Miscellaneous. 



124 



[FRJ5. 1907. 



I regret to state that with the exception of a very few gardens in the first 

 and second divisions no attempt had been made in methodical laying ont or the 

 systematic cultivation of crops. From what I could see in the majority of cases 

 after the land was cleared, tilled, and manured and the seed sown, the crops wer e 

 allowed to shift for themselves more or less, and in many instances even ordinary 

 weeding and supporting of plants had been neglected. 



In the third division 2 school gardens competed viz,, Ambana and Hikkaduwa. 

 The former was 18 miles inland and the latter quite within the reach of sea spray. 

 Hikkaduwa School was awarded the prize, and the work carried on there was 

 satisfactory considering the difficulties. 



In section 1 Class A. the collection of wild flowers was good and well competed 

 for, but the competition for the prize awarded for cultivated flowers was not 

 satisfactory. Pot plants were good and fairly well grown, but the exhibits were 

 rather mixed up and there was considerable difficulty in j udging. 



Class B. Fruits. This class was altogether poor in quantity as well as quality, 

 and this was to be expected considering that it was not the season for fruits. There 

 were however a few good oranges and pines and jack fruit. The exhibit of plantains 

 should have been better I think. 



Section 2 Class A. nos. 2-9. The competition was very good in hand made 

 coconut oil (Aththel) as well as kin*g coconut oil. Oil seeds, gums, resins, and native 

 dyes were not particularly well represented. 



In section 3 Class B (new products) there were two exhibits of groundnuts, 

 three of cotton, two of Eri Cocoons, three of rubber. 



All the first three were good average samples The sheet rubber exhibited by 

 Mr. Northway, who was awarded the Gold Medal, was of excellent quality. 



(Sgd.) ALEX PERERA, 

 2nd Assistant Snpt. School Gardens. 

 Government Stock Garden, Colombo 18th, January, 1907. 



Correspondence. 



CARAVONICA COTTON. 

 Sir, — As you know, we have tried Caravonica cotton here, but I am sorry to 

 say it did not thrive well in the Aurash Valley ; I suppose on account of the high 

 altitude (800 metres), and certainly because of the cold at nights from the end of 

 November to February (15 degrees centigrade). 



The foliage was not good, the leaves becoming rolled and black. The bolls 

 were not bigger than Egyptian cotton, and the lint not strong. We are also too far 

 from the sea. Egyptian cotton is doing fairly well. 



We have just formed our plantations into a company, with a capital of 

 Francs 600,000 : under the title Societe Franco- Anglaise d'Exploitations Agricoles 

 en Abyssinie. The subscribers are nearly all cotton brokers from Havre and Glasgow. 



Yours faithfully, 



A. SAVOURE. 



Addis-Ababa, December 8th. 



[Caravonica cotton has yet to prove that it possesses any qualities that would 

 make it desirable to plant rather than Sea Island or Egyptian, both of which get 

 better prices. Also it has decided disadvantages in the matter of pests, being a long- 

 lived crop on which they can survive.— Ed, J 



