award prizes for the 

 best exhibits of vegetables grown in the district shown on the 1st Saturday in 

 April at the Coronation Market at Minuwangoda. Prizes to the amount of Rs. 105, 

 in twenty-rupee (two prizes), ten-rupee and five-rupee prizes, were offered for the 

 best exhibits of vegetables (grown in the district and grown for the first time in 

 the district), for fruits, yams, ground nuts, silk cocoons, and mi-kiri. 



A number of villagers gave in their names as competitors. It is to be hoped 

 that the interest now aroused and the exertions of Mr. J. E. de Silva, President, 

 Village Tribunal, will result in practical work being attempted by this Branch. -< 



The Anuradhapura Branch will offer a prize for the best lot of cotton 

 grown in the district sent in to Maha Iluppalama by a villager. It has been decided 

 to purchase all cotton grown by villagers at a fixed price at the Maha Iluppalama 

 Experiment Station, cash being paid on delivery. 



At the meeting of the Three Korales Branch held at Ruanwella prizes to 

 the amount of Rs. 105 (nine prizes of Rs. 10 each and three of Rs. 5 each) were offered 

 for the best exhibits of plantains, collections of vegetables, cucumbers, yams, 



