Nov. 1, 1900.1 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. 
317 
factories with modern machinery. Anotlicr 
branch of the industry in the district of Birken- 
feld is the cutting of cameos. Pearls are also 
polished, drilled, and cut, and shipped in large 
quantities to all comitries.— Journal of the 
bociety of Arts, Sept. 14th. 
FKUIT-CULTURB FOR NORTH CEYLON. 
It is quite the thing to talk and write about new 
industries for Jafiua or for Ceylou, but much of 
what is written is impracticable, and hardly worthy 
of serious consideration. The Northern railway is 
now assured, and with communication with the metro- 
polis, it behoves Jaffna to be wide awake to its own 
interests or others will be coming in and starting 
new enterprises and taking away the profits ihat 
really ought to belong to Jaffna. We should like to 
call attention to a matter of niin'or importance 
believing that the time has come when enterprising 
men should bestir themselves. We refer to the set- 
ting out of such fruit trees as will grow here 
readily, and the fruit of which will be in demand even 
more than at prssent when railway communication has 
been established. 
THE ORANGE 
for example, might be more extensively cultivated. 
Why should not men who have a little capital, invest 
it in planting out two or three acres in orange trees 
of approved varieties. Colombo now gets shipments 
of oranges from Italy and Australia, but let our sweet 
nicy oranges once be brougbt upon the market and 
in spite of some defects, they will supplant those 
imported from other countries. As it is, no one person 
has more than a few trees. We should like to see a 
number of small gardens — say two or three acres 
each — started in localities where these fruit will do 
well. If good healthy trees are set out this year 
they will begin to bear in three or four years; and as 
the orange tree seems to be short-lived, new gardens 
should be planted every two years or so. Better also 
to graft on the good varieties, so as to be sure of 
your fruit, The oracges from Copay and vicinity are 
bought to be especially nice; they are sweet and 
juicy and have a thin outer skiu or rind. And the 
expttriment might be tried of grafting on scions of the 
Sicily, Florida and California navel, oranges. The 
soil should be thoroughly prepared and the trees 
watered regularly and also properly pruned in order to 
insure the best results. Along *ith the orange could 
be raised limes which are already in demand. 
There is another fruit which might be more ex- 
ensively raised, and that is 
THE GRAPE. 
There seem to be two varieties, one more solid and 
less juicy than the other. The very sour grapes that 
one gets hold of so often, no doubt belong to one of 
these varieties, but the vine has not received proper 
treatment or the fruit has been gathered too early 
thus accounting for the acidity. The grape is grown 
principally in another locality of the peninsula in 
the vicinity of Pandeterripoo, and we believe the 
cultivation could be largely increased if some men of 
enterprise and a little capital would take it up. 
There are other varieties that possibly might do well 
though it would be well to consult some authority 
before investing. The vine needs careful treatment, 
and its enemies are numerous. As to 
THE PINEAPPLE 
it does not seem at all likely that the Jaffna variety 
will ever be m much demand when we have such 
luscious varieties of this fruit grown in Badulla, 
Matale and other localities in the hilly country of 
he island. But what about 
GRAFTED MANGOES ? 
Would thev not always be in demand ? At present 
there are few, comparatively speaking, of grafted 
trees in the country. The fruit brings a higher price 
in the market than the ordinary kinds, and there 
should be a good demand for it when the railway is 
opened. Every year there is a greater demand for 
young grafted trees we are told, and in time there 
should be no lack of good fruit. 
Other fruits might be mentioned, but at least a 
beginning might be made with these. The attention 
of our people needs to be called to the changes that 
are bound to take place when Jaffna is no longer 
isolated. 
Our Assistant Government Agent, Mr. Leake, haa 
started a class in Agriculture, but whether Horti- 
culture is included or not, we cannot say. It might 
be well for some of our prominent men to turn their 
attention to this branch of farmmg. — Jaffna " Morning 
Star," Sept 27. 
THE PROPOSED ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN 
FOR COLOMBO. 
SITE .SELECTED. 
The fjeographieai position of Colombo makes it 
eminently fitted as a centre at which mifrlit be or- 
ganised one of the very best Zoological Gardens 
in the East. An atte.npt to carry this out is about 
to be made by a syndicate of Colombo gentlemen, 
and from what we can gather, there is every 
promise of the undertaking proving a huge 
success. " " 
In an interview recently, Mr. John Hagen- 
beck, whose very wide experience in the organisa- 
tion of Zoological and Botanical gardens in 
various parts of the vvorld will be a"vailable in 
connection with the starting and carrying on of 
the Colombo "Zoo," stated that the .site for 
the Garden had been selected in the Cinnamon 
Gardens 
CLOSE BY THE HAVELOCK RACE COURSE. 
The last novelties, the newest buildings, and the 
best possible arrangements will be introduced, and 
with this object in view Mr. Hagenbeck has been 
travelling all over the Continent and has got 
together a collection of sketches which will be of 
great value to him in niakir.g the gardens up-to- 
tlare and smart. The first object of the gardens 
will be the education of the children, lo show 
them what animals e.xist and where they come 
from. There will, at the same time, be some- 
thing for the scientific to see and leatn. 
A band-stand is to be built, the Military and 
Volunteer bands will be engaged, and in thecourse 
of time moonliglit fetes and concerts will be 
organized. There will be " fashionable days " for 
tiie more opulent visitors, and there will be days 
when a lower charge for admission will be made. 
Another feature is to be a restaurant, run, prob- 
ably, by one ef the local hotel managers, and it 
is hoped that the " Thirty Committee " may be 
able to see their way to establish a Tea Kiosk. 
COLLECTION OF CEYLON ANIMALS TO BE 
MADE FIRST. 
In the first instance a collection of Ceylon 
animals will be got together, and then Mr. 
Hagenbeck will obtain specimens from the four 
corners of the earth. He hopes, and we think 
he may conliilently expect, to get help from the 
residents of Ceylon, European and native. Mr. 
Hagenbeck, in consequence of his business con- 
nections in various parts of the world, contem- 
plates no ditticulty whatever in getting togethei a 
varied and valuable collection ot animals, and 
firmly believes that the Zoological Grarden is 
to be Wie future attraction of Colombo. Amongst 
other attractions will be a pleasure garden for 
the use of children, with swings, " merry-go- 
