588 
SiippUmtnt to tin " Tropical Agriculhu-tst." [Feb. 1, 1899, 
hiancli of work. In Ceylon practically notliii g lias 
been done ol' tliis nainn-, iliougli i ow that there 
is some prospect of an Agricultural Uepartment, 
being organised, it is not unlikely the matter ■will 
receive attention. 
The iSehool of Agriculture has, however, always 
tried to introduce new varieties of feeeds and plants 
and distribute them t.mong cultivators, but as 
these efforts were more or less of a personal and 
private character and unsupported liy Government 
aid (for which, indeed, there is no provision) the 
work has been of a very limited nature. 
An attempt to introduce a variety of American 
rice was unfortunately uii8ucces.'ful through tlie 
seed having been damaged in transit, but tome 
Jiengal seed paddy imported last year has become 
fiiirly established in the island, and Mr. E. Elliott, 
•who is now an extensive rice grower in the 
Southern Province, could speak to the excellence 
of the quality and quantity of the crops of this 
particular variety whicli l.e grows. 
We are now able to announce the introduction of 
a new variety of sweet potato brouglit over from 
America, and at present growing in the grounds of 
the School of Agriculture. In this connection we 
would draw attention to the fact that while the 
ordinary method of propagation in vogue in the 
island is by means of cuttings from the vine, 
the system adopted in. tiie United States is differ- 
ent, viz., by planting tubers in hot beds and thereby 
raising plants which are separated from the potato 
and ijlauted out. It is considered that this latter 
method (whicli we may assume from its being 
practised in America — which always leads the 
way in improved agricultural methods — is to be 
preferred to any other) secures more healthy and 
robust plants by conserving t!ie inherent vitality 
of the parent plant and preserving the good 
qualities of the potato. It cannot be denied that 
as a general rule the sweet potatoes raised in 
the island are of a degenerate stock as evidenced 
particularly in tlie lack of flavour and substance 
in the tuber whose special characteiistic is its 
fibrous nature. It is therefore a matter of some 
note that a new variety of the sweet potato has now 
been brought into the island, which, moreover, 
possesses all the good qualities that can be desired. 
The potato is that known as the "x^ancimum," and 
■was kindly procured for us by Mr. Geo- Warr who 
has already done much to develope the minor 
industries of the island, and given particular atten- 
tion to the oils produced by many of our indigenous 
trees. We would also desire to draw attentioir 
to another detail in connection with the cul- 
tivation of the sweet potato, viz., that while in 
Ceylon the branches of the vines are allowed to 
root freely and travel far and wide, the practice iti 
America is to prevent the branches from taking 
root. It may be thought that the latter system 
would result in a reduction of crop since the rooted 
branches also produce tubers, but,on the other hand, 
it is stated that the tubers are more numerous and 
better developed by being forced to confine them- 
selves to the central hole in which the main roots 
of the plant stand, as is the case with the 
Englnh potato. 
Another new thing (new in every sense 
of being unknown in the island) we have 
received from the same donor is a parcel 
t'f gugar-caae see4 the "light amber" variety, 
The introduction of sugar-cane feed for the fiiet 
time into Ceylon is we C' ntider dt-Keriing of more 
than jias^^iiig notice. We trust our efforts to raife 
cunes from the seeds will be fucci'6*-f ul, and tliot it 
will lead to the eotabli^hing of a desirable variety. 
Still another donation we ore the recipients of 
is a parcel of four varieties of tobacco beed, des- 
cribed as fidlows : — 
1. Zimmer's Spani«h. — Early variety of good 
fcize — liirgely uted for cigar fillers. 
2. Tennessee Hed. — Sjilendid sort of good 
quality — used for making plug tobacco. 
3. Oliio Seed Ijeaf. — Favorite variety. Leaf 
good sire— greiit favorite for cigur wruppf^rs. 
4. While Bnrky. — Noted lor its porous oud 
absorbing nature — splendid plug tobacco vuiiety. 
In view of the .enewed interest in tobacco cul- 
tivation in the island, we trust that a good per- 
centage of the seeds will germitiale. 
Mr. Warr has also been good en>jugli to give us 
six layered giape vine cutting which have come to 
us all the way from California iu fairly good con- 
dition, and have already been put down iu • a 
nursery. The following are the varieties: — 
Red Cornichan. Muscat, Faberr.-igos, Zinfandel, 
Burger and Tokay 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
Referring! to recent reports on and accounts of 
the Plantain, the Indian Ayriculturi-rt writes: — 
" The <S/jec<af'>r with the happy knack it lia^ ot 
touching nothing without adorning it — to para- 
plirase the Latin tag — publishes an article on 
Plantains and Banana-^ which affords a gireat 
deal of up-to-date information on this intereat- 
ing topic: while in the October number of the 
Windsor Maijazinc there is an equally charming 
paj)er with illustrations of banana-growing in 
the Canary Islands, which will well pay perusal. 
We notice, too, in the October number of the 
Tropical Agriculturist a report of the Superin- 
tendent of the Ceylon School of Agriculture 
on plantain fibre and dried plantains which deals 
specially with theie features of the plantain 
industry." 
AVe welcome back to Ceylon Veterinary Sur- 
geon D. Chinniah after a specially successful 
career at the Bombay Veterinary College. We 
understand tliat Mr. Chinniah is the only Ceylon 
student who has got a first-class diploma,"and 
he was the only one of his year in the College 
w.ho gained this honour. We wish all good fortune 
to the new Veterinary Surgeon, who is an old boy 
of the School of Agriculture. 
H.E. the Governor has been pleased to appoint 
the following gentlemen members of a Commission 
to report on the advisability of establishing a 
Department of Agriculture in Ceylon : The Hon'bles 
A. C. Lawrie, F. R Ellis, L. F, Lee, A. de A. 
Seneviratne, J. N, Campbell, Messr*. A. F. Broun, 
J. C. Willis, S. D. Bandaranuiake, P. Coomara- 
swamy, John Ferguson, F. G. A. Lane, and J. 
H. Starey. Mr. C Drieberg, Superintendent of the 
School of Agriculture, has been appointed Secre- 
tary of the CommissioB. . - 
