Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist", [October t, i88g< 
there is no reason why we should not grow our own 
when the cultivation is so easy. The onion succeeds 
best in a rich light soil. 
The land tor the onion crop should be thoroughly 
prepared either by ploughing or digging and should be 
entirely free from lumps. The best manure is that 
which is well rotted and fine, so as to be well mixed 
with the boil. The sets (small bulbs) should be 
plautea, either in April or August, in rows eighteen 
inches apart to admit of easy weeding. The sets may 
be put down four inches apart in the rows and the 
ground covered with a layer ot well, rotted cow-dung 
soon after planting. Frequent stirring of the soil 
between the rows during tbe grovptn of the crop is 
beneficial and the land must be carefully kept free 
of weeds. The bulbs are taken up when the leaves 
decay and are thoroughly dried in the shade betore 
puttiDg away. 
NOTES FROM EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS. 
Batticaloa, 31st August 1889. 
I am at present starting the work for a new Agri- 
cultural Inspector who is expected shortly at lllapaya- 
dichenai in the north of Batticaloa. Aj there is a great 
demand for " improved plougus " all throughout the 
Batticaloa district, the Government Agent has ordered 
twenty climax improved ploughs from Messrs. Massy & 
Oo.'s at Madras. These are only R6 each there, and not 
much longer than a month a;;o we leceived halt a 
dozen. I am at present occup'ed with ploughing. At 
my permanent siation some 10 acres are being prepared 
tor cotton planting. The dholl and other plots 
are in good condition. 
S. Chelliah. 
.Akmimana, 4th September 1889. 
The paddy crop of the >ala season has bet n reaped, 
the results, however, not beiug as good as was expected. 
This is evidently owing to the ntavy rains we had 
during the early part of July when the plants were 
in the flowering stags, as well as the damage done 
by the '-; goyan messa " or paddy bug. 
Some of the native cultivaturs have a peculiar idea 
.is tj the paddy blight, and asserts tliat it is due to 
the results of cutting the grass round the fields with 
the sickle. They describe it by the word " Dakatta- 
peyamiawe." Probably a result of this cutting away 
of the grass around a field may be to disturb the 
insects that have been lodging there and s^nd them 
among the paddy, 1 am clearing land tor cotton, 
anowroot and vegetables, and have commenced work 
in the paddy-field for the " inaha " season. The weather 
is rather dry. 
P. Samaranayake. 
Kegalle, 10th September 1889. 
Of the four varieties of cotton planted here, the 
Egyptian and American are now in bud, while the 
Sea-Island and Peruvian are yet small plants. The 
latter, however, look quite healthy with the suitable 
weather they have had. The native variety of Tobacco, 
which I have planted to a small extent, seems to 
thrive well, but the tender leaves are unfortunately 
being destroyed by some insect. Since my last report, 
I have laid a small portion ot land under arrowroot, 
and the young plants are shooting up well. English 
and native vegetable seeds have also been sown with 
what succes 1 hone to; report next month. 
I am endeavouring to extend the Experimental 
Gardens, and have made a new clearing of about | of 
an acre which I intend reserving for dholl. 
The weather during August was very wet, with 
particularly heavy falls of rain during the last iortnight. 
J. W; P. Samakasekere. 
GENERAL ITEMS. 
" It gives me the most profound satisfaction to speak 
of the coble work being done in Ceylou generally by 
Mr. H. W. Green, the Director of Public Instruction, 
and Mr. E. Elliot, Government Agent in the Eastern 
Province. Fame is but an empty name, and monuments 
will decay, but the work thete gentlemen are doing will 
ever remain. The personal attention given by them 
to self-imposed duties in trying to improve the agri- 
cultural interests of the people stands out in such bril- 
liant colours, that one would think that other Govern- 
ment officials in very shame would try to do some- 
thing to help those under their charge. This is prac- 
tical good of the noblest kind. May the highest 
success reward their every effort." — Mr. Powell in " The 
Buddhist." [By the time Mr. Powell completes his tour 
he will no doubt change his opinion that other Govern- 
ment officials are doing nothing to help those under 
their charge — especially in the agricultural affairs. — Ed.] 
Germany is spending probably not less than £100,000 
per annum on agricultural education and experiments. 
The reckless destruction of forests in Prussia ha 8 
lately increased to such an extent, that the Govern" 
ment has issued a law protecting timber throughout 
the empire. In recent jears^this wholesale felling 
of fine woods has completely changed the climate of 
many districts, rendering the country barren and rains 
less. Further, removing the trees from the banks of 
lakes and rivers has loosened the sand and thus shal- 
lowed many harbours and water-courses. 
"Tofu" is a cfmrd manufactured from a bean in 
Japan, and approaches more nearly in its composition 
to animal food than any other vegetable known. It 
contains about one-tiith of i.s weight of fat, and nearly 
two-fifths of nitrogenous matter, having at least 
double the nurient value of beef. The Japanese pro- 
cure this food by soaking and grinding the beans to a 
pulp. Water is added, and the liquor is strained 
through a bag, and brine stirred in. This effects a 
coagulation, and the curd is pressed as in cheese- 
making. The fibrous residue left in the bag is mixed 
with chaff, and used as a food for cattle. The Tofu 
bean has been lately successfully grown in Germany, 
but Mr. Mattntw Williams, a leading scientist says, that 
he has treated cummuu split peas in a similar mauner, 
and has obtained soluble casein, which he precipitated 
with acetic acid. " All kinds of peas and beans, " says 
Mr. Williams, " will yield such soluble casein when 
thus treated, and most valuable food may be thus 
obtained free from woody fibre which is different to 
digest. My experiments point to the possibility of a very 
important industry m the manufacture of a new and 
most desirable foo 1, viz., vegetable cheese. If I am 
not altogether mistaken it may be produced on a 
large scale, at about three pence per pound, and be 
equal, if not superior, to the best cheese made in the 
dairy." 
Sixty thousand pounds for thirty acres of land is 
not (says the Norwich Aryus) so bad in these times. 
This was the price fetched at the mart under Mr. 
A. J. Baker's hammer. Among the property sub- 
mitted was Kidderpore Hall Estate, Hampstead, lot I 
(5 acres) being bought in for £10,750. Sir Spencer 
Maryon Wilson, Bart, the adjoining owner, bought lot 
2 (two acres) for £4,300. The mansion itself and 
thirteen acres fell to Mr. Arthur Yarrow, of Fitzjohn's 
Avenue, for £43,000 after a keen competition. 
Some people doubt the poisonous effect of Nutmeg, 
but several cases of nutmeg poisoning were noted in 
the British Medical Journal during the summer of 
last yea r . A whole nutmeg was taken in four of the 
cases, a n d five whole oues in the remaining case. In 
still another case the use of half a nutmeg in a hot 
drink wa s nearly fatal. 
