5GG Supplement to ike ** Tropical Agriculturist* [Feb. 1, 1^95. 
the special subjects comprised in an agricultural course, 
and secondly, because there is ample opportunity 
afforded in most parts of the island, for acquiring the 
necessary preliminary education for admission. There 
is thus a prospect, especially in view of the further 
development of the school on still more useful lines, 
of our securing a more uniform and better class of 
boys to teach, so that while our work as teachers will 
be less trying, the results of our labours will be more 
encouraging to us and more satisfactory to those 
taught. I should, however, mention that as adjuncts 
to the Agricultural School proper we have regular 
classes in agriculture and botany, in which instructions 
is imparted (as well ns it can be) in the vernacular: 
and these classes such boys as have no knowledge of 
English are to attend. 
During the past year our numbers have been about 
the same as hitherto. There have, however, been 
changes among our staff of teachers. While Mr. D. A. 
Perera still continues to work most efficiently as 
headmsster; Mr Hoolc has left us to study Veterinary 
science' in Bombay. Mr. \Y. A. do Kilva who was 
the first Government Veterinary scholar who studied 
at the Bombay Veterinary College came back in June 
last after a brilliant career, and is at present Acting 
Colonial Veterinary Surgeon in the place of Mr. 
Lye resigned. Mr. Hoole's duties are being tem- 
porarily performed by Mr. Paulusz. while Mr. Samara- 
nayake remains as our hard-working practical 
instructor. In my last report I mentioned in what 
capacities our past students were employed. I was 
pleased to hear from an extensive and successful tea 
planter, through whose hands a number of our students 
had passed before securing employment on estates, 
that he had a very good opinion of these boys, of 
whose activity and zeal he spoke in encouraging terms. 
The regularity in the routine of outdoor and indoor 
work and the discipline imposed upon the students 
here are in themselves not without a beneficial effect. 
An important event in the history of the school has 
been the interest which the Consevator of Forests 
has begun to show in its welfare. Mr. Broun had for 
some time past been inclined to give the preference 
fo past students of this school, in selecting men for 
tninor posts in his department, no doubt in the belief 
that the instruction imparted here to some extent 
meets the requirements of forest officers. The Conser- 
vator of Forests has also been preparing a series of 
forestry lectures which have been given to the students, 
and he has himself come over to the school to explain 
and illustrate these lectures. Both Mr, Broun and 
Mr. Cull have already been expressing their views as 
tO the desirability of grafting on a Forestry School 
to the present School of Agriculture, so as to 
economically establish a preparatory school for 
officers of the Forestry Department the need for 
which no one knows better than the Conservator of 
Forests himself. For my part. I heartily second 
the proposal for the reason that the usefulness of the 
School of Agriculture ■ may thus be increased by its 
contributing a part of the instruction necessary 
for the Forestry course, thus helping to raise up an 
efficient staff of Forest officers. Since Mr. Walker — 
Who has himself been intimately connected with the 
early history of the school — succeeded to the Director's 
chair, an important innovation "has been introduced, 
viz., that the Superintendent of this School should 
periodically inspect and report upon the work of the 
Agricultural Instructors. The result of a olose 
connection between the Instructors and this central 
Institution, and the subjection of the former to regular 
inspection and supervision will, I feel convinced, pro- 
duce good results. 
The Annual Ejjittumation which took place on 
November hist, was conducted by Mr. VanCuylenberg, 
■Inspector of Schools (who examined in English and 
Mathematics), Dr. H. M. Fernando and Mr. Mendis 
(the examiners in Chemistry), Mr. Broun and Dr. 
Pinto (who set papers in Botany), and Mr. H. D. 
Eewis, sub-inspector of schools, who examined the 
students 1 in Agriculture. I am glad to he able to say 
that the reports of these examiners were very 
gratifying. ' 
The report of the Dairy for the year 1894 is not the 
record of prosperity that marked the first 8 months of 
its existence. The beginning of the year saw the 
introduction of the much-dreaded Epizootic known 
as " Murrain " into the Dairy. The lo>-6 to the Dairy 
herd was considerable, and consisted of 17 cows, lb 
calves and three bulls. Apart from this loss the 
operations of the Dairy were, on the recommendation 
of the C.V.S., suspended for a period of two months, 
during which the produce of the Dairy was not 
permitted to be removed off the premises ; so that 
for this time the monthly expenditure on upkeep 
continued, while there was nothing in the way of 
returns; and it was some months before the Dairy 
was able to work ou its former extensive scale. 
Another unexpected and serious result of the outbrere 
was that many of the incalf cows that survived weak 
found to have aborted, so that practically we shall 
not have shaken off the disastrous effects of this 
outbreak till a year or more has elapsed. The extra- 
<>i din M i'v expenditure during the prevalence of the 
disease amounted to nearly ROOO. In spite, however, 
of this large addition to tfie expenses, and the loss 
from the suspension of operations, the Dairy has 
again been working so satisfactorily that the receipts 
have more than counterbalanced the enormous ex- 
penditure of the year. With the profits from the 
Model Farm amounting at present to about KltiO a 
month, and that from the lands adjoining the school 
to K00 a month, it is satisfactory to know that the 
cost of all the establishments on these premises 
including the upkeep of the school with its staff and 
teachers is at present almost met bv the returns from 
these various establishments. T*he credit of the 
successful working of the Dairy is of course mainly 
due to the energy and zeal of the Manager, Mr. Rodrigo. 
It only remains for me now. sir, to thank your 
Excellency for the honour you have done us in con- 
senting to preside on this occasion, and in encouraging 
us by your presence here to-day. 
His Excellency next called upon the Acting 
Director of Public Instruction to address those 
assembled. 
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 
Mr. Ashley Walker, began by referring to the 
prophecies of ill-success which greeted the Agri- 
cultural School when it was first established, out 
which had not been fulfilled. He said lie was 
appointed the first superintendent of the school, 
in addition to his own duties pending the 
arrival of Mr. C. Drieberg who was then pur- 
suing his studies in the Koyal College of Agricul- 
ture at Cirencester, and had charge of the work for 
a period of about two or three years. He could 
very well remember the utter astonishment 
of the natives when first they saw the hoys out 
in the garden handling the plough and should- 
ering their niamoties, and, still further, lead- 
ing buffaloes into the held. They were sur- 
prised that the sons of parents of goood position 
should thus en^a^e in manual laliour. The crowds 
to witness these operations increased for a few 
days, but in the course of a week or two, the 
novelty ceased, and they passed by without taking 
any notice of them. Much was looked for from 
Government Agents in this country, who could 
do a great deal to increase the usefulness and pro- 
gress of the Institution. He was quite certain that 
where interest was taken, success was assured, but 
where there was lack of interest, good results 
could not be expected. In consequence of his being 
stationed in the Central Province for a few years" 
he had lost touch with the Institution. 'When 
he returned to Colombo in August he had occasion 
to read the monthly diaries sent in by the Instruc- 
tors, and received several letters from Headmen, 
commenting upon and criticising their -work. He 
at once appealed to His Excellency the Governor 
to depute Mr. Drieberg to inspect the work of 
the instructors at outstations. He was happy 
to state that His Excellency very readily 
granted the req_ue.it, He hoped that -\yith hjij 
