428 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist: [Dec. L 1894. 
this connection we might draw attention to the 
fact that the attempt to naturalize in the East 
plants which are reported to yield magni- 
ficent results in other (especially temperate) climes 
is not infrequently— we might even say generally 
— attended with failure. We would just refer to 
one striking example in Lathyrus sylcestris, the 
much-lauded fodder plant — other instances can 
be easily multiplied. Dr. Watt thinks that much 
can be done even by encouraging the people to 
grow as hedges round their fields, useful bushes 
instead of useless plants that have the exclusive 
recommendation of rapidity of growth or elliciency 
of protection ; these hedges being made more and 
more fuel reserves, or sources of dyes, tun-, fibres, 
and other such products. "It is, in fact," says 
Dr. Watt, "easy to mention many such examples" 
(dyes, tans, oils, medicines and edihle substances 
having been referred to) " of possible revenues 
from useless tracts of country, or of wild pro- 
ducts which, if experimentally grown, might in 
a few years rank among the recognized and 
valued resources of wealth to the country." 
As an instance of a neglected plant with an 
industry dependent on it, Dr. Watt mentio.is 
eida. The fibre of sid'i, he says, has from time 
to time been urged on the consideration of the 
textile world with comparatively little result. 
Interest may, however, be said to be at last 
aroused in this most admirable fibre, and large 
supplies are being accordingly collected for ex- 
perimental purposes. It is hoped to get the 
ordinary cultivators of India to take to it, since 
"it affords a fibre in many respects superior to 
jute." In Ceylon we have six indigenous species 
of sida. Drury referring to sida rhomboidea (the 
Sinhalese kotiknn-benila) says : — " The Secretary to 
the Chamber of Cjiumerce at Dundee, writing to 
Madras, says : ' Of all thu 1 ikely plant s I have seen, 
Bida thomboide't nppeifa to be the best, and I 
sincerely trust India will send us plenty of it. 
Do use every exertion to have it cultivated, and 
sent home as a regular mercantile article, and I 
see no reason why we should not use as much 
of it as we do now of jute, . . From the length 
of its staple, its similiarity to silk, and great 
Strength, it would fetch a high price in England. 
A line only half an inch in circumference, after 
exposure to wet and sun for ten days, sustained 
a weight of 400 lb.'' There are of course many 
other plants that might be mentioned as yielding 
excellent fibre. Dr. Watt in recommending the 
cultivation of Crotalaria juncea (Sin. Hana), adds : 
"In the light of the fixation of nitrogen in the 
soil through the cultivation of plants belonging to 
the pea family, an extended production of Sun- 
hemp would be a positive gain to India." Lastly, 
there is the following reference to our Muruva- 
dul : "In Rajtnahal-hemp (Martdenia tena- 
tissima) India possesses a fibre which is far 
superior to rhea. It has among Indian fibres 
the highest known percentage of cellulose, loses 
considerably less than any other under hydrolsis 
with soda or acid purification, while its weight 
is greatly increased by nitration. A line made 
of it broke when wet at 343 lbs. against a similar 
line of the finest hemp which broke at 158 and 
190 lbs." 
These instances will suffice to show that we 
have in Ceylon uaexploited fibres — and no doubt 
other economic products — which can take the 
Place of the best in use at present, 
OCCASIONAL If I TBS. 
We are glad to hear that from the 6eeds of 
American Dewberry we received from the Saha- 
ranpur Gardens and distributed among n number of 
i persons in the Island, about fifty good plants 
have been raised by the Clerk and For.-mui at 
the Hakgalla Gardens, Nuwara Eliy i. We -b ill 
be glad to hear of the progress of tiie*e plants as 
well as of the one raised by Mr. Bbeft at Deinatv- 
goda, Colombo. The Latter plant when we last 
saw it was a bushy vine, some 12 or I't l&M 
in length. 
To the Superintendent of the Siharanpur 
I Gardens we are also indebted for seeds of Lucerne, 
I Teosinte and Cow-pea. Of Lucerne we have now 
I eight small beds that are thriving luxuriantly. 
I Teosiu'.e ( Ewlana or lleana luturiwsjis described 
as a tall annual forage grass. Of the American 
cow-pea we have received five varieties: — 
Clay cow-pea, Indian cow-pea, whip-poor-will cow- 
I pea, lady cow-pea and wonderful co w-pea. They 
I are all varieties of Vigna Catiany (which is 
already represented in the Island). The 6eeds of 
Teosinte and Cow-pea have only just reached us, 
and we shall have more to say about these two 
plants and the progress they make with us, later on. 
We have received a good, though small, sample of 
jute fibre grown and prepared by Mr. Alwie, Agri- 
cultural Instructor at Dippitig.ila, near Eatna- 
pura. Its fibre is about 5 feet long. From Mr. 
Tiathonis, Agricultural Instructor at Pelmadula, in 
the Sabaragamuwa province, very fine specimens 
of rope prepared from the fibre of the following 
plants has reached us: Jute (of three deareesof 
thickness), bowstring hemp (Sanriviera zeylwca), 
walla ( Gyrinops icalla J. 
We greatly regret the enforced departure 
of Mr. George Wall, the veteran colonist, who 
till his late serious illness was an earnest worker 
for the public weal. By the keen interest he 
evinced in the welfare of the native agricul- 
turist, and the encouragement he was always 
ready to offer to those who endeavoured to de- 
velope the resources of the country, he did much 
to endear himself to the Ceylonese of all classes. 
We shall greatly miss him, and earnestly hope 
that by his rapid restoration to health, his speedy 
return to the Colony will be made possible. 
RAINFALL AT THE SCHOOL OF AGRICUL- 
TURE DURING OCTOBER. 
1 
. . -01 
13 
. -04 
25 
. . -12 
2 
. 04 
14 . 
. 07 
26 
. . -31 
3 
. Nil 
15 
. -02 
27 
. . 7-79 
4 
. '04 
16 
. . -03 
28 
. . 1-29 
5 
. -02 
17 
. . -86 
29 
. . 2 - 55 
6 
. -oi 
18 
. -47 
30 
. . -76 
7 
. . Nil 
19 
. 2-26 
31 
. . -97 
8 
. -02 
20 
. -68 
1 
. . -60 
9 
. -05 
21 
. -62 
10 
. Nil 
22 . 
. 04 
Total . . 
20-64 
11 
. Nil 
23 . 
. -60 
12 
. -08 
24 . 
. -30 
Mean 
. -66 
Greatest amount of rainfall in any 24 hours on 
the 27th instant, 7"79 inches. 
Recorded by P , Van Pb Boxa, 
