May i) 1890] Supptemcntto the "Tropical Agriculturist." 
797 
experiments carried on at Uva in 1887 a? reported in the 
"Times" have proved to be very encouraging. "Seed was 
given to Dambewinne R. M., who interested himself 
in the experiment, and he distributed amongst various 
cultivators in Udakinde, sowiDg a fair extent himself 
with the grain. The result has exceeded expectations, 
for not only is the barley grown in Uva equal in 
weight and fullness to the bome-grown article, but 
it is found to be very much more prolific and pro- 
fitable than paddy.'' The sample of barley which was 
exhibited by the R. M. was said to have weighed 56£ lb 
per bushel, whilst the average in England is said to 
be 54 lb., and the finest sample of malting barley (in 
one year) in England wieghed 57 lb. per bushel accord, 
ing to Prof. Tanner. This shows that the Uva dis- 
trict is capable of producing barley of superior quality. 
The cultivators bad hardly any practice to guide 
them in this instance, but when used to it and the 
character of the plant better understood, there 
is no doubt that still better results would be obtjined 
The soils best suited for the cultivation of barley 
are moist, strong, not too cohesive soils, perfectly 
free from weeds ; and such soils are not absent in this 
isand, in the milder climates. Moreover, barley is 
known to be a surface feeder, and it takes up 
materials only from the surface soil, 
Th e seasons should be regulated as those for paddy, 
as an excess of rain induces the barley plant to run 
into a strong growth of straw. This may be arrested 
with suitable treatment, but it is always advisable to 
remedy it by regulating the season than by any other 
treatment. The regulation of the season is one of the 
most important points which should be borne in mind in 
making the goyiyas to adopt any new cultivation. If 
they fail in their first experiment, by whatever cause 
it may be, it is a difficult task to make them try it 
again, or believe in the true cause of the failure. 
In case the regulation of the season fails, and there 
are apprehensions of rain, the crop could be saved by a 
judicious treatment of an application of a slight 
dressing of salt to the soil, sown as soon as the seed 
barley has been put in. The good result from this 
proceeding is due to the steady check which the salt 
gives to vegetation, inducing a slower, steadier and 
firmer growth, tending to throw the crop into a seed- 
bearing condition. 
Another important condition on which the success 
of a crop of barley depends is the p. opt r preparation 
of the seed bed. All grains do require a properly-pre- 
pared seed bed, but barley is said to be more s ensitive 
in this respect. From some experiments recorded b 
Prof. Tanner on the cultivatio 1 of birley in England, he 
shows that in one instance where barley was sown on a 
well-prepared plot and a badly»pre|)ared.,plqt ou the 
same field, the yield was 40 bushels and 24 bushels per 
acre respectively, and the weight of a bushel of grain 
was 68*. lb. and 54 lb, 
Several reasons go to commead the cultivation o f 
*his gruin in su?h placos as Uva where the climate 
agreeable, among which may be mentioned the suit- 
ability of the soil, the non-requirement of irrigation 
water, and the good crops and prices obtainable for 
the produot. 
The large yield obtained during 1887 is thus re- 
ported in the T. A : — " Messrs. Fernando who obtained 
the 2nd prize and sowed less than 5 bushels over 
8 acre obtained 150 bushels equivalent to about 33 
fold or 18J bushels per acre." This serves as an example 
of crop obtainable. 
As there is a demand at the local brewery, there is 
no doubt that this grain could be added withadvantag-e 
to the list of those cultivated in Uva. 
, — & 
DHALL. 
Almost all kinds of soil are suitable to Dh all cul- 
tivation, but as the plant belongs to the natural 
order Leguminosce, land in which lime predominate 
most favours successful growth, and analyses tend 
to prove this. The villagers about Batticaloa 
having seen that the plant can be grown without 
much trouble and attention, have taken to the cul- 
tivation of dhall on the plots of land surrounding 
their dwellings. They use the seed of the legume, 
of which there is nearly a constant supply through- 
out the year, for consumption after its preparation 
into a most wholesome and palatable curry. In cul- 
tivation, the seed is either first sown broadcast in 
a prepared bed and then transplanted when the plants 
are about a foot and half high, or the seeds are 
drilled in rows at a distance of 3 feet by 2 yards. The 
work of transplanting is generally done in the evening. 
The seedlings are watered morning and evening 
every day for about a fortnight, and well-rotted dung 
is the only manure required. It is best to begin the 
cultivation of dhall when the north-east monsoon 
seta in. The trees begin to flower when about 3 or 
4 months old, and when the fruits are dry they 
are plucked and exposed to the sun. The seeds are 
separated from the pods, and the husk removed from 
the seed as follows, The dried seeds should be 
scaked in water made muddy with red earth which 
is' very common in this district, and allowed to re- 
main thus for two hours. They should then bo re- 
moved from the water and placed in a heap, and the 
muddy water gradually sprinkled over the heap, which 
should be left standing for a night. Next morning 
the heap must be broken up and the seeds placed in the 
sun to dry. The earth should be removed by win- 
nowing and the dhall seeds collected and put into 
a pounding- machine, consisting of two grinding stones, 
one fixed and the other movable; the latter work- 
ing round an iron rod fixed to the former. The seeds 
are fed into the space between the iron rod and the 
upper grinder which is then set in motion by a 
handle. The seeds get in between the two surface of 
the grinders which meet each other and the beans 
are broken up. The broken seeds are now again 
winnowed and tho husk removed, Any sand or 
