November i, i88b\"j THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
then, tho mediants should agree amongst themselves 
to buy only according to quality and care be taken 
to separate tho good from the inferior, we foel con- 
vinced that a bealthy reaction would boon take place 
and that Burmese and Chinese would bo forced to 
offer a good pure and unadulterated article in the 
market. We may again have occasion to refer to 
this .subject and will probably write a few words 
on the manufacture of Slab Cutch. — Rangoon Gazette. 
♦ 
THE MAT ALE AGRI-HORTICULTURAL 
EXHIBITION. 
(Communicated.) 
The Agricultural Society of Matale is to be con- 
gratulated on the financial success of its second 
Exhibition, the subscriptions exceed RCOO and over 
R450 was collected at the gate during tbe three dayB 
ol the Show. However, the luraoured agricultural and 
industrial advancement of the district cannot bo traced 
from tho poor display of exhibits that were placed on 
tho tables. The quantity and quality were much inferior 
to lust year. It can only bo called a pleasant social 
gathering, where old friends met to renew the happy 
seem sin tho days of old King Coffee. I would advise 
this Society to rest for the next three years and give 
other places a chance of coming forward. Tho refresh- 
ment arrangements were nil and severely commented 
upon by all the visitors. Few could procure a cup of tea. 
Mr. D. Joseph's cateriug was of the poorest description. 
As I turn over the pages of the catalogue a few notes 
on tho different classes may interest those that were 
not present. 
Class I.— Garden Perennials in pots. 
Poorly represented. Only 2 exhibits that received 
awards, nhown by Mr. Greve stationraaster, who is a 
worthy example to all— a true lloristand keen cultivator. 
1 have not seen a more tastefully arranged garden inCey- 
lou, aud at present the display of bloom is magnificent 
and well worth a journey to Matale. Two exhibits 
of roses in pots were brought inside tho buildings, 
aud how the owners ever imagined the Judges were 
to award honours to such rubbish remains a puzzle. 
Class II.— Garden Annuals in Pots. 
One exhibit from Mr. Greve. 
Class III. — Ferns and Orchids. 
One poor collection from Mr. Greve. 8 orchids 
from Nuwara Eliya district were very creditable. 
9 good specimens of golden fern and 1 adiantum 
farleyensi came- from Colombo, tho only good plants 
in ttie Show, 
Class IV.— Foliage Plants. 
3 exhibits of miserably grown i-tuff. 
Class V.— Cut Flowers. 
Roses : One good exhibit from Mr. Reeves, large 
blooms, but badly shaped. Stands of phlox, hibiscus 
with some new forms? Zimias, chrysanthe- 
mums, and Indian pinks from Mr. Hnxley, ar- 
ranged with great taste in prop, r flower boxes. 
Mr. Grove's exhibits were also well-shown. Mr. 
Barber exhibitod sevoral nice boxes of flowers 
growu at Ukkuwala. Bouquets and robin <1 '-oration 
wero tho most heterogeneous and vul^.i macs 
of flowers I have ever Been on n table. After all 
tho advice given by Mr. Nock in your columns, 
oue would expect to seo improvement in tasto 
of colour and arrangement. Tho most of tho 
bouquets resembled a cabbage bead. Somo neat 
buttonhole bouquets wero sent by Miss Greve, much 
improved with the addition of grasses. 
Olash VI.-Veuetahi.es. 
MiMTid.ly shown. Only '.' collections, ouo grown in 
Maul- de-ti ict by Mrs. Booth, " who does everything 
JWH." The other from Nuwara Eliya by Mr. Whyte. 
Initiators thru rntrii . 
Class VII. — Fnurr. 
» ery poor, everything greeu and unfit to place on 
a tin.,. , r 
Oun VIII.— Native Pueim is. 
Ono would e , poet to hoo this class to perfection in 
■MB ft prodnolivo diHtnet ni Matale. The " Trc- 
miin.lo' addi. ,,i rond to Sir Arthur Uordou by tho 
worthy laird ot I oindamp d.i nm t have boiu pre- 
1 ared before thu composer visited tho Show, otherwise 
the superlative lauguage U3ed in expressing the re- 
sources of the district might have been considerably 
modified. Tho request for an additional train drew 
forth a real "sardouicus risus" from the viceregal party. 
Only 3 collections of paddy and rice were staged tor tho 
gold medal. iNuts and other small grain, very indifferent. 
Class IX. — Estate Products. 
2 entries for the collection, and the prize lot con- 
tained nothing worthy of special notice. 
The samples of tea were very good, both fancy and 
commercial ; but a poor representation under a dozen 
exhibitors. 
Colfee Arabica 3 samples, small-fized bean. 
Liboriau 4 samples. The prize lot from Matale 
North estates vory fair. 
Cocoa 4 entries. The finest sample beiu# disquali- 
fied, as the judges doclared it was picked. The exhi- 
bitor denied the charge. 
Cardamoms a few good samples, but the best lotj 
were over steamed and boiled. Strange that grower 
will not produce the fruit in its natural state. Any 
artificial preparation destroys the flavour of this valu- 
able spice. 
Cinchona 3 exhibits. The succirubra from Mr. Mac- 
Farlane, Maskoliya, was very tint*. 
The anuatto exhibit from Crystal Hill was very 
interesting. 
Vanilla, iudiarubber and pepper comprised a few 
samples. 
Tobacco leaf from Mr. Vollar was fiue aud well cured. 
Cigars. — Bandarapola sent an exhibit of green aud 
uncured leaf, a very spotted looking article. I consider 
this class the worst represented in the Exhibition. 
Class X. — Live Stock. 
Few entries, and those shown wretched specimous, 
except two cows which were in good condition. 
Poultry and Ducks. — A' few good peus. 
Fresh Butter, judged by Mrs. Watt, Mrs. Williams, 
and Mrs. Alexander. 6 entries, all excellent quality 
and keenly contested by ladies from the granite 
county, and well they upheld the renowned fame of 
that agricultural county, Aberdeen. The egg award 
went to another Aberdouiau. Beagles were represented 
by 2 mangy couples. 
Class XI. — Arts and Manufactures. 
Gold, silver and brass work comprised some lots of 
beautiful workmauship and artistic designs. 
Jewellery, in the usual Ceylon style, were displayed. 
Ivory carving, included a beautiful exhibit Irom a 
wihara in N.-W. Province. 
Pottery and Mats.— Chiefly the ugly red aud yellow 
pots made about Kandy. 
Woodwork. — An exceedingly neat collodion of fret- 
work was shown by Col. -Ser. Dorau, Kandy, aud some 
small tables inlaid with Ceylon woods were exhibited 
by tho Industrial School, Kandy, but defective in 
arranging the colours. The faucy work from R. 0. 
Convent, Matale, was very pretty, aud I ob.-orved 
several nice samples of woolen articles. Flauters, 
" bachelors iu particular," can be well suited there 
with a useful pair of hose, at a moderate cost. 
Mending is also undertaken. 
Tho laco and embroidery work was beautiful. 
Class XII.— Bazaar. 
Beef aud mutton &c, two entries. 
Class XIII.— Preserves. 
4 oxhibits for this class and one good set of preserves 
received an award from the fair judges. 
Class XIV. — Miscellaneous. 
Tea Brand.— Three competitors tutered for this 
prize, but the judges considered the suggestions too 
poor to award any prize. 
Messrs. Skeen & Co. exhibited a collection of photo- 
graphs iu neat frames, mostly native women iu a state 
of nudity. 
A considerable amount of discussiou arose over 
the tea exhibits, as the Committee members in 
charge of Class IX disqualified certain teas from the 
chief prize, as di\>t was not mentioned in the invoices. 
Captain Williams's and Mr. Barber's Tea Sn ii.hs wa.. 
tln> only machinery in tbe Exhibition. A prt paration et 
delicious chocolate was manufactured in tho .-bed uear 
the machiuery. 
