Dec. 1, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
397 
This shows an average of about 3,500 acres sown 
annually in Vanniya and 4,250 in Mullaittivn. The 
extent sown in the Mullaittivn district proper in 
1858 was 3,830 acres. 
As has already appeared there is a great d'.ffereuce 
in the fertility of lands cultivated under tanks and 
of mauavari lands. The former yield from 5 to 30 
fold, the latter generally not more than 5 to 10 fold. 
According to the estimate given to Mr. Turnour 
in 1807 the following were the rates of yield in the 
different divisions of the 
Vavuniya District. 
Tank land 
Kilakkumulai South 
do 
North 
Nadu.chcheddikulam 
Sinnechcheddikulnm 
Morkumulai 
Panankamam 
Udaiyaur 
Melpattu South 
do East 
15 to 20 fold. 
Average 15 
25 to 30. 
8 to 30 
Average 20. 
6 to 20 
8 to 12 
10 to 30 
15 to 25 
Average 20 
5 to 20 
Mui^LAITTIVU DiSTKICT. 
Karikkaddumulai North^. 
do 
South"! 
Miilliyavalai 
Putukkudiyiruppu 
Karunavalpattu North 
do South 
Tunukkay 
Melpattu North 
Tank land 
Manavari land 
5 to 8 fold 
5 to 20 
Average 12 
do G 
10 to fold G to 10 
15-10 
30 
5 to 15 
10 to 20 
Average 15 
Kilakkumulai North, the Cheddikulams, Udaiyaur 
and Melpattu South in the Vavuniya District and 
Karunavalpattu South in the Mullaittivu District 
would therefore seem to be the most fertile parts, 
and there can be no doubt as to the great fertility 
of the soil of the inland pa:tua generally. Mr. Price 
observes it is impossible to find superior land for any 
cultivation than there is in the district especially 
at Ariyaniadu." . , , j 
But according to the estimate of the headmen the 
average rate of yield is not more than6,»j fold in 
the Vavuniya District and 4J fold in Mullaittivu. 
This is shewn by the following tables.— 
Vavuniya. 
Year 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
•1886 
1887 
1H8.S 
188'.> 
Total 
Extent sown 
Bushels 
G727 
G777 
, 1020G 
7878 
!)-120 
90i0 
7089 
, fi771) 
G730 
Produce 
Bushels 
43470 
35629 
55902 
47241 
7319G 
6G853 
21715 
43293 
50144 
70G4G 
437G43 
Rate 
GJ 
51 
5| 
7 ^ 
GVn 
Mur.i.AirrivtJ. 
Year 
Extent sown 
Bushels 
Produoo 
Bushels 
Rate 
1879 
799G 
24744 
. . . 0 
1880' 
8250 
402G3 
... 4iS 
1881 
SO, 58 
5G537 
... G.V 
1882 
... 10179 
478(J5 
... 4,V 
1HH3 
... 1194:! 
57150 
... 
1884 
... Ilt777 
■i 1 ■.'51 
3 9 
1885 
... l(iT7'.i 
4:'.78G 
... 4"^ 
IS8(; 
... lo-JOO 
49510 
... 4| 
1887 . 
. 10080 
36.543 . 
CO 
1888 
8075 
13299 , 
. If 
1889 
8145 
3.5833 . 
Total 
105088 
4G6784 
There is no doubt however that the headmen 
systematically under-estimate the crop. Mr. Fowler 
calculated this under-estimation to be at the rate of 
J, i.e., a crop of 60,000 bushels would be estimated by 
the headmen at 40,000 bushlea(.(/). And it the esti- 
mated produce is compared with the produce as 
calculated from the amounts for which the rents sell, 
the substanti il accuracy of this view will be confirmed. 
With regard to the question whether the paddy 
produced in the district is sufficient for the want 
of the inhabitants, Mr. Fowler calculated and I 
see no reason for not accepting his calculation, that 
it required not less than C0,000 bushels to meet the 
wants of the district for a year. This would be 
represented in the headmen's estimate by 40,000 
bushels. 
Referring to the figures given above we find that 
there were only 4 years in the period 1879, 1889, 
when the crop fell short of this quantity, viz: — 
in 1879, 1887, 1888 (when the failure was disastrone) 
and 1889. 
THE DROPPING OF THE BUDS OP 
PEACHES, &c. 
This is a calamity to which the Peach tree, as 
raised and grown in gardens in this country, is 
particularly liable, and as to which the best gardeners 
are at variance in regard to the cause and the 
remedy. It will occur in trees in a forcing-house, 
in pots in the orchard-house, and on open walls. 
The mechanical conditions of the soil, apart from 
its special nature, may, and do seem to offer a 
probable cause, in so far as at one time the soil 
may become exhausted of its humus by the previous 
heavy draughts on its store of food supplies by a 
tree in luxuriant growth, or from an inadequate 
amount of water present in it, especially when the 
buds are nearing their full development in the antuinn. 
To go into the woods and forests for an illustra- 
tion, we see something of this kind of effect in the 
sickening of, say. Oaks in a plantation that has been 
greatly thinned out, where previously the trees have 
grown healthily and well. The excessive thinning 
has let in the sun ; there is no dense canopy of 
foliage to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from 
the soil, and the exposure hastens the decay of the 
covering of leaves and leaf-mould, and other soluble 
plant-food on and in the soil, with the effect of hasten- 
ing growth at the top. After a few years the 
vigorous growth of the crown and stem-growths has 
exhausted the stores of plant-food in the soil, the 
upper layer being without sufficient protecting cover- 
ing, dries out quickly in the summer season ; and 
then follows a course of starvation, with the subse- 
quent result, if there is no undergrowth coming on 
to supply the shade that has been lost, that the 
trees die back at the top, and sometimes a whole 
plantation will die out. 
Is there not in the case of our Peach trees some- 
thing that in its inital stage resembles the unfortu- 
nate results, of inordinate tree thinning '.' In the 
case of trees on a wall, or those exposed to the full 
blaze of the sun in a Peach-house, we have some- 
thing that is analogous to the over-thinned trees with 
an uucovei-ed soil, exposed to the fierce rays of the 
sun, evaporating its moisture, and causing a rapid 
decrease of the manurial portions of the same, at 
the same time that a large amount of growth of 
shoot and stem is encouraged, and an exhausting 
crop of fruits taken. 
The gardener who consideis all these points, can, 
and does try to mitigate the evils that are likely to 
arise from his special, and we may say uniialunil, 
or at leau artificial, proceedings; for lio copiously 
waters the soil, not only during the season of growth, 
but afterwards, when tlio trees are about to enter 
