282 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist." [Oct. 2, 1893. 
some students to help liim, can be dispatched, free 
of cost in the first instance, to various agricultural 
villages, with the object of demonstrating such 
processes as it may seem desirable to introduce 
into the cultivation of the land as practised by 
the natives. With a properly organised system 
for the improvement of native agriculture, not 
merely by introducing new methods for the pre- 
paration of the land, but in very many other ways 
which we have before referred to, we are confident 
that much can be done for the goyiyas of Ceylon, 
which will tend to materially ameliorate their 
generally-wretched lot. The first necessity in or- 
ganizing such a system is a thorough acquaintance 
with the present practices and future needs of the 
people in different villages, the conditions and 
capabilities of the soils, the facilities obtainable 
in the districts, and many other circumstances. 
And we are convinced that without the prelimi- 
nary knowledge which we have indicated as 
essential, any attempts at administration for 
agricultural improvement must be weak. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
We hail with pleasure tlie appearance of the 
first volume of Dr. Trimen's new work on the 
^' Flora of Ceylon," which, from tlie exhaustive 
manner in which he deals witli tlie subjects, will 
have a wider interest than botanical works ordi- 
narily possess, for not only will tlie Botanist but 
also the Forester and Agriculturist find a valuable 
handbook in the work of our Director. Without 
intending to give support to the doctrine of evolu- 
tion in plants, we make the following quotation 
from Dr. Fream's work on Agriculture in support 
of our opinion : — "In the botanical classification 
of plants, the attempt is made to arrange 
together those plants whose structural characters 
most nearly resemble eacli other. In this way 
natural groups are formed, the members of which 
may, it is quite possible, have spriuig, in some 
period of the remote past, from a common ancestor. 
Plants which are allied to each other usually 
require the same kind of food. They are often 
liable to attack by the same kinds of insects, and 
fall a prey to the same kinds of fungoid and 
other parasitical pests. Hence the use to the 
grower of learning the relationships of plants." 
Mr. Manchanayake writes from Kuala Lumpur: 
-I—" 1 send a parcel containing some seeds, and two 
Specimens of 'Ginseng' root. It is a most difficult 
matter to get the seed of the latter plant. There are 
different names for the product of different coun- 
tries. For instance, there is the 1st quality Corean 
and 2nd quality Corean, 1st quality Japan and rind 
quality Japan, each distinguished from the other. 
Of the two specimens sent, the smaller and 
darker one, with the accompanying leaves, is the 
2ad quality Corean, while the other is 3rd class 
Ginseng and is not very dear. The first quality of 
the root is not found in any of the markets here. 
The Chinese assert that they have never seen 
Ginseng seed, and they claim extraordinary pro- 
perties for the substance. They say that the 
plant is never cultivated but grows wild in the 
hilly parts of the Corea, China and Japan, though 
a tax is levied on the collecting of it. I am told, 
with what truth I cau't say, that about an ounce. 
of good Ginseng is sold for from 15 to 100 dollars, 
and sometimes more. I procured the specimeiu 
sent with much difficulty. A Chinese friend of 
mine, who has lately come from China, promises 
that he will make enquiries about the possibility 
of procuring seed, and let me know." 
The curious bufifalo-head-like seeds sent by Mr. 
Manchanayake, and whicli he describes as from 
a plant growing in water, and furnishing a food 
after they are boiled, are those of Trapa IticomU, 
before referred to in the pages of the Magarine. 
The other seeds are of the well-known and deli- 
ci3us lichi fruit. 
Everj'thing has gone well with the Government 
Dairy since it was started. The daily output of 
milk has now reached about :?60 bottles, that is a 
little over 40 gallons. 
The Veterinary Surgeon's report for 1893 is an 
interesting production, in that it describes in a 
fairly exhaustive manner the two most fatal 
diseases which attack stock in Ceylon, namely 
the so-called " Murrain " and " Kandamale." The 
former Mr. Lye terms P/?eio»<y Euteriti* Contngio%a 
Bovis or cattle-typhoid, a specific malignant and 
highly-contagious fever, chiefly affecting the in- 
testines, and also the lungs and stomach. The 
latter which our correspondent ^\ . A. D. S. is in- 
clined to set down as a form of anthrax, is de- 
scribed by Mr. Lye as Pharyngo laryngitia conta- 
giosa, an acute malignant febrile disease charac- 
terised by elevation of temperature and dj'spnoea, 
associated with swelling of the internal and exter- 
nal structures of the throat- 
The following is the curative treatment recom- 
mended by the Veterinary Surgeon for " Mur- 
rain": — Either of the following mixtures to be ad- 
ministered at the first indication of the disease : — 
(Ij Sulphate of Quinine .. 1 drachm 
Nitrate of Potash . . 2 do 
Sulphate of Magnesia . . 8 do 
Powdered Aconite leaves 2 do 
Water or gruel . . 1 pint 
To be given twice daily. 
(2) Carbolic Acid . . 1 drachm 
Chlorate of Potash . , 2 do 
Sulphate of Quinine . . 1 do 
Water or guel . . 1 pint 
To be given twice daily. 
The treatment recommended for " Kandamale " 
is: — 
(1) Internally. Nitrate of Potash 2 drachms 
Chlorate of Potash 2 do 
To be well mixed and placed on the animal's 
tongue twice daily, or to be tied in a little muslin 
bag and secured in the mouth by means of a cord 
passed round the bonis ; -iud where possible in- 
halation of steam should be tried. 
(2j Externally. Powerful counter-irritants, 
such as mustard or mustard and turpentine 
mixed, so as to form a thick paste, and thoroughly 
rubbed in ; if hot water can be procured the 
throat should be well bathed before the irritant is 
applied, or the throat should be scarified with a 
knife or hot iron, and the juice of powdered chillies 
well rubbed into the excoriations thus made, 
