426 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist:' [Dec. 1, 1893. 
present conditions of milk-supply in the island, the 
native milkman is never at a loss to dispose of his 
milk, and the returns he gets are good enough 
for him. But the case of the houseliolder-owuer 
is very different, for by learning more about the 
management and treatment of milch cattle, he or 
ghe will not only be able to secure a more satis- 
factory (in every sense) sup])ly of milk, hut also 
gain in another way, by owning a few good cows 
that will vfiffularli/ come into milk, and 
may be depended on to milk tiirough a certain 
period. We may here refer to tlie prejudice tliat 
there exists in Ceylon against gel l ing tin; cow 
into calf before she is almost dry, a prejudice 
■which if generally prevalent, will upset all systems 
of dairying throughout tlie world, and make 
dairying a most unprofitable concern. If 
householders knew tliat a continual supply 
of milk can for many years he obtained i)y 
keeping three cows and bringing them into inill^ 
in rotation, they may possitjly he inclined to dro]) 
the expensive system of buying a cow for H80 and 
selling her after fci months for R'2'>, and repeating 
this every 6 months, with all tlie trouble, worry 
and disappointment, and often loss, involved in 
purchasing milch cattle at such short intervals. 
The serious point, however, about all this is that 
the present ignorance as regards cattle manage- 
ment, some of the results of which (so far as the 
inconveniences and expeusc they entail are con- 
sidered) we have indicated above, is tending 
towards thedeterioratiou evenof tliii animals iiiport- 
ed into the island. A better knowledge of cattle 
we say, will obviate this tendency, and, moreover, 
be the means of saving a deal of trouble and ex- 
pense (not to say that it will be a source of 
pleasure) to all who keep tliem. The masters of 
households cannot perhaps bi expected to hud time 
to gire attention to household duties, of which the 
management of milch cows forms a part ; 
but it is without doubt a dutj' of tlie lady or 
daughters of the house to acquire a better 
knowledge of this subject. Much time that is 
spent in a desire for something to do or wasted in 
an unprofitable manner, can in this way be turned 
to useful account, in the practice of true 
domestic economy. It is only a false pride that 
will look upon such an occupation as looking 
after a domestic animal (of more account than a 
lap dog) as a disgrace. AVe need not cite instances 
of ladies, copied as examples in other 
respects, who find an interest in and give a good 
deal of attention to dairying in all its branches. 
In England and Scotland a movement has been 
set on foot by which lectures and practical classes 
with reference to dairying have been inaugurated 
specially for ladies. In these days of progress, 
with lady doctors and lady signallers, it would 
not perhaps be too much to e.xpect our ladies to 
attend a course of technical lectures on dairying 
and the management of milch cattle in Ceylon. 
♦ 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a 
small parcel of seeds of the American dewberry 
(Rubus trivialis) which has been successfully 
introduced into North India. It is doubtful 
whether the dewberry will thrive in the climate 
of Ceylon, though it is possible that some parts 
.Qf.the^Islaad wiU be found suitable, 
We have also to thank Mr. W. A. de 8ilva ut 
present in Bombay for parcels of eevds of tli« 
opium poppy {Pajmvtr nomni/erutn) and of 
(luiziitia oleifera (known in India as ramie) as 
well as seeds of some garden shrul)s. 
The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon left for India 
on the iHth of last month on a brief holiday. 
While away Afr. Lye will arrange for the impor- 
tation of a second batch of cows for the (Jovern- 
ment Dairy, since the first lot that came from thn 
Bombay Presidency turned out so satisfHctors 
and profitable. 
A pure bred Aden bull sent from the J'.tona 
Dairy farm was added to the stud at jire^eut kept 
at the School of Agriculture. 
The annual examination's at the Sciiool came oft 
during the latter part of last luontli, and the 
Scliool closed at the end of the month for the- 
December holidays. 
An unexpected enemy to liicirne has appealed 
in the field mouse. Hitherto trouble was given 
by this i)est (whicli sometimes does a good deal of 
injury to paddy crops) owing to its partiality 
for seeds planted in nurseries, but it ha* only of 
late found an agreeable food ifi the fleshy root* of 
the older lucerne plants. 
FRUIT CULTURE. 
The climate of Ceylon is peculiarly adapted to 
the growth of a large variety of delicious and 
wliolesom} fruits. Many foreign fruits, such as 
peaches, plums, apples, pears, ftgs, &c., that will 
not grow in the lowcountry thrive well in the 
hilly districts. The grafted apples and phimr* 
grown by Mr. Nock at llakgaia and the nice 
pears and peaches at Roehampton and Happy 
Valley in Ilaputale are worthy of special notice. 
It is not, however, about the fruits that are 
grown upcountry, but of those that are grown 
in the lowlying districts, that I wish to make a 
few remarks. 
The South-West of the Island with its rich 
soil and moist and warm climate is well suited 
for the growth of tropical fruits ; and excellent 
varieties not only of oranges, mangoes, pineapples, 
pomegranates, &c., but also of thi rarer kinds 
such as mangosteen and sapodilla are grown here. 
Fruit culture, liowever, is in a very backward 
condition in the lowcountry. No d'oub"., much 
has been done by Dr. Trimen and his assistants 
to extend the cultivation of fruit by giving out 
plants from the Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, 
Henaratgoda, &c. But considering the capabilities 
of the soil and climate of the South and West of 
our Island, it is evident that much more remains 
to be done in this direction. I have heard that an 
energetic Government Agent of one of our newly- 
opened Provinces, in order to encourage fruit 
culture, exempts poor villagers from the payment 
of poll tax if they were to grow some good and 
rare fruit trees, such as mangosteen, in their 
gardens. It is highly desirable that the Govern- 
ment Agents and their assistants should encour- 
age fruit culture as much as they can. 
When I was in the Southern Province some years 
ago, at the request of Mr. H, P. Baunigartue:,-i.ae 
