Sept. 1, 1900. | Supplement to the ' Tropical Agricultumt: 
219 
the water capacity and penetrability of such .soils 
may also be brought about by admixture of 3oils 
of opposite physical characteristics, as, for 
instance, coarser grained soil (sand). By this 
means stiff soils are rendered more easy to culti- 
vate, and are more readily changed into a conditioa 
ot separate grain structure. 
Enlarging the surface of evaporation, a« is 
done m ridge and hill culture, is another means of 
preventing harmful accumulation of water in 
soils. By this means, also, a portion of the rain 
water is removed from the reach of the plants by 
flowing into the furrows between the rows. 
Close planting also assists to some e.xtent in 
reducing the moisture in the soil by increasing 
the amount of water drawn from the soil bv the 
crop, 
It is a mistake to allow wet soils to lie fallow 
especially in wet seasons, because the conditions 
in tallow soils are much less favourable to evapor- 
ation than in cultivated soil. Allowing soils to 
lie fallow, however, is not harmful; on the 
contrary, it may be useful if the soil during « 
previous long drought has become dry to a con- 
siderable depth. 
P^th^?h°^^•°'1''"'^'" ^ •"'^y ^« corrected 
either by direct application of water (irrigation) 
or by increasing the absorptive power of the soil 
Irrigation is to be recommended in all cases iri 
'ff'^f,'' '"PP''*^^ precipitation is 
insufficient for the production of maximum crops. 
Ihe point at which irrigation becomes nece^isarv 
vanes in different localities and is determined bv 
the energy of evaporation, the water-holding 
power of the soil, and the distribution of preci- 
pitation In the warmer climates we may assume 
24 fn'"?-' precipitation is less than 
^4 to 28 in irrigation is required for ma.ximum 
crops, while in colder localities in which evaporlT- 
tion is less rapid and crops smaller, on account of 
aSoutTe in'?^''"''"'''"'" """^ be placed at 
With regard to the treatment of soils which 
have l.tt e water capacity, great permeabi itrand 
favourable conditions for evaporation, the' aim 
should be mainly to keep the ground wat.r at a 
proper level, or. if this is not possible, t' i ncrease 
the water capacity of the soil. 
The latter may be accomplished by admixture 
of fi e-gra.ned, earthy materials (claj, loam and 
marl), or by increasing the percentage of humus 
through liberal applications of manufes of orgS 
origin (stable manure, peat, &c). Another, though 
be fo^n'w'.'- f '■^'""S provided it 
be followed at the beginning of dry weather, by 
harrowing, hoeing, &c. to reduce evaporation ^ 
For soils of small water capacity such opera- 
tions as limit evaporation as far as possible are 
generally recommended. Too frequent ploughing 
^ ,Vk v^°"^^^'' '-^"d ploughed land 
hould be harrowed as soon as dry"^ weather sets 
in. to reduce the surface of evaporation as much 
as possible. If the soil becomes too hard, as 
may happen as a result of violent rains or of 
rolling loosening of the surface (harrowing, 
hoeing) is of great advantage in reducing evapora- 
tion and thus retaining moisture in the soil. 
Furthermore,,' hill,[or ridge culture is to ba 
avoided, since in this case evaporation is greater 
than in level culture. Close planting should not 
be practised for the same reason. Allowing the 
soil to lie fallow may result in the storage of 
moisture in the soil, but it is recommended only 
when the soil is dry to a considerable depth. 
Finally, mulching or covering the soil with a 
layer < f dead vegetable matter (stable manure, 
straw, &c.) reduces evaporation from the soil for 
a time at least. 
CLINICAL NOTES. 
By a. Chinniah, g.b.v.c. 
I performed successful operations on three 
dogs suffering from cancer of the penis. In all 
three cases castration was performed in addition to 
the ablation of the cancerous growth from the 
parts. The following letter from Colonel Webster 
testifies to the fact that my mode of operation h&s 
been attended with successful results : — 
Berwick House, Cinnamon Gardens, 
4th August, 1900. 
1 have much pleasure in stating that Veteri- 
nary Surgeon A. Chinniah was called in to attend 
my dog, which was suffering from cancer, on the 
2nd June, 1899, and after performing an opera- 
tion — removing the immediate cause of the disease 
on the 8th September of the same year — was abl« 
to perform a further operation resulting in the 
cure of the dog. 
(Signed) II. G. Webster, Lieut. -Col. 
CULTIVATION OF THE ARECANUT IN 
BOMBAY DISTRICT. 
{A Note by Mr. J. W. Mollison, Deputy Director 
of Agriculture, Poona.) 
The palm is a native of Cochin-China, Malayan 
peninsula and Islands. It is cultivated through- 
out tropical India, but does not thrive at any great 
distance away from the sea. 
Betel palms, cardamoms, and pepper are the 
chief crops grown in the garden lands of Kanara. 
In old-established gardens there may be a few jak- 
fruit and coconut trees, nlso plantains, limes, 
coffee bushes, and pineapples. These gardens are 
chiefly found, in Sirsi and Sidadpur taluks and in 
the whole Collectorate extend to some 17,000 acres. 
They generally occupy the bottom lands of narrow 
valleys. The most favourable situations are in 
valleys which have the slopes on both sides fairly 
extensive, moderately steep, and covered with 
forest growth. The forest growth gives beneficial 
shade and shelter, and supplies the gardens with 
branchwood, leaves, and litter for manure and 
other purposes. The garden land extends usually 
in a narrow strip along the course of any parti- 
cular valley and is subdivided according to owner- 
ship. Bottom land which is open and cleared 
appears to be more suitable for rice beds than for 
spice gardens. Some garden occupants also own 
rice lands, but most commonly they only cultivate 
garden land. An owner may own three or four 
acres, sometimes more, often less. All gardea 
owners are Haviks— a shrewd and hardworKing, 
