S26 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. 1, 1899. 
for contagious or infectious disease the i)ritient 
is isolated, but most cultivated plants are crowded 
together, often under unnatural conditions. Pot 
liowers in a hothouse may be sent to a hospital, 
but this is not easy in the case of those in a 
garden, and impossible with trees in a forest. 
Some progress has, undoubtedly, been made in 
vegetable therapeutics, but Great Britain, as is 
too often the case, is left behind in the race ot 
investigation. Germany and America both spend 
money liberally on promoting the scientific study 
ot plant diseases. In England the workers are 
few and their time often occupied by other duties. 
The officials at the ILoyal Gardens, as we learn 
from the " Kew Bulletin," do their best ; and as 
much is true of the Hritisli Museum and some 
Universities, Colleges, and Societies. But much 
more is wanted, and as it seems hopeless to look 
to the State, the beneficent millionaire is needed 
to found a school of plant pathology. But, it 
may be asked, what is the good of it : Cui bono, 
except to the endowed invesfi^ator ? Mr. Carru- 
thers answers the question. The cure of phyl- 
loxera in vines, of canker in trees, of many 
diseases in field crops, all mean money. The 
Department of Agriculture in the United States 
estimates the annual loss by plant diseases at 
forty million pounds, and the gain to peach 
growers in California alone, due to the cure of 
a disease in that fruit tree, is worth one hundred 
thousand pounds a yea^r.— Standard, Sept. 29. 
^ 
THE PARIS EXHIBITION. 
THE CEYLON SECTION, 
A visit to the Agricultural School— and it is a 
very pleasant drivetherein the early morning — will 
enable Colombo residents to gain an idea of what 
will be the character of the Ceylon Exhibits, 
although the specimens of tea are not yet sent 
in. We need not go into particulars of these, 
all the details will be published in due coarse, 
and the exhibits may (in advance) be described 
as thoroughly representing Ceylon tea, grown 
under all circumstances. No district has seriously 
refused to contribute, though some temporarily 
did in connection with the Dreyfus protest. 
Each box of tea will have on the outside the 
name of the estate, the grade and quantity, 
the name of the district, estate, exhibitor or 
agent, quantity and quality obtainable, and the 
price. Tbe elevation of the estate is also to 
be given, and its rainfall. All exiiibits are to 
be sent in by December I5th. Mr. Kenton and 
Mr. Davidson are entrusted with the final duty 
of submitting tea samples to the Tea Jury. 
At the 
AGRICULTUEAI. SCHOOL 
there are now arranged, though mostly kept under 
lock and key, a series of exhibits wiiich will well il- 
lustrate the industries, the attractions and the re- 
sources of Ceylon, The series of photographs 
by Mr. H C P Bell, C.C.S., our well-known 
Archeological Commissioner, of the Ruined Cities, 
the excavations and their surroundings are 
familiar, having been on view before. They 
have been prepared for exhibition by Messrs. 
W L H Skeen & Co., and with them is associated 
a well-arranged series of views from the studio 
of the Colombo Apothecaries' Co. In close 
proximity we find the loan collection of 
MALDIVIAN CURIOSITIES, 
placed at the disposal of the Committee by Mr 
Haly, and, those who look into the articles ex- 
hibited, will be pleased by the excellent lacquer 
work. The Cou-ervat'ir of Fi>re.-ts, Mr. Broun, 
gives specimens of trees (hora, del, mango, kina, • 
calamander, ani oUieii-), cut from trunks in 
most cases, which show that the forests <if 
Ceylon (when cheap transport facilities are devised) 
can vie with other countries in the production 
of timber suited for those in the branches 
of carpentry requiring high and careful polish, 
and the durability of a hard surface. In this 
connection specimens of carved work (all from 
the hands of Sinhalese men), exhibited by Messrs. 
Don Carolis & Sons, are especially interesting. 
A carved ebony flower stand, an ebony clock 
stand, a tamarind wood carved chair, porcupine 
quill ciiairs, &c. Here we also saw a col- 
lection of native woods (sixty-five in number} 
made at the request of the A.G.A. of Kegalla 
by Mr. Elapata, Ratemahatmaya. Mr. Kellow, 
of Nuwara EliyH, has kindly aided by sending 
specimens of the Acacia deeurrens, and its bark, 
in several varieties, and close to, handed down 
from a date not given, are two Kandyan wood 
pillars, carved grotesqi^ely, and skilfully. They 
are lent by the Museum authorities, and are 
amongst the most interesting features (from aa 
archit'ological point ot view) of the exhibits. 
Mr. Kellow again help^ in regard to a collection 
of coflee sticks, which have been worked up into 
various articles carefully carved, and beautifully 
polished. By the side of these is placed, tem- 
porarily of course, the trunk of a kitul palm tree. 
MINERALS. 
This is no summary of what will be shown of 
the mineral wealth of the island and we enumerate 
only the specimens received at the present time. 
Mr. Kellow, of Nuwara Eliya, has contributed 
specimens of limestone and blue spinel. Otlier 
interesting blocks and fragments are sent from 
Kegalla, from which come specimens of crystal- 
line rock stone, white stone and limestone. 
With Ceylon the occupation of 
FISHING 
must always have a prominent place, and which it 
has retained up to the present day as a purely na- 
tive industry. In this connection the collection of 
boats of the kind that float around our shores, 
and on our rivers, lakes and lagoons, is of 
great interest. Fourteen models are shown of 
boats, and specimens of nets and other fishing 
appliances are also given, which are well worthy 
of observation, though we fear that in the Ceylon 
Court at Paris they will escape observation, 
unless they are well-displayed. The fish- 
ing appliarces sent by the gentlemen, who 
have had the ' Veddah ' department in charge, 
are unique in their character. The nets, the 
spears, and other weapons used are very sin- 
gular. The model of the pearl-fishery boat (built 
by the order of Capt. Donnan) has been already 
referred to, and in this connection we should note 
the specimen of pearl shells sent from the Eastern 
Coast. The large Tambalagam shells have been 
mounted so as to form the wings of a beetle. 
OILS, 
too, come in for a share of attention. Our readers 
will remember the specimens of oils exhibited 
at the Colombo Agricultural Show by Mr. Warr. 
These are to be sent, and with them are placed 
' wild ' oils sent by Mr, J. A. Nugawella, 
Ratamahatmeya of Kegalla, and beside these there 
are essential oils forwarded by Messrs. Coates & 
Co. of Galle, as well £^s Anatto seed oils, which 
