140 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculhirist.'* 
[Arc. 1, \m. 
siderably rtduced. The methods adopted in the 
preparation of flag or roll aniiatto are fully given 
in the Kew Bulletin for July 1887. 
I, am &c., 
(Signed) D. Morbis. 
The Hon. R. H. Meade, c.b. 
The supposition in that early period of the 
history of this new product in attributing the 
inferiority of the seed to premature gathering is 
quite natural ; but since it has been pointed out 
in the June number of the Ai/ricuUttral Magazine 
that there, are more than two varieties of 
annatto growing in different countries, one 
inferior to the otlier as regards the quality of the 
colouring matter each contained, it may be safely 
inferred that the variety growing in Lagos is not 
the same as what we have in Ceylon. And if the 
Seed now selling in the English market at Id. per lb. 
is the same as the sample referred to in the above 
correspondence, I fear h wont pay the growers to 
send any more there ! 
In my next 1 hope to give some more interest- 
ing notes. 
A. VAN STAREEX. 
Matale, 17th July, 1899. 
RAINFALL TAKEN AT THE SCHOOL OF 
AGRICULTURE DURING THE MONTH 
OF JUNE, 1899. 
1 
Thursday 
Nil 
17 
Saturday . . 
•15 
2 
Friday 
Nil 
18 
Sunday 
•28 
3 
Saturday 
■38 
19 
Monday 
•46 
4 
Sunday 
1-05 
20 
Tuesday 
•24 
5 
Monday 
1-72 
21 
Wednesday. . 
Thursday . . 
Nil 
6 
Tuesday 
1-17 
22 
Nil 
7 
Wednesday . . 
Nil 
23 
Friday 
Nil 
8 
Thursday 
•98 
24 
Saturday . . 
Nil 
9 
Friday 
1-3 
25 
Sunday 
Nil 
10 
Saturday 
•fi4 
26 
Monday 
•01 
11 
BUnday 
Nil 
27 
Tuesday 
•02 
l'< 
Monrlny 
l-i'2 
28 
Wednesday. . 
•25 
IS 
Tuesday 
•48 
29 
Thursday , . 
1-09 
14 
Wedne.sday . 
•29 
80 
Friday 
•6 
16 
Thursday 
. Nil 
I 
Saturday . . 
Nil 
16 
Friday 
. -5 
Total.. 12 ^73 
Greatest amount of rainfall in any 24 hours 
on the 5th inst,., 1'72 inches. 
Mean rainfall for the month GS in. 
Recorded by Mr. J. A. G. Rodbigo. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
The Colombo Agri-Horticultural Society's Ex- 
hibition! was held on July 21st and 22nd and 
proved to be a great success. The attendance 
•Was large, being estimated on the first day to 
have exceeded 3,000. The exhibits of fruits and 
vegetables though not large in number were of 
a good quality. Special accommodation was pro- 
vided for arts and manufactures and cattle, and 
both sections were well represented. His Excel- 
lency the Lieut.-Governor attended the first day 
and distributed the gold medals. On the second day 
Mrs. S. M. Fowler, wife of the Hon'ble the Govt. 
Agent, Western Province, distributed the silver 
medals. 
Ouly nine gold medals (cf exceptionally high 
value and finish) were awarded to the following : — • 
Mr. P. D. Siebel (collection of flowers and 
pot plants). 
Mr. A. J. R. de Soysa CCinnaroon). 
Mr. A. W. D. Jayasuriya (Paddy). 
Lady de Soysa (Tea). 
Mr. George C. AVarr (Coconut Oil). 
Mr. J. W. C. de Soysa (Native Bull). 
Mr. T. Sanmugam (Poultry). 
Mr. Weerakody (Collection of native fruits). 
Mr. C. C. Barber (Cacao). 
Mr. S. M. Burrows, the new Director of I'ublic 
Instruction, will arrive before tlie end of the 
year and resume duties probably in November. 
While welcoming him we cannct but feel sorry 
to lose Mr. Harward, the Acting D.P.I., who has 
proved an ideal Director and won the esteem 
of all. 
The report of the Agricultural Commission is 
now due and will no doubt be forwarded to 
Government within the month. It is being eagerly 
looked forward to, as the deliberations of the 
Coir.Qussioiiers have so far been of a private 
nature. We trust the best decision has been 
arrived at for ihe good of the ngriculture of 
the Island. 
The operations of the Paris Exhibition Com- 
mittee are taking practical form, and Exhibits 
under the various sections are being now made 
up, and indeed are beginning to come in. The 
Hon. Mr. C. P. Layard has succeeded the Hon. 
Mr. Ellis as Chairman. 
Foot and mouth disense broke out in the Govern- 
ment Dairy despite all the precautionary measures 
that are in force against the incursions of epizootics. 
There is no doubi that the dairy herd was infected 
at the Havelock Racecourse where the animal.'' 
are daily sent to p isture. These grounds are, as 
a rule, over-run by stray cattle during the night, 
and the virus of the disease was most probably 
deposited on the pasture grass by these stray 
animals. The dairy is once again quite free 
from disease, though the occurrence of the out- 
break has caused a serious diminution in the 
output of milk. 
FIBRES. 
It has already been noted as an interesting fact, 
though in no wise a remarkable one, that the 
most valuable commercial fibres of today were the 
prominent fibres of ancient times, illustrating, in 
a word, the survival of the fittest. Flax, cotton, 
hemp, the liliaceous fibres, many of the palms, 
reeds, and grasses were known and valued in 
past ages on both hemispheres,- being employed in 
connection with the common animal fibres, as 
wool, hair and silk. When or how vegetable 
fibres first came to be used will neve'" be known, 
but it is possible that they were first employed in 
aiding man to secure his food, as. the natives of 
every country from the burning tropics to the 
frigid north have drawn largely upon the re- 
sourcea of the vegetable kingdom for their fish 
