IS 



[Jan. 1907 



3. Local Branches- — The Badulla Branch so held its last meeting for 

 the year on the loth September, when Mr, D. H. Kotalawala, Muhandiram, read a 

 paper on " Paddy Cultivation and Transplantation," At a meeting of the Keg alia 

 Branch Mr. J. R, Molligoda, Proctor, read a paper on " Diseases of Plants." A 

 meeting of the Panadure Branch Society was held on the 19th December, when a 

 large number of members and others was present. Mr. L. W. A. de Soysa, m.r.a.s., 

 addressed the gathering on improved methods of agriculture, dealing mainly with 

 the improvement of agriculture in Ceylon. The Secretary proposed to open a 

 branch society at Horana, which was an agricultural centre. The Korale Mudaliyar 

 expressed approval of the proposal and agreed to work the branch society under 

 the guidance of the Panadure Branch. 



The Gangaboda Pattu (Galle) Branch proposes to establish a dep6t for bone 

 dust at Baddegama for the benefit of the members, who are to receive the manure 

 for their fields at cost price. The funds will be raised by members subscribing the 

 necessary capital and manure distributed from the depot. By this means i^ is 

 hoped to give the average cultivator a chance of buying manure cheaper and of a 

 better quality than at present is available in the district. 



Vavuniy a Branch : Forwarding Agency.— following the native black cattle 

 sent to Colombo by this Agency, a small consignment of eggs was forwarded by 

 train. The prices realized for both cattle and eggs are reported very satisfactory. 

 A letter on this subject from Mr. C. V. Brayne, Assistant Government Agent 

 Mullaittivu, and Chairman of the Branch Society, will be discussed at to-day's 

 meeting. 



4. Agricultural Shows.— The Agri-Hoitienltural Show at Ambalangoda, 

 under the auspices of the Wellaboda Pattu (Galle) Agricultural Society, postponed 

 from the Kith and 17th November, was opened by Their Excellencies the Governor 

 and Lady Blake on the 20th December. 



Reports on the different sections judged by the Scientific Advisers of the 

 Society are tabled for information. 



The following Shows have been fixed for 1907 : — 



Telijjawila ... ... ... March 15 



Trincomalee (Market Fair) ... ... April 2 



Batticaloa ... ... ... Early in the year 



Nuwara Eliya ... ... ... April 2 and 3 



Uva ... ... ... ... May (early) 



Welimada (Market Fair) ... ... May 



Matale ... ... ... ... June (early) 



Kandy ... ... ... ... August 



5. .Foreign vegetable seeds.— The seeds imported by the Society are being 

 distributed to applicants for them. Applications have been received from almost 

 every part of the Island. 



6. Varieties o^Indian arecanuts.— Orders for varieties of Indian areeanuts 

 have been sent to India. These arecanuts will be experimented with in the Badulla 

 Veyangoda, Gampola, and Colombo Districts. 



7. Tobacco.— The samples of tobacco grown in Batticaloa and Tamankaduwa 

 have been reported upon by the firms referred to in Progress Report No. XXV. 

 One firm reported that the tobacco was not suitable for curing for the foreign 

 market ; the other reported as follows :— " The tobacco is suitable for making 

 Jaffna cigars, for chewing, and for making snuff ; it cannot by itself be used in 

 making cigars similar to the Indian or Manila cie-ars, because it cannot be used 

 as wrappers ; but it can be used mixed up with Indian or Borneo for the inside of 

 the cigar, if covered with Sumatra or Manila leaf. The tobacco has a good flavour ; 

 it cannot be used for pipe tobacco." 



