856 
Supplement to the Tropical AffricuUurist.^* [June 1, 1894. 
Mr. W. A. de Silva arrived in Colombo on the 
26th ultimo, after having completed his course at 
the Bombay Veterinary College with great credit to 
himself. We welcome back Mr. de Silva, and 
trust he will have a successful career in the Island, 
where tliere is ample opportunity of making 
himself eminently useful. 
Thirty head of Siud cows arrived by tlie S. S. 
"Melpomene " in charge of Mr. W. A. de 8ilva. 
The animals are a well-selected lot, and will lielp 
to make the Government Dairy herd without 
exception tlie most valuable collection in the 
Island. 
The sale of stock, drafted from tlie Dairy herd 
last moutli, was most satisfactory. The animals 
were eagerly sought after and realized excellent 
prices. The di.ssemination of the Sind calves 
throughout the Island should help to raise up 
a better class of cattle. 
The following is a statement of the results of 
the sale:— 
Calves. 
Age 
o 
Mos 
m 
1 Male 
12 
Sind 
2 do. 
12 
do 
3 do. 
12 
do 
4 do. 
11 
Coast 
6 do. 
12 
Sind 
6 do. 
11 
do 
7 do. 
11 
do 
8 do. 
11 
do 
9 do. 
8 
do 
10 do. 
11 
Coast 
11 do. 
13 
do 
12 do. 
11 
do 
13 do. 
11 
do 
14 Femal 
e 11 
do 
15 do. 
11 
do 
16 do. 
11 
do 
17 Male 
11 
Native 
PurcbasotB. 
Mr. P. I). ,S. Javawardaue 
do. 
Mr. A. de. Hoysa 
Mr. Geo. Meiidis 
Dr. Bofkuood 
Mr. .lolin Clovis do Silva 
Mr. J. W. Viuidersfraateu 
Mr. J. H. Barber 
Dr. Stork 
Mr. B. Silva 
Mr. L. Vaudort 
Mr. iJ. Silva 
Mr. J. Kodrigo 
Mr. J. H. Barber 
do 
do 
Appu Siuglxi 
Cows. 
Price. 
E. 
SO 00 
47 OU 
41 00 
!) 00 
7G 00 
n;o 00 
85 OJ 
71 00 
40 00 
25 00 
19 00 
11 00 
15 00 
13 00 
11 00 
Iti 60 
9 00 
No. 
Purchasers, 
Price. 
B. 
1 
Mr. James Nelsoii 
69 
2 
Mr. Grigson 
32 
3 
Geo. Steuart & Co. 
35 
4 
do. 
35 
5 
Maduauwelle K. M. 
70 
6 
Geo. Steuart & Co. 
66 
7 
Mr. Rodrigo 
18 
The total 
amount realized was 
R979'00 ; the 
average price of the Sind calves was K()4. 
FODDER SUPPLY. 
Apropos of the remarks made by our corre- 
spondent, W. A. D. S., on the subject of a fodder 
supply for cattle in the Island, Mr. K. N. Banerjee, 
of the Bengal Agricultural Department, suggests 
that during the settlement now in pro- 
gress in the district, large tracts may be set 
aside for fodder and pasture reserves, so that 
the practise that has converted grazing into 
arable land may not continue, as it must inevitably 
do otherwise. In order that no undue proportion 
of waste land may be brought under cultivation, 
the Government he says, might reserve it, 
gradually converting thorny bushwood or bare 
rock and stone into tracts coveired with vegeta- 
tion edible by cattle. Under this systematic 
ar^ijicial car§ aijd treatment; Mr, Banerjee thinks 
that the ultimate financial results may cover the 
initial expenditure incurred in acquiring and 
protecting the land. In the face of fodder 
scarcity he consider it desirable that an eflfort 
should be made to improve forest lands by cutting 
down useless bushwood and ]ilaating useful trees, 
such as teak (S:c. By cleiring away the jungle 
and converting it into extensive pasture ground 
much could be done in the way of securing a 
perennial sui>ply of fodder suflicient for agricul- 
tural and other cattle. Bj- adopting such a course 
it is tliought that much more would be done 
towards the improvement of cattle than anj' system 
of cross-breeding. The improvement of cattle 
will generally be followed by superior cultivation 
and a larger outturn of crops, necessarily leadiag 
to material improvement in the condition of the 
peasantry. 
The.se suggestions have much to c')mn!end them, 
but their practicability will have to be carefully 
considered and discussed. No one can have any 
cause for complaint if the d'oveninient, witliout 
entailing any loss adopts measures fur improving 
the live-stock of tiie country and thereby 
the condition of the Native cultivator. By 
the co-operation of forest oflicers with agri- 
cultural instructors, there should not be much 
ditficulty in carrying out the idea of extend- 
ing the area of land suitable for pasture and the 
production of fodder, into practise. It will, 
however, first have to be ascertained whether the 
plnii is feasible from a Government point of view 
before the practical details in connection with 
the supervision and control of sach lands, 8n1 lh« 
terms in which the fodder or pasture is to be 
made available to cattle owners, are considered. 
One thing, however, is certain, that by providing 
pasture and fodder (either in a green state 
or in the form of dry grass or hay) the condition 
of live-stock as well as their owners — taking for 
granted that the latter will not neglect their 
opportunities — will be vastly improved, and 
such improvement will not be without its iudirect 
benefit to Government itself. 
RICE. 
(C'o/iti/nted.) 
There are three methods of sowing : (1; Broad- 
casting, (2) in drills, (3) transplanting from a 
nursery. Of the three systems the last is by far 
the best, as it insures a greater regularity in the 
crop, a great saving of seed, and what is of 
infinite importance, superiority in weight and 
fulness of grain, hence increased nutritive 
qualities. In broadcasting 60 lbs. of seed is said 
to be plenty ; in drill-sowing, 12 inches or more 
apart, 40 lbs. is stated to be ample. If sowing 
is to be done by means of transplanting, it will 
be necessary first to prepare a nursery, the area 
of which, to plant an acre from should, we 
ai'e told, be 30 ft. square, or 2 or 3 such beds 
10 feet or 12 feet square may be made near the 
field to be planted. If only a quarter of an acre 
is to be planted, then a bed 19 ft. square or 3 
beds 6 ft. square will be sufficient. The amount 
of seed required for a nursery to plant one acre 
is mentioned to be about 8 lbs, and for a quarter 
of an acre 2 lbs. It is advised that seed for 
sowing should be steeped in water for 12 hours 
to assist germiuation. In making a nursery i% 
