258 



April 1907. 



(b) "That Members of Committee be supplied with large maps of the 

 Experiment Station clearly showing (in colours, if necessary) 

 the different experiments, and that the plots be properly 

 numbered according to recent survey." 



Betel Cultivation: Its Diseases and their Prevention.— Mi\ M. H. Mirando, 

 Honorary Secretary of the Negombo Branch Society (and Muhandiram of Alutkuru 

 Korale North) has offered through the Parent Society a gold medal for presentation 

 by His Excellency the Governor for the best written essay on Betel Cultivation in 

 English, Sinhalese, or Tamil, to facilitate the work of a Specialist in making 

 researches and recommending what measures should be taken to eradicate the 

 disease. The essay should treat fully with the cultivation under the heads of soil, 

 method of planting, manure, &c, but specially with the origin and known or sus- 

 pected causes of the disease and the means taken to combat it. 



In reply to enquiries made the Director of Agriculture, Bengal, writes :— " The 

 disease you refer to is not uncommon in Bengal, but no special investigation has 



been undertaken on the subject in this Province The best remedial 



measure is to remove the affected plants wholesale from your betel leaf gardens." 



Mullaittivu Branch.— -The programme of work adopted for this year by the 

 Mullaittivu Branch include— («) The encouragement of school gardens in the 

 district ; (b) the holding of a Show to be held on or about Empire Day at 

 Mullaittivu, at which prizes would be offered for tobacco and garden vegetables ; 

 (c) forwarding cattle and other produce to Colombo market ; (d) experimenting in 

 improved methods of paddy cultivation. 



West Indian Yams. — Reports on the cultivation of these are still awaited, 

 but Adigar S. N. W. Hulugalle reports that they are doing very well in the Wanni 

 hatpattu. 



Seedlings, Cuttings, &c, , for Experimental Purposes. — Mr. K. B. Beddewela 

 of Maligatenne, Kandy, writing on the 2nd April, says :— " I have on hand a large 

 quantity of Malabar pepper cuttings (free from disease), Erythroxylon Coca, seeds 

 and plants (self-sown), loquat plants (self-sown) ; the former two varieties will be 

 sold at a reduced rate to Members of the Society, and the latter will be exchanged 

 for mangosteen and durian plants." 



Bellary Onions.— Applications for Bellary onions, of which a supply of 

 seeds is being imported by the Society, are still being registered. Applications will 

 be received up to end of April. The quantity to be imported is rather limited. 



Tobacco: Manuring with Artificial Fertilizers. — With regard to the sugges- 

 tion made at the last Meeting of the Board, that an experiment be carried out 

 which would afford a basis for estimating the advantages or otherwise of scientific 

 manure on tobacco, satisfactory arrangements have been made for th3 trial. Mr. 

 Rasanayagam has consented to plant up three plots with tobacco : (a) manured with 

 cattle dung, (b) manured with chemical fertilizers, and (c) unmanured. Each plot 

 will be three acres in extent, and the leaf will be cured separately. Messrs. 

 Preudenberg & Co. have kindly supplied a ton of manure for the experiment, 

 free of cost. 



Vegetable Seeds. — Varieties of English vegetable seeds enumerated in the 

 last Progress Report are expected to arrive here by the end of April, when they 

 will be immediately distributed to Members who have applied. Improved varieties 

 of the following will be procured from India :— Bandakka, Bonchi, Chili, Dara- 

 dambala (Princess bean), Kariwila (bitter gourd), Snake gourd, and Vetakolu (luffa). 



Agricultural Shows. — It has been decided to hold an Agri-Horticultural 

 Show at Kegalla on 28th and 29th June, 1907. 



