842 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist^' [March 2, 1903. 
for mineral food from the soil) have most beneficial 
efEects on their cultivated crop. Indeed, certain 
hard-wood non-leguminous trees are fancied in 
preference to others that might be expected to 
serve better for shade. In spite of the reputed 
value of Albizzia Moluceana, no planter who has 
any acquaintance with this wonderfully fast- 
growing tree will advise that it be grown for cocoa- 
shade, but there are those who stick by such 
apparently objectionable trees as Alstonia 
Scholaris (Rukattana) relying upon their personal 
experience of its growth among cocoa. The 
Erythrinas are admitted to be as suitable shade 
trees for cocoa as could be wished for, but there 
are old-fashioned growers who still stand by 
the Jack. 
We have heard a deal about the advantages of 
growing Grevillea among tea, and an explanation 
from a chemical point of view has apparently 
given satisfaction ; but that there may be more 
than the relation indicated to account for the 
peculiar beneficial association of different plants, 
and that a deeper knowledge of biology will 
probably reveal greater marvels than we have 
yet known in the vegetable world, is more than 
likely. 
"The science of agriculture," says Sir Deidrich 
Brandls, in concluding his article, " was many 
centuries old before the efficacy of the rotation of 
crops was comprehended. Can it be that we are 
now to hear of a discovery that will revolutionise 
the present methods of culture in field and garden? " 
It remains to be seen. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
In the last issue of the Asiatic Quarterly, Major 
Phipson makes a forcible plea for the attention of 
Government to the problems of rural economy, 
and enunciates the following principle in support 
of that plea, namely,- It is not enough for 
Government to maintain peace and security and 
suppress crime throughout its jurisdiction, 
since the very fact of its discharging these func- 
tions tends to bring about a more or less rapid in- 
crease in population ; and such increase, if it is not 
to become a source of danger and disintegration to 
the State and misery to the people themselves, 
demands from it the efficient discharge of its 
economic functions. He holds that the more 
efficient a Government becomes in the discharge of 
any one special function, the more pressing the 
need for efficiency in others, and that better a 
falling short in all departments than success in one 
or two. These views, as the Indian Agriculturist 
puts it, are more academic than practical, but, 
all the same, Major Phipson's arguments have their 
application . 
Mr. G. E. Amarasekara, Planter, of Hauwela, 
writes to the Ceylon Observer of February 23rd :— 
" I shall be glad to know what other useful varie- 
ties of planluitis are found in the island, beside the 
following. If available I should like to secure them 
either by purchase or by exchange with the fol- 
lowingplantsl haveinpossession, viz.— lK.olikuttu, 
2 Suwaadel, 3 Puwalu, 4 Ratahondrawalu, 5 
Embulhondrawalu, (a) Sudu Embulhondrawalu, 
(b) PuUi Embulhondrawalu, 6 Watu Palu, 7 
Ana-walu, (a) Athdath Anawalu alias Supuana- 
walu, (b) Vanduru Anawalu, 8 Hamban Puwalu, 
9 Batu Kotchi, 10 Sudu Kotchi, II Marthawalu, 
12 Sudu Kannannoru, 13 Kalu Kannannoru, 
14 Sura Mondan, 15 Kalu Mondan, 16 Alu 
Mondan, 17 Bin-kehel, 18 Puspa Kedeli, 19 
Navari, 20 Kitela. The first nine varieties are 
generally used as fruits and the rest as vegetable. 
I learn that the Superintendent of Government 
School Gardens has a new variety from Queens- 
land called the Cavendish," but how far it will 
prove successful in our soil is yet to be seen." — In 
addition to the " Cavendish," plants of the follow- 
ing varieties have been imported from Queensland 
for the Government Stock Garden, where they are 
doing well, but have not fruited yet ; Ladies' finger, 
Sugar, Moka, Borego, Delena, Dacca and Butter. 
The first distribution of silkworm eggs to School 
Gardens has unfortunately not proved success- 
ful. A stray egg was hatched here and there, but 
the worms have not come to anything. The reason 
for this is that the ova did not undergo the 
necessary refrigeration. Part of the original 
supply which had been put in cold storage hatched 
out at Peradeniya and passed through the usual 
metamorphoses. The supply of eggs secured 
from these moths will be refrigerated before distri- 
bution to schools, so that better results may now 
be looked forward to. In the meanwhile the 
mulberry cuttings that have been planted out in 
School Gardens will have time to develope. 
On February 2l8t the improved box hive kept at 
the Government Stock Garden was successfully 
manipulated by the Superintendent of School 
Gardens, with the help of Mr. H. P. Fernando of the 
Colombo Museum, a few frames of comb honey 
were removed, and the hive cleaned out and re-set. 
The honey, in the opinion of all those who tasted 
it, was of excellent quality. 
We have to thank Prof. Datta, of Sibpur, for a 
parcel of seeds, consisting of the following 
varieties : — Soy Bean, Ouion, Beta Benghalensis, 
Buri Cotton (Gossypium herbaceum), Jute 
(Corchorus capsularis) and tubers of African yams. 
We have in return, sent at the request of Mr. 
Datta, the following seeds — Ipomcea Muricata^ 
Amaranthus Gungeticus and other varieties 
Spinach (2 varieties), Luff a (2 varieties), Capsicum 
(mixed), Ladies' Fingers, Long Runner Bean, Egg 
Plant, and a few additional varieties in stock. 
We have also to thank the Director-General of 
Agriculture for India for sending us a package of 
three varieties of American sweet potatoes that 
have been found suitable for cultivation in India. 
The potatoes reached us in fair order, considering 
the long journey by rail and boat from Nagpur, 
and many of them were found to have sprouted, 
The three varieties are named "Virginia," "New 
Jersey," and "Nancimund," We shall have more 
to say about them in our next issue, 
