270 



There cannot be the least doubt that all these are capable of vast improve, 

 ment, though one still at times hears people state the contrary with regard 

 to at least (3). Speaking broadly native agriculture is both wasteful and ineffi- 

 cient, and urgently needs improvement. But, and this is a point of the most vital 

 and essential nature, we must go slowly, and be quite sure of what we are 

 doing, or we shall do more harm than good. 



The proper course is to find out first of all the actual facts of native 

 knowledge in agricultural matters and to work from these, or in other words, 

 to apply the methods of pure scientific research and induction. The science of 

 agriculture is as yet largely in an embryonic condition and its generalisations 

 are almost entirely based, as in the case of the other biological sciences, upon 

 work done in the totally different climates of Europe and North America. 

 To apply these directly to tropical conditions is often to court failure. We must 

 begin again, using the results of work done in the temperate zones as a 

 guide, and collect facts patiently, group them, make inductions from them, and 

 test these again, until we have built up a sound science of tropical agriculture. 

 Scientific agriculture in Europe and North America has now overtaken the empirical 

 knowledge of generations of farmers in many departments, and explained it, 

 using the generalisations thus obtained to deduce further rules of action, but 

 this is by no means yet the case in the tropics. We must first learn all the 

 facts that village agriculturists, planters, and others have learnt, and then use 

 these as a basis for further work. Not merely must we learn the facts but 

 we must find out the "why" of them. Why, for example, does the Sinhalese 

 villager usually manure betel pepper only with the leaves of "Keppitiya," 

 Croton laccifemm, and refuse to employ another manure apparently as good or 

 better. He himself does not know, but Ave must find out, and perhaps in so 

 doing we shall find some valuable knowledge throwing light on other problems, 

 as well as on manuring. 



To deal in order with the points in which improvement is required, the 

 first is the variety of crops cultivated. There is a want of variety in village 

 cultivations and " new products " are desirable in many places, to avoid the risk 

 of having too many eggs in one basket, to lessen the risk of epidemic disease, 

 and to increase the variety of products available in the local market, and 

 thus help in raising the general standard of living. But to introduce and 

 establish these involves many considerations. They must be shown to grow 

 well in the district, to be easy of cultivation, and to yield greater profit or 

 better food than those things that are already in cultivation there, or at least 

 as much. There must also be a reliable market for them. In effect, therefore 

 each product wants full and careful experiment in each district. To have an 

 Experimental Garden in each district is beyond practicability ; the cost would 

 be too large in proportion to the result. But an Experimental Garden on a 

 scale suited to each village can be easily provided in the schools. A preliminary 

 investigation is needed to find out what products are already cultivated in the 

 district, and then the garden should be supplied with others not yet familiar 

 to the local people. In this way it can be tested whether the particular plants 

 will grow well in that district and what kind of market or domestic use there 

 is for the produce. The villagers will see the plants for themselves and be able 

 to get a few for trial, and gradually those that prove desirable will come into 

 local use. In Ceylon the School Gardens have already introduced a considerable 

 number of new products into the villages at a minimum of cost. The products 

 thus introduced are those likely to prove really suitable and are not likely to 

 be thrown away or neglected like those casually distributed by Government 

 officials. 



