THE MAGAZINE 
OF 
THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, 
COLOMBO 
Added as a Supplement monthly to the "TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
The following pages include the contents of theMagazine of the School of 
Agriculture for June : — 
A EETEOSPECT. 
In adopting this title it is not our intention to 
trace the History of Agriculture in Ceylon from the 
remotest times, but to look back and note what 
Agricultural events worthy of record have taken place 
during the past year in connection with our work iu 
the School of Agriculture. The present number of the 
Magazine completes the first volume of the publication 
and the first year of its existence. It was started in 
July last with a double issue to meet the requirements 
of both English and Sinhalese-speaking cultivators, its 
main object being to present the scientific side of 
Agriculture to practical men, to encourage the improve- 
ment and development of Agriculture in directions 
which have hitherto been little, if at all, recognised, 
and to record facts of whatever nature that would be 
interesting to the Agriculturist. So far it is encourag- 
ing to note that our efforts have been appreciated, and 
subscribers in all parts of the Island have supported 
us. Our Magazine has come within the reach of those 
who, having their sole interest in Agriculture, have 
hitherto found no means of widening their knowledge 
of Agricultural matters, because no publication they 
had access to, gave them an opportunity of knowing 
more ; or because they were not able to get the in- 
formation they sought presented to them in a form 
that they could appreciate, or at a price which they 
could afford to pay. To the Government Agents in- 
terested in the welfare of the Agricultural classes, 
we owe our thanks for the help they have afforded 
us in introducing our Magazine to the landowners in 
their provinces. If but our subscribers do us the 
justice of paying their annual subscriptions when 
they fall due — and we must acknowledge that the 
majority have treated us handsomely in this respect — 
we need apprehend no fiuanoial crisis that so generally 
threatens suoh projeots in Ceylon, We fear we appear 
egotistic in taking up so much space in this reference 
to ourselves, but a note about the first Agricultural 
Magazine started in the island cannot be out of place 
in an Agricultural retrospect. 
The work at the school has been carried on with 
much energy by all the masters, and the students 
have always shown a lively interest in their studies 
and field-work. Six students passed the final exami- 
nation in December last, when the prizes were dis- 
tributed by H. E. the Governor in the presence of 
a larg6 assembly. Four students received first clas 
certificates, and two received second class certificates.- 
With the departure of Sir Arthur Gordon we lose 
a Euler who always had the interests of the Agri- 
cultural classes and the improvement of Agriculture 
before him in the policy of his Government. 
The students have taken much pains in the fitting 
up of the School Museum, which now shows a very 
fair collection of specimens illustrative of Agricultural 
Science. A Society for holding meetings with the 
object of discussing Agricultural subjects has also been 
formed and meets every Friday night ; and it has so 
far progressed that a number of outsiders interested 
in Agriculture have expressed a desire to become 
members of it. 
The Agricultural instructors (9 in number) in various 
parts of the island have been almost without exception 
successful in their work ; and are doing much to intro- 
duce the improved method of cultivation to native 
Agriculturists, as well as to extend the cultivation of 
such crops as cotton, dhall, arrowroot, and the like, 
which are capable of being raised successfully in most 
parts of the island, aud of yielding good returns. The 
result of their worlc, though by no means startling, 
is a steady tendency on the part of native cultivators 
to ameliorate their condition by the adoption of those 
means which arc being practically worked out before 
their very eyea, 
