431 



On His Excellency's suggestion, the Committee— composed of the Hon. 

 Mr. H. L. Crawford, Government Agent, W.P., the Hon. Mr. S. C. Obeyesekere 

 and Mr. Drieberg— were appointed to visit the land with Mr. Fernando Muda- 

 liyar and report on the offer. His Excellency thanked Mr. Fernando for his offer. 



3. A list of new members was read. Three new Branch Societies at 

 Passara, Welimada, and Dnmbara were affiliated. 



4. The Progress Report was circulated. 



5. Mr. M. Kelway Bamber, Govt. Analytical Chemist, read a paper on 

 "The Growth and Distillation of Camphor." His Excellency, Messrs. Obeyesekere, 

 Morison, Daniel Joseph, Beven and Dr. Willis spoke in the discussion which 

 followed the paper. 



6. The Hon. Mr. H. Wace, c.m.g., moved that "The Society vote a sum 

 of Rs. 50 towards the cost of a stud bull for the Nuwara Eliya District." The 

 Hon. Mr. H. L. Crawford seconded. The motion was carried. 



7. His Excellency called the attention of members to the reports on cotton 

 cultivation and the quantity of seed applied for. 



8. Reports on the Gampola and Nuwara Eliya Shows were tabled. 

 The meeting adjourned at 1-30 p.m. 



Agricultural Society Progress Report. XIX, 



There are now 1,090 members of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, being an 

 increase of 17 since the last meeting. Back publications from November last are sent 

 to all members when they join. 



The Society mourns the loss of one of its most able and zealous supporters in 

 the death of the Hon. Mr. H. "Wace, c.m.g. 



A motion expressing the regret of the Board will be moved at to-day's 

 meeting by the Hon. Mr. Francis Beven, and seconded by Mr. W. D. Gibbon. 



Mr. Wace was Chairman of the Live Stock Committee. 



Local Societies — Since the last meeting of the Board I have visited the Branch 

 Societies at Jaffna and Mullaittivu. 



At Jaffna a large and representative meeting was held under the presidency 

 of the Government Agent. A paper was ready by Mr. Saravanamuttu on " Tobacco 

 Cultivation." 



There was an Exhibition of products grown in the Jaffna District— the jak 

 fruit, manioea, and other yams, and limes were particularly good. The Branch 

 decided to compete for the prize of Rs. 100 to be awarded at the Colombo Show for 

 the best exhibition of native products from any district in Ceylon. It was also 

 agreed to arrange for Village Fairs at Chavakachcheri and Kodikamam. 



The meeting at Mullaittivu was held on Empire day. There was a good 

 attendance. There has been a considerable increase in the cultivation of manioea 

 due largely to the efforts of Mr. Lewis, when Government Agent, to introduce this 

 yam. It was decided by the meeting to make special efforts to extend Cotton 

 cultivation in the district, and to induce the villagers to plant it on their chenas. I 

 undertook, on behalf of the Society, to pay the expenses of transport of a supply 

 of Sea Island cotton to Colombo if not less than 50 acres were cultivated. Seeds 

 were distributed among the members. 



The Date Palm suckers sent to Mullaittivu are doing well, and a further 

 supply is being sent there. 



I visited Chavakachcheri from Jaffna ; it is proposed to start a Branch of the 

 Society there. 



