Miseellaneotfs. 



chillies, pineapples, brinjals. manioc bandakkai. and ground nuts, and for tin- 

 best village cock and two hen-, to he exhibited on the first Sunday in August at 

 the Yatiyaiitota Market. Application is being made for the use of a piece of Crown 

 land for an Experimental Garden. 



Castration demonstrations were arranged for at these meetings. 



The Committee of the Randy Branch decided to hold a general meeting 

 on the 26th instant. 



Several papers have been read at meetings of Branch Societies. At Jaffna 

 a paper on " Manioc Cultivation " was read by Mr. J- P. Lewis, Government Agent 

 a paper on "Tobacco" was read at the meeting of the Kurunegala Branch by 

 Mr. Madapola ; "Poultry" was the subject of a paper read by Mr. E. D. Dharmasena 

 at the meeting of the Badulla Branch. A paper on " Sweet Potatoes," by Mr. A. M. 

 Wickremeratne, is promised the Wellaboda pattu (Galle) Branch. 



Agricultural Shows.— The following dates have been approved by the 

 Society :— 



Weligam Korale (Telij.jawila) Branch ... ... March 15 and 10 



Gampola ... ... ... ... ... March 80 and 31 



Nuwara Eliya ... ... ... ... April 17 and 18 



Kurunegala ... ... ... ... May 14 and 15 



Badulla ... ... ... ... ... May 



Colombo ... ... ... ... ... June 22 and 23 



Kegalla ... ... ... ... ... July 6 and 7 



Avisawella ... ... ... ... September 



No dates have yet been fixed for the Matale Show. 



The Rubber Exhibition has been fixed for 13th, 14th, and 15th September. 



The two portable iron sheds have now been completed and despatched to 

 Weligama for use at the Weligam Korale Show. 



Experimental Gardens. —Arrangements are now being made for the ereetion 

 of a seerl depot at the Government Stock Gardens. An estimate of Rs. 1,000 for 

 the erection and fitting out of building will be laid before the Board. The 

 expenditure of Rs. 100 on purchase of seed for the Society has been sanctioned. 



Mr. Francis L. Daniel has offered the Society for experimental cultivation 

 by any member about 10 acres of land at Madampitiya suitable for paddy 

 cultivation. 



The statement in the last Progress Report that the Weligam Market land 

 had been planted with fruit trees and vegetables was based on a misunderstanding, 

 as was at once pointed out by the Weligam Korale Mudaliyar. The fruit' trees 

 have been procured from Peradeniya, but, on the advice of Mr. Macmillan, it was 

 decided to postpone planting until after the south-west monsoon. 



Paddy. — The following letter has been received from the United States 

 Department of Agriculture : — 



We are very sorry to be obliged to report that the seed rice, three hundred 

 bushels of which we were getting for you, is of such poor quality that we do not 

 dare to take the responsibility of forwarding it to you at your cost. We will shortly 

 send you samples of the best Carolina rice procurable this season, and you will see 

 that it is of poor quality and would be disappointing to you in your trials with it. 

 We are of course ready to make another trial next year, when it is to be hoped the 

 rice crop will be good. We are very sorry to disappoint you in this matter, but I 

 think you will be grateful to us for saving you what will be an unnecessary expense 

 and would unquestionably disappoint you in the end. Trusting you will call upon 

 us next year, if we can be of assistance to you, 



I remain, &c, 



David Fairchild, 



December 16, 1905. Agricultural Explorer in Charge of Foreign Explorations. 



