Feb, 1, 1895.] Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist" 
mention it, and like loyal toasts at dinner 
gatherings it did not require words to recom- 
mend it — it was cordially received and cordially car- 
ried. People might say of hint as a lawyer, that there 
could possibly lie no alliance between Law and Agri- 
culture. That, however, was a mistaken idea. 
The prosperity of a country depended upon 
the development of its agricultural resources, 
and the prosperity of the lawyer depended upon 
the agricultural prosperity of the country. 
Putting aside patriotic reasons and patriotic 
motives, it was always the object of the lawyers 
to encourage patriotic agricultural tastes. (Ap- 
plause. ) The school, indirectly, f ullilled two mis- 
sions. Being, entirely under the control of 
Ceylonese, it helped to strengthen the confid- 
ence of Government in the managing capabilities 
and administrative capacities of the Ceylonese. 
The confidence of Government was a tender plant 
of very slow growth, and that tender plant was 
consigned to the fostering care of the Principal 
of the school, anil they might rest assured that 
under his delicate management that "tender plant 
would show sio-n of steady development. The 
other mission was to help to remove the fiction, 
that the Ceylonese despised agricultural pursuits 
and only cared to become lawyers and phyfej 
eianx. He hoped that this Institution and the 
Technical Institution would- help to redeem the 
character of the Ceylonese from this somewhat 
base insinuation. He felt certain that the hope 
expressed by Mr. Ferguson of the school spread- 
ing out its arms would lie fulfilled in time. They 
would find that the Ceylonese were as fond of 
agricultural and technical pursuits, as they had 
hitherto been of law and medicine. He need 
not refer to the intrinsic worth of the school 
developing the country. He was sure that on 
behalf of those present and all the Ceylonese, 
he could say that they rightly appreciated the 
laudable efforts ol H.E. and the Government to 
promote the agricultural interests in the island. 
In moving a vote of thanks to H.E. for presid- 
ing, he thought it was only a fitting tribute to 
one who had always shown a hearty sympathy 
with the people and institutions of the country 
which he ruled. (Applause). 
Mr. A. F. BROUN seconded the vote of thanks. 
The proceedings then terminated and those 
present adjourned to the garden where they par- 
took of refreshments. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
A collection of specimens of the rough fibre of 
the following plants and trees has been received 
from Mr. Tiatnoiris, Agricultural Instructor at 
(lO'lakawehi :--Pii o-:ipplc (Ananas saticus ), Goran- 
did ul ( Boininei'ia . J ), Wullii ("txyrinojps walla), Wal- 
hana, Beyila ('Sida humUs), and Kotikaa-bevila 
l&ida rhombifdlih)'. Mitlella (flfirritigibhia acutan- 
yula), Mayila (liaaldnin I'tic'anoia), Keta-diinbula 
(Hens M&pifla), Suiiva [TltSspdsia j vjiulnen), 
Pns-wcl (/'.ntada tcatidenty, Nava Odenalia 
BdldUghas), Kala-v, el (TUrnx scanden.-), Wii] belt- 
pa!. a [Hibiscus tiiktceus)', Kupu-kinissa (Hibiscus 
nnffuMui), FJiotu (Finis tsielaj, Liniya (Ilel'ctercs 
isora), Daminiya ((•rcn::a ii.'iafoHa). 
Mr. Ahvis, Agricultural ingl rue i or at Dij^itighln, 
hns also sent some excellent specimens of fine 
while rnpe prepared from howsting hemp QSaiike- 1 , 
v era ziijlunu'a) tlte Sinhalesu Niyanda. 
An attempt is btppg made to cultivate the 
leguminous plant known in Ceylon as Aswenna 
569 
(Alyssiccuyus bupleurifulius), and often found 
growing together with grass in pasture land. A 
promising plot of it has now been kept up for 
about three months, but no results are yet avail- 
able as to amount of produce. Cattle are known 
to be fond of the plant, and being allied to the 
Clovers it should prove a most nutritious fodder. 
RAINFALL TAKEN AT THE SCHOOL OF 
AGRICULTURE DURING THE MONTH 
OF JANUARY. 
Nil 
.13 
. Nil 
25 ... 
. Nil 
2 
Nil 
14 . 
A '20. 
26 .. 
. Nil 
3 
■83- 
15 . 
. -09 
27 .. 
. -34 
4 ... 
•03 
16 . 
. 2-38 
28 ., 
. Nil 
• 5 k ;. 
Nil 
17 . 
.. 1-15 
29 .. 
, Nil 
6 ... 
Nil 
18 . 
.. Nil 
30 .. 
. Nil 
•49 
19 . 
.. Nil 
31 ., 
. Nil 
•42 
20 . 
.. -01 
1 .. 
. Nil 
•99 
21 . 
.. Nil 
Total . 
10 ... 
Nil 
22 
. Nil 
. 6-93 
ii ... 
Nil 
23- ' 
.. Nil 
12 ... 
Nil 
24 
.. Nil 
Mean .. 
"22 
Greatest amount of rainfall in any 24 hours on 
the 16th instant, 2-38 inches. 
Recorded by P. Van De Bona. 
THE PATENT SULTAN WATER LIFT. 
The Inventor of this machine has personally 
brought to our notice the merits of this machine. 
The advantages claimed for it are : — 
1. The buckets, being entirely of superior and 
thick metal, an important item of expenditure 
in the shape of the cost of leather is avoided. 
2. By peculiar arrangement of the yoke, the 
bullocks are subjected to a forward movement 
only at each walk, thus obviating unnecessary 
strain, and effecting great economy of animal 
labour. Two buckets are lifted and discharged in 
the place of one, as in the ordinary mhote, the 
buckets descending and ascending alternately with 
each walk of the animals on flat ground. 
3. The bolts and nuils being few, the necessity 
for frequent repairs is done away with. 
4. To fill the buckets, it is not necessary to 
pull the ropes, as the water fills through the 
bottom by an automatic valve arrangement. 
5. There is no wastage of water, as in the old 
mhote, the buckets being constructed watertight. 
6. Any ordinary blacksmith can with ease 
repair any part of the bucket which might get out 
of gear, the mechanism being extremely simple. 
7. There is no danger to man or beast from 
snapping of ropes, with which the old mhote is 
attended. 
8. It bales out a large quantity of water, and 
does the work of two ordinary nthotes, or more, 
and hence there is a saving of the cost of a puir 
of bulls and the salary of a driver. 
9. It can be used even in wet weather as there 
is no slope. 
Hi. A boy will be able to work it. 
11. It can be fitted to a river, a tank, or a well 
of any depth, and the water can be raised to any 
height. 
1 2. The draught is only about 2 cwts. as indicated 
by the Dynomometor for 25 gallons of water. 
13. It is transferable from well to well, if neces- 
sary, and can be easily erected by au ordinury 
worktran 
