May i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
HOOT DROUGHT IN WINTER. 
As foon as tho great importauco of through drain- 
ago dawned on cultivators, not a few of them rush- 
ed into tho opposite extreme of keeping their plants 
too dry, especially throughout the winter months. 
This was only a natural, though doubtless in not a 
few cisos it has proved a most mischievous re- 
action. 
Possib'y, moro plants have suffered ai d perishi d 
through having uu impossible dormancy forced upon 
tbenj through drought, than through excessive sup- 
plies of water ; while as to fruit crops, it is more 
than probable) far more have been dried than flooded 
oil'. Besides, I he Hooding off is moro or less proble- 
matic, while the drjing off is absolute matter of 
demonstration to all cultivators of experience. The 
contretemps of fruit bud drooping is most common 
among stove fruits. I firmly beliovo, that it mostly 
orginates iu dryness at the roots. No doubt, at times 
it is atmospheric or severe depressions of temper- 
ature chill the buds to such a degree as to lower 
their vitality and loosen their hold of tho branoh- 
letS, or the frost or winds may be so severe or 
stroiiK, as to virtually destn y or wither up the moro 
vitul portion or substance of the blooms on embryo 
Iruit. But fruit-buds are mostly safe from such 
catastrophes or contingencies under glass. On the 
other hand, very low fruit blossoms in tho opon air 
succumb to drought. Tho natural rainfall in our cli- 
mate, unless shed off by artificial means, suffices to 
prevent such losses. But the case is widely different 
with internal fruit borders or plants iu tubs and pots. 
On or iu these, water is given or withheld at will. 
Often it is withheld too soon, and too long to en- 
force early aud higher maturity of growth in the 
autumn, When to this is added a loug spell of 
drought, throughout tho uiiiti r. a very arid condi- 
tion if roots results. When this is carried to excess 
6 tber in degree or duration, there can hardly be a 
doubt that this unnatural dryness becomes] one of 
the most fruitful sources of blid-drooping. 
Possibly, the buds are virtually starved off for lack 
of food and moisture. The sap may become too thick 
en] do. s ; to move or How freely to supply their ur- 
ge ,t wants in time. Before such temporary failures 
cm be made good, the connection between bud and 
plant may be irrevocably severed. This is the more 
I kely ; as, notwithstanding all the nonsense that his 
1 eta written on the rest, sleep, and dormancy of pi n s, 
it s. ems certain that nothing analogous to the ob- 
vious meaning of these words occurs among them; 
00 the contrary, it seems possible, that root-force is 
abnormally active during the so-called dormant seaswn, 
ml certain that the fluids of plants are never at ab- 
solute rest unless inspissated or frozen into solids. 
The former procoss may do accelerated, if not caused 
by, the forcible method of water. Against such fearful 
risks of excessive drought, there are no corresponding 
ndvantngi S to the plants. It is even doubtful how far 
dr. tl.dit at the root hastens or lengthens the maturity 
of tho Wood and buds; that it favours the growth of 
fungus among and on the rocts is ad mi ted by every 
experienced cultivator. It also favours the growth of 
Warts an I canker, as well as hardens the bark and 
lessens tho size of the roots. All this either fetters 
1 0 ituv lunction or fav airs disi a-e, therefore, excessive 
r-otdoight ought to lie avoided. S ■ far as is known, 
moisture at the roots of our fruit trees is good, not 
ivi' — it neither in j' res nor kills. On the contrary, it 
k..|'s the Iruit buds fully Supplied with food and 
w iter, mid go strengthens their hold oil the plant 
Whin if DnsaeS through the criticnl setting pi riod in 
safety. I', r one b id flooded olf, probnblv a hundred 
are starved off. Qui natural water supply is not ex- 
cessive. It is not wntir n>. the loots, but stigimnt 
water, Hint is to bo wane I against; nml the art of 
tuorocgli draining oonsirt' in setting nml keeping the 
water 111 motion among tho roots, not in shedding it 
off the surface of the land, or in lending it by tlio 
shortest cut, nwny from its natural ministry of aid lor 
tho roots, into the nearest ditch or river. — JD, T. Pi -it 
M 
CEYLON AS A BARLli Y-PRODUCING 
COUNTRY. 
Nothing at the recent Nuwara Eliya Show was in 
itself more interesting', than the many exhibits of 
Ceylon-grown barley which the Mtirree Prewery Prize 
produced, and a few words as to the cultivation may 
be interesting. Many years ago, an attempt was made 
to grow wheat at Baker's Farm, but though wheat 
undoubtedly grew there, it was a failure as a crop. 
The climu e of the Nuwara Eliya plain was found to 
be far too wet and windy for corn of any description 
and the attempt was abandoned. Similar results havo 
attended other fitful experiments iu various parts of 
the country until quite recently, when Mr, J. ,\\ 
Howard took over tho management of the Murree 
Brewery in Nuwara Eliya. The equable climate of Uva 
and tlio fertility of much of its soil, early attracted his" 
attention, and suggested to him the possibility tbat 
l arlcy might be grown there as successfully as on the 
plains of India. Seed was given to Dambewinne 
Ratamahntmcya, who interested himself in tho experi- 
ment, and he 1 i-itributed it amongst various cultivators 
in Udakinde, sowing a fair extent himself with the 
gram. The result has exceeded expectations, for, not 
only is tho barley grown in Uva equal in weight' and 
fullness to the home-giown article, but it is found to 
be very much more prolifiic and profitable than paddy 
Those who attended the Nuwara Eliya Show, could not 
fail lo be struck with the very fine i-amples of barley 
which were then exhibited. Iu the opinion of experts, 
they were gene rally inferior in color to English barley' 
but, tested by weight, ttey showed very well, Hy' 
Daml ewinne.'s sample, Which took the first prize, run- 
ning up to 56* lb. the bushel— a very good weight in- 
deed, sei ing that 5<i lb. is considered an average at 
home. The succi ss of the experiment initiated by Mr 
Howard— so far, at all events, as proof that barley of 
good quality can be suceesssully grown iu Ceylon is 
concerned— is complete. It is also placdb eyond doubt, 
tbat it is a more profitable estivation than paddy' 
and we see no reason why ti e Murrei Brewery in 
time should not obtain all their supply of barley 
from Uva, instead of importing it from Bombay. The 
imports of barley from India during the past two years 
have been as follows: — 
Duty 13 cts. Value. 
Bushels. R. R 
18S6 ... 20,892 ... 2,71001 ... 31,3:M-3l 
1867 ... M,5J5 ... 1,8S9'11 ... 21,788.20 
"Wo take it, that the whole of this w as imported on 
account of the Murree Brewtry Company, who must 
be contributing very largely indeed to the revenue, for 
the whole of the goods they require ha' e first to bo 
carried ovur our costly line to Nuwara Eliya and then 
to be conveyed, very much increased in bulk, all thn 
way back to the coist again. Of course, if these he. vy 
transport charges cau be avoi led iu the case of barley 
it will pay the Brewery to encourage its local cultiva- 
tion, an 1 will euablo them to offer a very much high- 
er pi ice than it would cost laid down in Colombo. 
"We 1111 lerstaml, that all tho last crop has been taken 
over by Mr. Howard at the rate of b3 per bushel 
about three times the valuo of village paddy— so that 
the cultivators have done extremely well with their 
first venture, and there is little doubt that their example 
will be followed by numbers of others. The field before 
local cult vntors is not large, for it is unlikely that tho 
grain will evor be grown so chenply as to render it 
possible to export it at n profit; but the requirements, 
of the local brewery are not small, ami it, us we are 
informed, they u-u about 15,000 bushels annu .llv, 700 
acres of land now lying idle; might he very profitably 
employed in producing this quantity of barley. 1 he 
locality where the cultivation has been s 1 m c e-stui, 
is in tho vicinity of Wcllnmudtle, on tho Nuwnrn Eliya- 
Badillla road. Hollows uro scl' ct. d w in rev, r the soil 
is good, nml the jungle-growth ii 'chenaed an I cl ared, 
and as far a* possible ploughed mil sown. Tho b< st 
time for lb s is proved to bo November, when the 
worst of the north -enst raoiixiuii r.iins are over and 
tho soil is soft aud workable. Tho young grain gets the 
last showers of tho mousoon when it is green aud 
