432 
Supplement to the " Troijical Agnculturist;' [Dec. 1, 
monia acts very rapidly and causes the trees to 
throw out a vigorous growth, thereby making an 
increased call on the roots, so that its mo must 
always be followed by that of other manures. In 
order to produce the best effects sulphate of 
ammonia should always be used in conjunction 
with other manures, so that when its stimulating 
affects on the tree are over, the tree has the 
necessary plant food at hand to maintain a vigor- 
ous and healthy growth. Strictly stimulating 
manures such as sulphate of ammonia and soluble 
phosphates should never be applied except when 
the tree is making growth, and they should always 
be followed by slower-acting manures so as to get 
the best permanent results, as it is no use to 
induce a strong growth by means of quickly 
acting soluble manures, if after they have become 
exhausted there is no plant food available for the 
tree to maintain the increased vigour of growth im- 
parted to it by the stimulating manttres. Xitrate 
of soda and nitrate of potash are somewhat similar 
in their action to sulphate of ammonia, and what 
1 have said about tiie use of the latter applies 
equally to them. Old and apparently worn-out 
orange trees can be often entirely renovated, 
provided the roots are sound, by *ollowing out 
such a treatment as I have described, and the 
results in any case will prove much more satis- 
factory than the common plan of using nothing 
but bone-meal. Manuring a tree continually witii 
bone-meal and expecting to get the best results 
by so doing is like feeding a man on nothing but 
bread, and expecting to get as much \\x>ik out 
of him as if he were fed on a properly arranged 
diet, for trees, as men, require an admixture of 
different foods to produce the best results. 
. — « 
THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTUEE. 
DlSTBIBUTION OF PRIZFS. 
The distribution of prizes at the School of 
Agriculture took place on 1st December, Sir 
H. N. Walker presiding, when the following 
Report was submitted by the Principal : — 
The School of Agriculture has now had an 
existence of 10 years, and the policy of the Govern- 
ment in providing the means of an Agricultural 
Education for the natives of the country is at one 
with that of most of the British colonies. So that 
the importance of a preparatory course of study 
for sucli of our youth as have an interest in agri- 
cultural pursuits, is admitted by the majority of 
our colonial rulers. In a paper on "Technical 
and Agticultural Education in the colonies," read 
before the Royal Colonial Institute, the writer 
observes that " he would be a bold man who in 
the last decade of the nineteenth century would 
in the slightest degree undervalue what science 
can and does so largely give to agriculture ; or 
who would argue that because yonder farmer has 
been a successful man, and yet could neither read 
hor write, he owes that success to the absence of 
education. In these days also education (not 
only in the principles which underlie his art but 
in the workings of the markets of the world) is so 
largely used against the farmer, that for the latter 
to neglect it would be the height of foolLshiiess." 
He then goes on to show that as \Vith the lawyer 
or medical man, soldier or sailor, a krtoft'ledge of 
the principles of his art is necfessary to the 
Agricultutiet. John Chalstiers Morton, Oiie of the 
leaders in the agricultural world, said when speak- 
ing before the Society of Arts : — •' The soaud 
preliminary education for which 1 am to argue 
is not only the foundation-stone of a future 
building— it is the .seed of a future life, with influ- 
ence and guidance in it, as m ell as mere security 
and strength. And the agriculturist, whatever th'i- 
distinctive features of his occupation may l>e, will, 
I believe, quite as much as any other busy man, 
benefit by an education which may open his eyei? 
a little wider than they are at present to matters 
which really concern himself, though they may 
seem outside the limits of his day's w<<rk. ^ Such 
are the opinions of those who have made a study 
of this .subject ; and such opinions are the 
securities for the benefits of agricultural educa- 
tion : I do not give them by way of apology for 
the instruction imparted here. 
In this critical age it would seem to be expect«d 
as a matter of course, (and the expectation is 
not uncommonly reali.sed) that individuals and 
bodies (whether educational or otherj should 
defend their position against the attack of critics: 
but if tho.se who have their work to do, and are 
endeavouring to do it to the best of their abilities, 
stay to noti-je and consider how Ijest to meet 
criticism, there will, 1 think, be little work done 
either by the private individual or the Govern- 
ment ollicial. 
The object of the report I am expected to put 
before you today, sir, is to sketch the progress 
of the work done in connection with this school, 
particularly during the past year, and this 1 shall 
proceed to do without weary ing you with details, 
which, however interesting they may be to some, 
would be out of place in a public gathering such 
as this. 
In the school proper many changes have taken 
place within the past year. Mr. Jayawardene, 
whose connection with the school dated from its 
very foundation, left us at the end of last year. 
It is only right I should mention that he rendere<l 
valuable services, particularly in the early days of 
the school's history,and it must be said to hiB credit 
that he was the tirst to attempt to carry on 
improved dairying in conection with the school. 
Mr. AV. A. de Silva has also left us for a 
term, having been sent by the Government to 
prosecute his studies at the Bombay Veterinarj' 
College, where he is doing credit to' himself and 
to this institution where he received his educa- 
tion. Mr. Rodrigo has been transferred to the 
dairy, and he is working zealously there. 
The several vacancies created by these changes 
have been filled to the utmost satisfaction by 
Mr. D. A. Perera, acting headmaster, Mr. Hoole, 
j ifud assistant, and Mr. Samaranayake, native 
instructor. 
Another change of importance as regards the 
curriculum is the addition of a course of veterin- 
ary lectures. Mr. Lye holds a class three times 
a week for the seniors and once a week for the 
junior students. Tliere is little doubt that his 
instruction will prove of value to the boys after 
they leave the school, though it would appear 
desirable that some arrangements should be made 
by which the students will have an opportunity 
of acquiring a more jiractical knowledge of their 
feu'bject. H6w this is to be done— if possible— 
^ill bfe for the Veterinary Surg«on himself to 
deciSe. 
