THE MAQAZINB 
OF 
Tf)G mWOL OF AGHK^ULTUHG, 
COLOMBO. 
4cZc^e(i as « Supplement monthly to the " TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST:* 
The following pages include the contents of the Magazine of the School of 
Agriculture for September : — 
Vol. v.] 
SEPTEMBER, 1893. 
[No 3. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
E mentioned some time ago tliat 
we were favoured with tiie loan 
of some American implements 
for trial, through the kindness of 
Messrs. W. H. Davies & Co. 
These, viz., the " Planet, jr.," double-wheel hoe, 
the single-wheel hoe with cultivator and rake 
and plough attachments, and the standard horse- 
hoe and cultivator combined have now received 
a fair trial. While we do not hesitate to say 
that the last mentioned is rather too cumbrous 
an implement for our cattle, the two former 
are undoubtedly excellent little machines easily 
worked by a man, and doing effective work 
which saves much time. The great point about 
these is that they are moderately priced and are 
admirably adapted for garden cultivation. 
We note with pleasure that the idea of a Zoo- 
logical Garden for Colombo has been revived. 
We trust the matter will not be allowed to drop 
out of sight, and that Colombo will not be long 
wanting in one of the most interesting and 
entertaining institutions of a city. 
The present want of rain is telling badly on 
all forms of vegetation in the country. In the 
Colombo district there is a dearth of fodder for 
cattle, as the cultivated and natural grasses are 
fast dying out for want of moisture. 
We hear of tsvo or three projects for starting 
dairies on an approved system. We wish them 
all success, and do not hesitate to say that if 
tlie concerns are properly managed, they will 
yield handsome returns. 
Nothing practical has yet come out of the 
discussion on the " Dairies' Supervision Act of New 
South Wales." It is to be hoped that the matter 
of controlling the dairies and cattle sheds of the 
city will be carefully considered in all its 
bearings, so that a workable ordinance will 
before long be the result. j;.^ 
It ha? been recommended that the Colonial 
Veterinary Surgeon should supervise the slaugh- 
tering of cattle in Colombo and inspect the meat 
before it passes into the markers. Any pro- 
posal with the object of ensuring an improved 
meat supply deserves to be heartily supported- 
Cattle disease was prevailing in August in th« 
Negombo and Mirigama district.^. The Veterinary 
Surgeon visited both these infected areas. 
The School of Agriculture reopened, after the 
Midsummer holidays, on the 21st August, and 
work will be carried on now till the Christmas 
holidays without a break. 
TREATMENT OP LIQUID MANURE. 
Dr. J. H. Vogel recommends the following for 
fixing and preserving the readily decomposable 
nitrogen compounds occurring in urine : — The 
liquid manure is allowed to collect in a suitable 
vessel, and sulphuric acid is then added sufficient 
to fix the contained nitrogen. Wlien the vessel is 
full, the liquid manure is carted to a place pre- 
pared for its reception by heaping dry mould (or 
peaty soil) on to a concrete floor to a height of 
20 inches. The spot should be protected from 
rain by a light roof. About 1 cwt. of mould may 
be conveniently used for every 56 gallons liquid 
manure. Whilst the vessel employed is filliug 
again, which will take, say 14 days, the saturated 
mould should be turned over with a spade ev«ry 
