536 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb I, 1895. 
of the Government with private enterprize ; bu'. I am 
almost persuaded that the Observers BUgg 
legislation to pevent overcrowding of trees would 
be about as beneficial as legislation t > prevent ov r- 
crowding of population. Wheth r th • antieip tted 
increase in the production of nuts will result in a 
oorresponding increase of income to grjwers'is rath It 
problematical. Heavier supplies will probably sen 1 
down prices*: but the lesson Mr. Ferguson mtends 
to teach is obvious anl practicably and such lesson 
oan best be taught through the agency of agricultural 
schools, through simple scientitic lessons in agri- 
culture. No lal who has passed through an agri- 
cultural course, such as is prescribed in the School 
of Agriculture, can ever plant coconut trees rive feet 
apart, or even ton, or fifteen; nor wtl he ever counte- 
nance such overcrowding. He knows that it is to 
liberal cultivation the earth wi'l yield hor increase. 
— yours faithfully, A. COCONUT PLANTER. 
AGRICULT LI II E IN THE LOW-OOUNTRY 
OF CEYLON : AND THE AGRI- 
CULTURAL SCHOOL : 
HOW TO IMPROVE NATIVE COCONUT 
GARDENS. 
Dear Sir, — As a lover of agricultural pursuits I 
naturally am interested in everything on this subject 
that comes under my notice in theory or in practice, 
and hive done what little I could, wherever I hive 
been located, to try and induce mv native neighbours 
to adopt better and more profitable methods of 
cultivation, which I am sorry to say but a small 
amount of success. The proceedings therefore at 
the Agricultural School Annual Prize Distribution, 
and your leader on the same, were read by me with 
much interest. The Report of the Superintendent of 
the School of Agriculture wis I consider very satis- 
factory, and shows that good work was done, and 
satisfactory progress nude during the year; and 
that the institution has taken its permanent and 
proper place amongst those specially established for 
the benefit of the Ceylonese community. The 
remarks of the Director of Public Instruction re- 
calls to my mind the first Fair and Ploughing 
Exhibition held at Kurunegala under the direction 
of Mr. Green, and Mr. Lushington, the Ass; itartt 
Government Agent, sometime in 1831 if I remeaiber 
rightly. The thing being a novelty tliere was a 
large and enthusiastic gathering and soma excite- 
ment ; and one young student, from the School 
of Agriculture, plunged into the mud in his 
patent leather boots to try and control the 
rather unruly huffaloes attached to the ploughs ! 
There was also a good collection of fruits and vege- 
tables and grains, and some cattle, most of which 
sold at good prices. 
Was not the D. P. I. u little too hard in 
his remarks on the Government Agents? I do 
not think that any amount of interest on their 
part could have kept up these fairs every two 
months, as I believe was the original intention; the 
material for such is lacking. I quite agree with you 
sir, that Agri-horticultural Shows with Fairs and 
Prizes, held annually at every Kachcheri in the 
Island, at the season when products are most 
numerous, would tend to encourage Agriculture, and 
improvement in the breed of cattle, fowls, &c; 
but they should be so arranged as to be profitable 
to the poor exhibitors or vendors of articles; for 
should they find that they are losers by bringing 
their produce to the fairs, or that they could have 
sold them to more advantage nearer home they would 
hardly be likely to come again. Not many poor- 
people can afford to bring their produce on the 
chance of getting a small money prize or a medal ; 
and I take it that such Fairs and Shows would, or 
at any rate should, be for the benefit of such. 
The idea of starting a Government Dairy was a happy 
one, and His Excellency the Governor is to bsoongratu- 
* Home Consumption for food purposes would 
probably increase if s.na'l gardens yield :d more.— 
Ed. T.A. 
lated on the great sueeeai which has attended it. The 
periodical sale of surplus animals from the Farm will 
no doubt help to improve the breed of cattle, but 
the benefits will be confined mainly to the wealthy 
who can afford to pay for S'leh cattle. For the ad- 
vantage of the cultivators, who really need to have 
an improved type of animal for their work, I would 
suggest that a stui bull of suitable style and sue be 
att i died to the cstahlisiim ent of e ich H ita:u ihatmeya. 
Village President, and Agricultural Instructor, a entail 
fee being charged for its services. The animal could 
be placed in charge of a responsible man. and as 
oceisiou required moved to various centres. If this 
is considered too big an order let it be tried on a 
am ill scale to test it. Unless sjtnething of this kind 
is done there will be sm ill chance of improvement 
in the breed of village cattle. I am glad to aee 
that the Superintendent of the School of Agriculture 
is to visit and inspect the work of oatstation Instruc- 
tors ; this will be sjme encouragement to good men 
to do their duty faithfully, knowing that they will 
receive credit for good work done; it will also be a 
spur to any wiio in iv be iaeliaed to be lax. knowing 
that they will be called to aacouut. The villagers 
will also understand that the object for which the 
instructors at •■„■ .-: -:\t o it. niiijlviu lie inteie-si of the 
villagers themselves, is being witched over by the 
Government. You Sir, in your speech say that fiom 
80 to 9 ) pupils have pissed through the School in 
11 years; and that seittered as they are all over 
the country their influence could not tail to produce 
much goj ! fruit (in nio.-e senses turn on* !t No 
doubt this is to some extent true, and let us hope 
even to the degree you anticipate. It would be 
interesting however to learn how UMHy of tho<ewho 
have paiscd o it of the school have taken to bom* 
fiif. agriculture, and now ininy to other pursuits. From 
Mr. Driaberg's Report we learn that 3eve.*al have 
obtained employment on estate; as tea-ui iker.s, a:il 
doubtless others have taken to other liues, so that 
the main object of their education is lost to the 
country. I quite approve of your suggestion that the 
so',13 of landowners an I head ueu, who intend living 
by agriculture, should have a yeir at the School in 
practfetl agriculture. It wo il l be of benefit to them 
and the country; hut I feir the time hai not yet 
come for so advanced a step. 
Your vision into the future, whe.i the oeo p ilui 
should occupy the pi ice of most of the fores* land 
between Ohilaw anl Putlam, and even be.-oni. seams 
in a fair way of being realized, if one may judge 
by the activity displayed in that direction within the 
last few years. Let us hops tint the venturous and 
bold miy meet with the success that they deserve. 
You know my opinion upon this, that for coconuts 
planted in regions subject to pe'dodieal severe 
droughts,' and where the rainfall is unlec "/> inches a 
year fairly distributed, financial success is pro iJeoi i- 
tical. Whit is the yield per aire oa the Pachchila- 
palle estites, Jaffna; how many of the original 
owners now own estates there ; and of those who do 
what interest do they draw on the money invested t 
I may say that most of the original owners drop- 
ped money ; and it is those who leased or bought the 
estates at moderate cost who have made money. By 
these remarks I do not wish to discourage those 
who have already opened land in those localities, 
or who may wish to do so ; bat I would advise the 
exorcise of very great caution, and very careful 
selection of land. I should be rejoiced to know that 
I am mistaken in my view of the risks involved 
in planting in the regions I have mentioned, but such 
is the opinion I have formed. My remarks 
refer mainly to opening of extensive estates; sin ill 
native holdings have a better chance, as their en- 
vironments are generally more favourable. 
There is certainly, as you point oat, a mle scope 
for the passed pupils of the Agricultural School to 
employ their energies in teaching owners of Coco- 
nut Hi Vi ho-7 to, with little troio'e ail sin ill 
expeia'is, mato'cHUy hie 'ease the yic! 1 of their trees; 
bub it will be along while before their advice is fol- 
lowed. 1 have often in conversation noon this subject, 
remarked that -it was a blessing chat the natives were 
so conservative and adopted a new thing slovuly ; for 
