THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Aug. 1, 1903. 
THE HENARATGODA AGRI-HORTICULTURAL 
SHOW : 
H.E. THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE 
AGRICULTURISTS SHOULD BE PRINTED 
IN SINHALESE AND CIRCULATED. 
We are inclined to look upon the Show held 
at Heneratgoda during the past three days, 
as one of the most important and instructive 
organised under the auspices of the Colombo 
Agri-Horticultural Society. We do not 
mean that it can be compared in fullness, 
variety, or completeness with those with 
which successive Government Agents of the 
Western Province have identified them- 
selves, since the days of Sir Charles 
Peter Layard— the veteran Kajah of many 
accomplishments and much practical know- 
ledge of the people (and their industries,) 
with whom he sought to keep in touch 
to the end of his days, though far removed 
from the scene of his prolonged and 
honourable labours, And here, it is pleasant 
to record the reflection of one who was 
present and specially noted, among the 
Colombo visitors last Wednesday, the 
successor to the name and title of that 
ideal administrator, who was taking an 
interest in the purely rural industries 
represented at the Show. We have sug- 
gested that the Show was a small affair, 
as compared with Shows which used to 
be held at the Racquet Court and 
Agricultural School in Colombo ; but 
it was not intended to be otherwise. 
Its importance consisted, not in its magni- 
tude, but because it constituted the first 
departure from the town into the country. 
We have been advocates of this change, 
for a score of years, if not more, with 
others who recognise that Agriculture is 
the backbone of the Island's prosperity, 
and that on its development, largely 
depends the progress in prosperity of our 
peasantry. To Mr. LeMesurier — who has 
been rather unfortunately prominent re- 
cently in the newspapers— we believe, belongs 
the credit of liaving initiated Shows in 
District capitals, like Kegalla, Nuwara Eliya 
and Mafcara, as distinguished from Provincial 
capitals ; and this further departure right 
into the country is to be doubly welcomed, 
now that School G-ardens have been estab- 
lished in the villages, not only to impart 
practical knowledge and an appreciation of 
the beautiful to the rising generation ; but 
also to serve as object-lessons to both old 
and young. And, for many reasons, the 
choice of Henaratgoda as the site of the 
first Village Show is to be commended. It 
is within easy distance of Colombo, 
whence necessarily* as matters now stand, 
enterprises of this character have to be 
dii'ected ; it is within easy; reach of the 
local Railway Station ; and, in the Govern- 
ment Experimental Garden, an uncommonly 
attractive site is ready at hand, with its 
lessons of beauty and industry. 
Nor is it only in its possibilities and 
potentialities that Henaratgoda is a 
desirable spot for a country Show, It 
further answered expectations in its achieve 
ments. It can hardly be claimed for the 
Show that it left nothing to be desired. 
Nobody expec^ed that in a first attempt ; 
but such faults and deficiencies as were 
noted were almost inevitable in a new 
departure, and they are of a character 
which can be remedied, and, we doubt not, 
will be remedied at the next Village Show. 
The utility of a la,rge and influential 
General Committee cannot be gainsaid. 
It is necessary to enlist public sympathy 
and financial support for the undertaking; 
but the Executive Committee must consist 
of ladias and gentlemen really able and 
willing to give practical help in organisa- 
tion, arrangement, and the multiplication, 
of exhibits and exhibitors I It is not fair to 
place on the Agent of the Province, the 
Korale Mudaliyar, and especially the 
Honorary Secretary, a greater burden than 
they can efficiently and fairly bear. We 
cannot but think that Mr. Drieberg, who 
worked cheerfully and noiselessly as usual, 
had too much placed on his shoulders. That 
seems to have been the universal opinion 
on the spot. Local men of influence and 
enterpr ise should be well represented on the 
executive; and surely. Dr. William Dias, 
the retired Colonial Surgeon who has ex- 
changed the scalpel for the plough, so to 
speak, with indomitable pluck and grati- 
fying success, is one whose name should 
not have been omitted from the list. And 
he lives within two or three miles of the 
site of the Show! Then, the Judges, too, 
should be chosen, not alone for their know- 
ledge of the articles to be judged, but also 
for their willingness to discharge the oner- 
ous duties devolving on them. And here, 
too, we cannot but think too great a burden 
was placed on some at least of the ladies 
and gentlemen, on whose opinion rested 
the awards. There should be a fair dis- 
tribution of labour ; but, perhaps, qualified 
Judges are not easy to find, and in this, 
as in most matters, it is the willing hors« 
that has to pay the penalty of his 
qualities. Anyway, there are articles whose 
taste and smell are of as much importance as 
their appearance, if not indeed of even greater 
importance ; and jams and jellies, pickles 
and fruit, oil and ghee must be numbered 
among such, And here, a protest must be 
entered against the inclusion for competition, 
and not merely for show, of articles which 
had been awarded prizes at previous Ex- 
hibitions. The old is better than the new, 
among some things at least. It is so with 
wine, and it is said to be so with arrack ; 
and as it is impossible to manufacture age, 
or to lessen the time-interval between 
events already accomplished, articles vener- 
able for age should not be allowed to com- 
pete with those of more recent manufac- 
ture. Then, the clearness of oil grows with 
long-standing, and it is nob reasonable that 
specimens which have done duty in past 
years should be allowed co snatch prizes 
from those which were specially prepared 
for the Show— the more so when these are 
of exceptional quality. There were splendid 
