Miscellaneous. 



344 



I have the honour to forward the following report on classes IV and V which 

 I judged with Mr. C. Drieberg in the Gampola Agri-Horticultural Show held on the 

 30th and 31st ultimo :— 



Class IV. Fruits. —There was very little competition, and only 14 out of the 

 36 prizes offered were entered for excluding Sour-sops, Nam-nams, and Tree Tomatoes 

 which were of such poor quality, that no awards were made. I think it may be 

 accounted for by the season for fruit not being until later in the year. The prize 

 winning bunch of Bananas, Mandarin oranges, Kew Pineapples, and Tamarinds 

 were especially fine. An exhibit of excellent Mulberries from Lautana Hill Estate 

 was entered in this class, and awarded a special prize. 



Class V. Vegetables.— As in class IV there was practically no competition, 

 and it was disappointing to find only 16 out of the 33 prizes offered entered for. 

 There can be no excuse for this, and one was surprised to find no entries for Lettuce, 

 Peas, Celery, Vegetable Marrow, Radishes, Carrots, Turnips, Artichokes and general 

 Salad vegetables, all of which could very easily be grown in the district. The 

 exhibits of Cabbages, Leeks, Parsnips, Knol-Khol, Beet root, and Pot Herbs were 

 very creditable, and well deserved the prizes awarded. Tomatoes, Cucumbers and 

 Onions should have been of better quality. 



It is hoped that at the next show this class will be better filled, produce 

 more competition and show improvement in quality for which there is plenty of 

 room yet. 



J. K. NOCK, 

 Curator, Hakgala Garden. 



Class VII. Native Products.— The exhibits were decidedly poor. A brave 

 show of paddy varieties was made by putting the same variety in under several 

 names. One of the best exhibits was that of pepper, which one would think should 

 be more frequently cultivated round Gampola. In a large number of the groups no 

 prizes could be awarded, either because there were no exhibits or because these were 

 of such poor quality. The season of the year must, however, be remembered. 



JOHN C. WILLIS, 



Director, R.B.G. 



Literature of Economic Botany and Agriculture. IV. 



By J. C. Willis. 



Cassava (or Tapioca).— Cassava (Cassareep). Ind. Plant, and Gard., 22 March 1900, 

 p. 193, 29 March, p. 209. 

 Tapioca Plant as alternative Food in Famine. Agr. Ledger, Veg. Prod. 

 Series, 61. 



Prussic Acid in Sweet Cassava. " T.A.," 1 May 1901, p. 747. 

 Prussic Acid in Cassava. Trinidad Bull., April 1901, p. 319. 

 Thomson, R., Cassava in Florida. 



Manioka-Kultur in Deutsch Ost-Afrika. Tropenpflanzer, 1902, p. 251. 

 Yields &c. See Bull. Econ. de lTndo-Ch., 6, 1903, p. 157. 

 Cassava for Starch. Queensl. Agr. Jl., V. 1903, p. 350. 

 Hints for Cassava Poisoning. " T.A.," June 1903, p. 802. 



Cassava from Colombia. W. I. Bull. 10, 1903, p. 74, and Jamaica Bull. 1903, 

 p. 35. 



