COLOMBO. 
Added as a Supiolement Monthly to the " TBOPICAL AGRICULTURIST: 
The followiug pages include the Contents of the Agricultural Magazine for 
October : — 
Vol. XV.] 
OCTOBER, 1903. 
[No. 4. 
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF 
SCHOOL GARDENS FOR 1902. 
N the course of my inspections 
I visited ninety-seven schools 
during the year. At the end of 
latt year (1901) there were only 
five schools vcorking under the 
scheme ; there are now thirty-six. 
Iu the Western Province gardens have been 
started in connection with twelve schools. Of 
these, I would mention Jamburaliya, Kiriwat- 
tuduwa, Kambalohivra, Handapangoda, Muguru- 
gampola, and Danowita as beiii.ij fairly well 
established and working satisfactorily. The main 
difficulty in the Western Province is in connection 
with school premises, which lu many cases belong 
to villagers who, now that gardens have been 
established, are raising objections to their laud 
— 30 long lying idle — being utilized for the 
purpose. 
In the North-Western Province gardens have 
been started iu connection with seven schools. 
Of these, Weuda, Medagama, and Kirimetiyana 
are doing good work. The Assistant Government 
Agent of Chikw has taken a personal interest iu 
the development of the scheme. An application 
for the services of a gardener — to remain for some 
jime at each school and demonstrate practical 
details— was made by the Government Agent, who 
guarantees a salai'y from the Village Tribunal 
funds. I would recommend that the services of 
Uie head gardener Id the stock garden b? allowed 
in such cases, and the vacancy on the staff fillsd 
by the employment of a temporary hand. 
In the Province of Sabaragamuwa gardens have 
beeu started iu connection with nine schools. Of 
these, Hatela and Illukkumbura have shown the 
best work, but the rest are making satisfactory pro- 
gress. Here Crown land, as a rule, is provided, 
or land is procurable from the chiefs, who are 
interested in the scheme. In this connection I 
would specially mention the support given by 
the Ratemahatmaya of Meda and Eadawatu korales. 
In the Central Province gardens have beea 
started at five schools, and of these Tenna, Nuga- 
wela, and Gunnepana are the best. As is to be ex" 
pected, the climate is in favoui of the- gardens, but I 
have found it necessary to suppress a too great ten' 
dency to develop the ornamental side of school gar J 
dening. The Assistant Government Agent at Matale 
has secured additional land for Tenna school, aud 
has offered the boys a prize for gardening. 
In the Southern Province three gardens were 
started in connection with Narandeniya, Talpa- 
wila, aud Elakaka, and all are working well. 
In the North-Central Province, which was 
Tisited in the latter part of the year, and where 
three schools were selected, there is a good field 
for work. The Government Agent is specially 
interested iu the scheme, laud is available, and 
provision has been made for the cleaning and 
annual repairing of fences, &c- (as iu the Province 
of Sabaragamuwa), with Gausabhawa labour. The 
short supply of water is the only serious draw- 
back, as is the case in the North-Westeru Province 
also, 
