214 
Bupplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist.'" [Sept. 1, 190S. 
suitable for cultivation. It is not unlikely that 
the results of these experiments will prove of 
value to us as indicating the direction our own 
enquiries should take. In a bulletin published 
by the Principal of the Cawnpore Tnduslrial 
School, we are told that among the long-stapled 
varieties, the American, as a rule, did better than 
the Egyptian. It was found that the growing 
season was too short to allow the Egyptian 
varieties to come to maturity. It is therefore 
laid down that in order to introduce long-stapled 
cotton, it is, in the first place, essential that the 
varieties be'chosen, which, in their natire habitat 
mature in about the time available according to 
local conditions. As the result of the experiments 
referred to, it is thought probable that cotton 
could be grown in Cawnpore long enough and fine 
enough to spin to 30s to iOs in the local mills. 
The best of the naturali'^ed Atderican cotton gave 
them a first crop of 259 lbs, per acre, and a second 
crop of 217 lbs. The total amount of seed from 
both crops was 945 lbs. In the same year, a 
hybrid produced 655 lbs, cotton and 1,375 lbs, 
seed for both pickings. For the improved 
Cawnpore variety the corresponding figures are 
396 lbs. cotton and 942 lbs. seed. When it is 
remembered that the best cotton districts in India 
will barely average 200 lb?, per acie, and a good 
American crop will not exceed 300 lbs,, the 
significance of the figures will be apparent. 
The extraction of the oil from cotton seed 
seems further to promise an opsning for ginning 
factories to utilize their power during the many 
months of the year when there is no cotton to gin. 
It is an industry that is considered by competent 
authorities to be naturally associated with a 
ginning factory; and if an enterprising firm should 
embark in it without even waiting for action 
on the part of Government, it is the opinion of 
the Chairman of the Upper Chamber of Commerce 
at Cawnpore, that there is every indication of a 
successful venture. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
ing the coal and lime, there is formed a black mass, 
which is termed nitrogen of lime. It is claimed 
that the new product will be invaluable in con- 
nection with agriculture, and that it will be able 
to compete with guano. Chili nitrates and sul- 
phate of ammonia as a fertiliser of the soil, 
Mr. de Courcy Short, Assistant Government 
Agent of Nuwara Eliya, is taking steps to im- 
},rove the stock of Indian corn grown in tlie 
Nuwara Eliya and BaduUa districts, and the Super- 
intendent of School Gardens has indebted for the 
best varieties of Australian maize seed for distribu- 
tion, in these districts. 
In another column we reproduce " A Jfature 
Study " on the White Ant which is always^ an in- 
teresting object to the Tropical reader, and has 
furnished the subject of a charming article by 
Prof. Drummond, There may be some who have 
not noticed the only species of Termite which 
builds above ground — lately pointed out to us by 
Mr. E, E. Green, Government Entomologist. It 
is to be found on decaying trees forming a " nest " 
of blackish material which is said to be entirely 
built up of their excreta. 
The invention of a new fertilizer is announced 
from Germany, where it is being promoted by one 
of the twd leading electrical companies in that 
country. It is termed nitrogen of lime, and is 
composed of a combination formed of one part of 
calcium, one part of carbon, and two parts of 
nitrogen. As is known, carbide of calcium is ob- 
tained by the reduction of lime and coal in the 
electric furnace, and it has now been found that 
on introducing nitrogen into the furnace contain- 
RAINFALL TAKEN AT THE GOVEENMENT 
STOCK GARDEN FOR AUGUST, 1903. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
Saturday . 
Sunday 
Monday 
Tuesday 
Wednesday 
Thursday . 
Friday 
Saturday ,, 
Sunday 
Monday 
Tuesday 
Wednesday. 
Thursday , 
Friday 
Saturday . 
Sunday 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
•24 
3-10 
.03 
Nil 
1-24, 
•07 
•74 
17 Monday 
18 Tuesday 
19 AVednesday 
20 Thursday 
21 Friday 
22 Saturday 
23 Sunday 
24 Monday 
25 Tuesday 
26 Wednesday 
27 Thursday 
28 Friday 
29 Saturday 
30 Sunday 
31 Mond.iy 
1 Tuesday 
.. .14 
.. -30 
., *40 
., -16 
.. Nil 
.. -08 
.. 1-73 
. -02 
.. -21 
.. Nil 
.. -05 
.. Nil 
.. Nil 
.. Nil 
.. -03 
.. Nil 
Total in.. ..8-27 
Greatest amount of rainfall 
from 10th to Uth 3-10 inches. 
No. of days on which rain fell 16. 
Alex. 
Mean.. in, '27 
in any 24 hours. 
Perera, 
SCHOOL GARDENS IN CEYLON, 
We have been permitted to reprint the fol- 
lowing interesting Report, which is useful as 
being a disinterested account of the progress 
made by some of the School Gardens in the 
Western Province, Such a report affords valu- 
able criticism, and coming from an expert should 
lead the teachers in charge to discover in which 
directions improvement is possible, and to take 
the necessary action. 
Excerpts referring to particular gardens are 
about to be forwarded to the teachers concerned. 
938A. Royal Botanic Gardens, 
Peradeniya, 25th July, 1903. 
SlE, 
I have the honour to submit through you the 
following Report on my visit to judge the 
School Gardens in the Western Province which 
competed for the prizes offered in connection 
with the Colombo Agri-Horticultural Society's 
Show held in Henaratgoda Botanic Gaidens ou 
2ud, 3rd, and 4th July, 1903. 
