415 



Live Stodk. 



The Kottiar pattu stands on a different footing. Vellai, Kanpanachi and 

 Pavanai are considered excellent pasture lands where the lean emaciated neat cattle 

 practically undergo transformation. The Indian and other traders jn 'cattle have 

 their "Thavalams " there. These traders go from village to village and collect cattle 

 paying nominal value, after retaining them for some time in these pasture grounds 

 they sell them for fancy prices. 



Paddy cultivation in Kadduculam pattu is carried on very extensively. The 

 enterprising men of Pulmotai have of late purchased several acres of land, and the 

 necessity for suitable pasturage has now presented itself. 



Before concluding this paper I feel bound to remark that most of the people 

 in Trincomalie, unlike our brethren in the North, are utterly indifferent about their 

 cattle. They more or less depend on straw for fodder. There are several kinds of 

 inexpensive fodder which cattle owners, especially owners of milching cows, might 

 employ with advantage. The leaves and stalks of maize (cholam) and the smaller 

 variety muttu cholum are very good for cattle. They are very fond of them, and 

 they serve as an excellent fodder especially when they are collected before the plants 

 reach the flowering stage. 



I \mderstand in India, in mai/.e growing fields two or three acres of land with 

 this plantation is set apart for cattle. 



The same thing is done with ground-nut-creepers. The nuts are severed and 

 the creepers are carefully stacked and preserved, as we do with the straw. Maize 

 and groundnuts cost very little in growing, and I think they are inexpensive fodder 

 for cattle. I grew both in my coconut estate last year, and they notwithstanding 

 the lack of sufficient rain proved remunerative. I commend these products to all 

 owners of cattle. 



In Jaffna palmyrah leaves are cut into thin strips and cattle are fed on them 

 either alone or mixed with grass. People here might give this a trial, as I see no 

 reason why Trincomalie cattle should reject a food which is largely consumed by 

 those in Jaffna. By adopting this people would effect a saving in straw. 



I have been asked by a responsible officer why Government should incur 

 the expense of providing the people with pasture lands. Why should they not have 

 their own lands for pasturage ? I propose to answer these questions by a counter 

 question. Why should the Government and Agricultural Society condescend 

 to help the people in matters agricultural? The same r-eason should prompt the 

 Government to grant us pasture lands. 



I have found from old Dutch Deeds that the Dutch Government fully recog- 

 nised the importance of pasture lands. I know of instances where large tracts of 

 fields were alienated by Dutch Government, it took special care to make reservations 

 for pasturing cattle. 



In the North- Western Province I hear pasture lands have been reserved by 

 the Government under the communal system. 



When proper representation is made by this Association to the Government 

 supported as we hope it will be, by the administrative head of this Province, the 

 wants desiderated herein would soon be supplied. 



[The most striking want in Ceylon agriculture, more especially in the wetter 

 and more populous districts, is pasture land. Everyone turns his cattle out to graze 

 if he can, upon his neighbours' grass or other plants.— Ed.] 



