1 16 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April 2, 1888. 
least, been the means of the 1st prize being 
awarded to the wrong person, simply because one 
person's exhibits were mixed with another's. 
This letter is altogether too long already, but I 
would like to write a few words about bouquets. 
No doubt many pretty and graceful bouquets are 
made in this country, but I must confess I have 
seen but very few. The worst feature I have 
noticed is to pack the flowers too close together, 
and another equally bad mistake is to crowd in 
too many colours. I write particularly of hand 
bouquets, these should be light with a small handle, 
and every part properly fastened, so that none of 
the flowers would fall out if the bouquet was 
turned sharply upside down. In my opinion not 
more than 3 or 4 different shades of colour should 
be used with fern fronds or other suitable green 
according to the taste of the maker, and these 
should be as firmly fixed as the flowers. The 
whole bouquet with paper should not exceed 15 
inches in diameter or be less than 10 inches. — I am, 
dear sir, yours faithfully, W. NOCK. 
ANTS ON CEOTONS. 
17th Mar. 1888. 
Dear Sib, — I shall be obliged if you can tell 
me of some simple remedy for getting rid of ants 
that settle on, and gradually blight and kill 
crotons (garden ones). — Yours faithfully, 
F. LIESCHING. 
[We referred the inquiry to a practical author- 
ity, who writes : — " I have never been troubled 
with ants in the way Mr. L. states, but I think 
if he syringes them occasionally with tobacco water, 
or with the following : — One wineglaBsful of kerosine 
oil to a gallon of water, well mixed, — he will soon 
get rid of them."— Ed. T. A.] 
FAST-GROWING SHADE FOR COFFEE. 
March 18th, 1888. 
Sib, — Would you or any of your correspondents 
oblige me with advice as to the best quick-growing 
shade for coffee ? The elevation is 4,000 feet — 
Your obedient servant, 
NORTH TRA.VANCORE. 
[Shade at 4,000 feet 1 Only certain trees will 
grow at that elevation. Probably some of the 
Indian figs would answer, Mr. Anderson of Mysore 
went very fully into the question, in a small volume 
some years ago. — Ed. T. A.) 
FRESHWATER FISH, DOGS, AND PORCU- 
PINES. 
Sib, — The big fish I have caught in Ceylon 
streams, and which is certainly dangerous at somt 
period of the year, also very troublesome to eat 
on account of the great number of small hair-like 
bones all through the flesh. I was poisoned by 
the last I ate although it was caught in the morn- 
ing, and I had it for breakfast. I have seen them 
up to 12 lb. The natives called them lelu. — Por- 
cupines can shoot their quills with a vengeance as 
I know, but they shoot the whole body at the 
same time. I once knew a little mongrel bitch that 
was death on them ; she had been more than once 
badly spiked, but so cunning they could not do it 
any more. She so liked to get a young dog with 
her when a porcupine was run down ; they run 
while they can, then stick their head in a hole or 
corner, pat their hind feet like an angry buck 
rabbit, the unwary dogs make at them, when 
whish they go astern, often leaving 3 to G quills 
fast in the poor dog. The little bitch would bark 
and get the young dog to do the attack ; imme- 
diately the porco made the stern rush, she would 
jump in and grab bim by the neck. The hollow 
tubes in the tail are said by natives to be for 
carrying water : this I don't say, but with the bunch, 
8 or 10, they can make a moit horrid row either 
standing or more so running. — Moderate rains and 
weather beautiful, bug commenced again. No hope 
for poor coffee. UDAPUSSELLA.WA. 
RIOB-GROW1NG AT MULLAIT1VU. 
Office of the Director P. I , Colombo, 13th March 1888. 
To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 
Sutj — I have the honor to report that Mr. Hooli \ 
Agricultural Instructor at Mullaittivu, has just reaped 
his paddy crop with the following results: — 
(a) 1J acres, cultivatod with the improved plough 
and sowed broad-cast with 3 bushels of seed paddy, 
yielded 41^ bushela, i. e. approximately 28 bushels an 
acre, the yield being 14 fold. 
(b) f acre, cultivated with the improved plough, but 
" planted out " (instead of sowed broadcast), with 
only 9 seers of paddy gave 39j bushels, i. e. approxim- 
ately 53 bushels an acre, the yield being 14U fold. 
1. The yield of the native crops cultivated with 
the native plough only and not " planted out " is re- 
ported to be 7 fold, or 14 bushels an acre only. 
2. The improved plough, as usual, has thus doubled 
the crop, while the planting out system in addition to 
the new plough has had its usual large results- 
3. Two new ploughs have been brought by the peo- 
ple who saw these results and 15 persons have stated 
that they are going to buy the new ploughs. 
4. I have the honor to ask permission to publish 
these results as before. — I am. &c, 
(Signed; H. W. GREEN, Director. 
IMPROVED PADDY (RICE) CULTIVATION IN 
CEYLON. 
Office of Public Instruction, Colombo, 14th March 1888. 
Sib, — I have the honor to annex for your informa- 
tion copy of a letter No. 72 of 2nd instant, addressed 
by me to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary concerniug 
work done at the branch agricultural school at Minuwan- 
goda. As the subject is interesting to mauy, I should 
be glad if it cDuld find a place in your columns. — I am, 
sir, your obedient servant, H. W. GREEN, Director. 
Result of Paddy Cultivation at Minuwangoda. 
Colombo, 2nd March 1888. 
Sir, — I have the honor to forward copy of a report 
from the Agricultural Instructor at Minuwangoda, and 
of the headman's report, showing results of his paddy 
crops worked on the improved system, and I request 
permission to publish the results for general information. 
2. — It will be seen that by sowing seven bushels 
broadcast in three-and-half acres, we obtained by the 
use of our plough 114 bushels and 12 seers against 62 
bushels from the same sowing and extent worked by 
natives in the same field. That is 16 19-56ths fold 
against 8 6-7ths fold, or roughly 32| bushels an acre 
against 17J bushels an acre. 
3. — By " planting out" in addition to the use of the 
plough we obtained (without manure) 10 bushels and 1 
seer, from 1 seer planted out on a rood of land, i.e. 321 
fold, or, taking bushels to the acre, rather over 40 
bushels to the acre from only 4 seers planted out. 
4. When it is considered that the use of 2 bushels 
(i. e. 64 seers) seed paddy per acre for broad-cast 
sowing produces with our plough 32| bushels, and 
with the native system 17J, and that only 4 seers 
planted out (a 16th part of the amount sowed broad- 
cast) will give 40 bushels an acre, the saving of food 
otherwise wasted for seed and the increased results 
of the planting out system are at once seen. 
5. Owners of large tracts of land object to the "plan- 
ting out" system on account of having to hire coolies. 
6. Dut the numerous owners of tiuy plots of paddy 
laud who do all their cultivation themselves have 
no excuse but idleness or ignorance for not transplant- 
ing, i. e. for not using one or two seers only instead 
of a bushel for sowing tlioir little tracts ; and it is 
these small holders of laud, who are the sufferers 
from scarcity of food.— I am, &c, (Signed) H. W 
Ghken, Direotor. 
