Feb. 2, 1903. J Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist." 
577 
common suUage water of the city has enormously 
increased the value of land. But tho discovery 
of the bacteriological treatment of sewage has 
opened out a new field for the Engineer and 
the practical agriculturist, and the system is 
being adopted at the Matunga Leper Asylum in 
Bombay by Mr. C. 0. James of the Municipality, 
who has proved that not only can a high degree 
of purification be brought about by a very small 
outlay, but that the resultant efilueut is of great 
manurial value. 
Mr. George VVeerakoon, Mudaliyar, writing for 
a fruit of the cho-cho, says: — " I grew the plant 
15 years ago, and at one time had several vines 
bearing no end of fruit. I got it from Hakgala 
Botanic Gardens, but I do not see the plant in 
these parts (Matara district). The tender fruit 
makes an excellent pickle not unlike the English 
cucumber. Even the leaves are eaten in the form 
of a mellun," 
^ 
KAINFALL TAKEN AT THE SCHOOL' OF 
AGRICULTURE DURING THE MONTH 
OF 
DECEMBER, 
1902. 
I 
Monday 
... -30 
17 
Wednesday 
Nil 
2 
Tuesday 
... '72 
18 
Thursday ... 
Nil 
3 
Wednesday 
... -48 
19 
Friday 
Nil 
4 
I'Tiursday 
... -87 
20 
Saturday ... 
•48 
5 
Friday 
... -50 
.21 
Sunday 
'46 
6 
Saturday 
... 1-66 
22 
Monday ... 
Nil 
7 
Sunday 
... -05 
23 
Tuesday ... 
Nil 
8 
Monday 
... -10 
24 
Wednesday 
Nil 
9 
Tuesday 
... -17 
25 
Thursday ... 
Nil 
10 
Wednesday 
... -10 
26 
Friday 
Nil 
11 
Thursday 
... -85 
27 
Saturday ... 
Nil 
12 
Friday 
... Nil 
28 
Sunday ... 
Nil 
13 
Saturday 
... Nil 
29 
Monday 
Nil 
14 
Sunday 
... Nil 
30 
Tuesday 
Nil 
15 
Monday 
... Nil 
31 
Wednesday 
Nil 
16 
Tuesday 
... Nil 
1 
Thursday 
Nil 
Total... 6-44 
Mean ... -20 
Greatest amount of rainfall registered in 24 
hours on the 6th December, 1902, 1-66 inches. 
Recorded by Alex Perera, 
CATTLE AND THEIR FOOD. 
Mr. George Weerakoon, Mudaliyar of the 
Wellabodde Pattu, referring to our remarks with 
reference to fodder for cattle writes : — " According 
to the Administration Reports for 1901 there have 
been 210 cases of cattle stealing in the district, 
and the Magistrate remarks that prosecutions are 
uncommon for the reason that cattle are inten- 
tionally allowed to stray by their owners. The 
Government Agent of the Province recom- 
mends as a remedy that owners should combine 
and kraal their cattle. Of the 50,150 head of 
cattle in the district, a large number ore the 
property of poor villagers who are obliged to drive 
their animals abroad to find their own food as the 
owners have none to give them. If kraaling be 
resorted to, the question arises, how are the 
animals to be fed ? 
The straw from the two paddy crops of the 
year is of course available, and if carefully harvested 
and stored it keeps well and forms an excellent 
fodder to full back on. But, I would suggest that 
every cattle owner should provide himself with 
a small extent of grass land laid down preferably 
under Guinea grass, which is a wonderfully fast 
growing crop and spreads rapidly. It is known 
as " ginigiressa," and though (like "Uguressa," 
Flacourtia liamontchi,) is considered indigenous is 
really an introduction, no doubt, as its name im- 
plies, from Guinea. The scientific name of the 
grass is Panicum ina:cimu7n," 
Guinea grass (also called " Rata-thana " in Sin- 
halese) is highly valued in India as a food for 
milch cattle, and is also the chief cattle fodder 
upcountry. But wherever there is low damp land 
the cultivation of Mauritius or water-grass 
should never be overlooked. We have supplied 
planting stock for cultivation under irrigation 
in Poona, and are also making a point of 
introducing it into places where it does not exist, 
through the agency of School Gardens. The last 
application is for seed, which it is not easy to 
procure, for growing in the Gold Coast. 
Guinea grass and Mauritius grass are our only 
cultivated fodders, and when commercially grown 
under favourable conditions are a source of consi- 
derable income to many. Indeed, Guinea grass in 
the Kandy district and Mauritius grass in the 
Colombo district are bringing in large revenues 
to grass farmers. 
VVe have already referred to the different 
varieties of plants and trees that might be made 
use of in times of scarcity, but we should like to 
make some reference to the preservation of grass, 
which, during the rains, yields a supply of 
produce larger than the existing, demand, so that 
the total available stock of grass food may be 
distributed more equally than at present. 
Here are some very simple directions how to make 
good dry grass or hay : — Grass for stacking should 
always be cut when green and in flower, not later, 
as then the nutrimeut in the stalks and leaves 
will have been exhausted in the production of the 
fruit. The most convenient and easy method of 
preparing grass stalking is as follows : — 
Cut when green and in flower, tie up in bundles 
of about 8 to 10 lb. weight and place three of such 
bundles on their broad ends leaning against each 
other ; by this arrangement the grass will uot become 
damaged by rain, and the central grass of each 
bundle Will ferment and acquire nutritious 
properties from forming saccharine and starchy 
matter. 
When the bundles are sufficiently dried they 
may be stacked. Dry grass thus prepared will be 
found very nutritious and sweet, and animals will 
eat it readily. It will be nearly as good as the 
hay made in England and other countries. Proper 
hay-making requires much practical experience. 
If the weather is hot, and sun powerful, grass 
will be dry enough, as a whole, in 2 or 3 days, and 
can be then stacked, but it should be stacked iq 
