Miscellaneous. 



3&) 



[October, 1911. 



Mr. Chelliah reports a very busy time 

 in the North among the cultivators, 

 who have started work with the rain 

 which was so anxiously awaited. He is 

 giving special attention to growing cot- 

 ton in chena lands in outlying districts, 

 such as Pooneryn. 



Mr. L. A. D. Silva has been deputed to 

 work in the Sabaragamuwa Province, 

 which has been very badly served by 

 the drought. His suggestions for assist- 

 ing the poorer cultivators are receiving 

 attention ; and seeds asked for by the 

 Government Agent will be sent as they 

 become available. During September 

 he visited Hatella, Ematiyagoda, Godake- 

 wela, Warayaya, Hanwane, Kottimul- 

 wela, Belimalliyadde and Balangoda. 



Mr. Wickremaratne visited Dedigama, 

 Pinnawela, Pindeniya, Kottapola, Waki- 

 rigala, Beddewela, Mawanella, Balalla, 

 Amhepussa, Galapitamada, Kahambili- 

 yawela, Undugoda, and Kehelwatugoda, 

 and before leaving for India he was 

 engaged in planting Pinnawela and 

 Dedigama Experimental Gardens with 

 fruit trees and vegetables. He also 

 initiated experiments in paddy growing 

 by transplanting at two centres, and 

 held a ploughing demonstration at 

 Kehelwatugoda. 



Mr. Molegode, Agricultural Instructor 

 for the Central Province, visited the 

 Badulla district and was engaged in 

 holding meetings and ploughing demon- 

 strations at different centres. At Timbi- 

 rigaspitiya a ploughing demonstration 

 was held, arranged by BibileRatemahat- 

 maya, who was present with the head- 

 men and paddy cultivators to see the 

 working of the Empire plough. TheRate- 

 mahatmaya has ordered a number of 

 ploughs for lending to villagers. Mr. 

 Molegode's interesting report on his 

 itinerary will be published in full in the 

 Society's Magazine. 



Mr. Sathasivam has been devoting 

 most of his time to assisting in the culti- 

 vation of cotton in chenas. He has also 

 started work in an Experimental Garden 

 at Tampiluvil. He reports that about 

 forty light iron ploughs are now in use 

 in his district. 



Mr. Jayasuriya visited Boralupola, 

 MaduraweJa, Renuwana, Yalagala, and 

 held ploughing demonstrations where- 

 ever it was possible ; some of the demon- 

 strations had to be postponed owing to 

 the fields being flooded by rain water. 



Messrs. Bandaranayake and Karu- 

 nanayake, probationary instructors, are 

 undergoing a special training at the 

 Experiment Station at Gangoruwa and 

 the Government Stock Garden, and will 

 be sent out into the provinces after a 

 term at Makailuppalama. 



Branch Societies. 



The Dumbara Branch is at present 

 chiefly occupied with its experiment iD 

 growing Sumatra tobacco under the 

 supervision of Mr. Valabane. 



TheWellaboda Pattu (Galle) Branch, 

 at a recent meeting, elected new office- 

 bearers, and appointed Messrs. J. H. 

 Siriwardene and C. D. S. Wickrema- 

 suriya and the Secretary (Mr. W. de 

 Livera) a Committee to make a repot on 

 the Experimental Garden conducted by 

 Mr. N. A. S. Jayasuriya at Weragoda, 

 where excellent work is said to be going 

 on. 



The Magampattu Branch recently held 

 a meeting to consider what steps should 

 be taken to assist the cultivators who 

 have suffered so much by the failure of 

 seasonal rains, as a result of which the 

 extensive fields at Tissa have failed to 

 mature their crops. A resolution was 

 unanimously adopted at a meeting 

 presided over by the Assistant Govern- 

 ment Agent that an appeal be made 

 to the Parent Society with a view 

 to obtain the loan of a sum sufficient to 

 purchase seed paddy for the next 

 cultivation. A fund started at the 

 meeting was liberally supported, and 

 the Finance Committee of the Board has 

 the question of loan under consideration. 

 Shows. 



In addition to a Special Committee in 

 connection with the All-Ceylon Exhibi- 

 tion of 1912, referred to in the last Pro- 

 gress Report, an Executive Committee to 

 deal with all details connected with the 

 Exhibition has been formed, consisting 

 of the following members :— 

 The Hon'ble the Colonial Secretary 

 The Diiector, Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 The Chiarman, Chamber of Commerce 

 The Hon'ble Mr. Solomon Seneviratne 

 The Hon'ble the Government Agent, 



W. P. 

 Mr. E. B. Denham 

 Mr. H. F. Macmillan 

 Mr. W. Arthur de Silva, and 

 The Secretary. 



The Catalogue of the Exhibition is now 

 under the deliberation of the Special 

 Committee, and will be published 

 shortly. 



A market show was held at Dedigama 

 on the 19th August, which was well 

 patronised in spite of the drought and 

 sickness in the district. A fuller report 

 of this Show will be given in the Agri- 

 cultural Magazine. 



Paddy (Rice) Cultivation. 

 Small consignments of Rascadam, 

 Badsnabog, and of Carolina Golden Rice 

 from the U. S. A. are under experiment 

 in suitable centres. 



