June 1, 19Q4.J Supplement to the Tropical Jgricitltunst." 
805 
ing ruin, till a prncticnl friend proposed that 
they should try to discover the extent of tlie 
dftmage, with the result (so snys the prnctical 
friend who was the purveyor cf the tiile) that the 
contents were found intact, for the very good 
reason that the white ant was unable, either owing 
to the hardness or unpleasant flavour of the wood, 
or for some often reason, to make any impression 
on the timber, which, it is related, showed a 
smooth surface when cleaned and examined. Who 
can give us further (not better) testimony of 
the fact that Margosa wood is proof against the 
white ant F 
The following notes refer to operations in the 
Government Stock Garden : — 
The guava trees raised from Trinidad seed are 
Juit beginning to form fruit. The guava is very 
highly spoken of, and we trust we shall find 
the fruit as good in the East as it is reported 
to be in the West Indies. 
Pineapples have been fruiting well during 
April and May, and Xew pines, of over 13 lb. 
weight with fine flavour, have been a great success. 
The Kangaroo grass (Anthistiria ciliaia), 
of which we shall have more to say later, 
has grown up to gigantic proportions and 
is now iu flower. Paspalum dilatatum is also 
slowly spreading by self-sowing. 
Mushroom culture is about to be begun in 
the Government Stock Garden. The storing of 
seed is now carried on on new lines. Special 
air-tight tins made by Messrs. W. II. Davies 
& Co. are being used, 
A Rererence Library and Reading Room has just 
been started in the office of the Superintendent of 
School Gardens. A beginning will soon be made 
with the Agricultui il Museum. 
Tobacco has p.-oduced a good crop, and experi- 
ments in the curing of the leaves are in progress. 
Kiu-siu paddy has been sown figaiu in our 
small experimental paddy-field. 
We are glad to hear of the interest which Mr. 
Peter de i* brew, Commercial Assistant Commis- 
sioner for Ceylon is taking, while at St. Louis, in 
mothers sgricultural. We understand that he is 
studying the American method of cultivating rice 
and tobacco, and knowing Mr. de Abrew as we do, 
we have little doubt that he will return to Ceylon 
well primed with a mass of useful information 
of a practical nature. 
Provision has been made for the awarding of ten 
prizes of Rs. 25 each for the best School Gardens 
in the various groups into which they have 
been classified, and the gardens will be judged 
between July and November according to a pro- 
gramme circulated among the teachers. 
The Agri-Horticultural and Industrial Exhibi- 
tion to be held in Moral uwa, under the auspices 
of the Colombo Agri-IIorlicultural Society, pro- 
mises to be a great success. The inhabitants of 
Moratuwa are determined to put their best foot 
forward, and shew Ilis Excellency the Governor, 
wlio has kindly consented to open the Show 
on the 18th of August, what they are capable of 
producing from an agricultural and manufacturing 
point' of view, and we have no doubt that even 
many jjersons long resident in the Island will be 
astonished at the products of the Moratuwa 
district. 
Mr. A. E. Rajapakse, Planter, of Kadirane 
Estate, Xatunayake, an alumnus of tlie late 
School of Agriculture has, with his usual 
liberality, repeated his offer of Rs. 50 for the 
best School Garden in the Western Province. 
The gardens will be judged prior to the Moratuwa 
Show, where the prize will be awarded. 
We are obliged to Mr. II. P. MacMillun, Cura- 
tor of the Royal Botanic Garden", for a 
photograph of the Government Stock Garden. 
Mr. MacMillati is a successful photo-artist, and 
in addition to his numerous duties in tbe Botanic 
Department, takes the photographs for the records 
cf the Department. He has made an excellent 
collection of Agricultural and Horticultural 
subjects which will be shown in special frames 
at tiie St. Louis Exhibition. 
RAINFALL TAKEN AT THE GOVERNMENT 
STOCK GARDEN FOR .MAY, 1904. 
1 
Sunday 
. -07 
17 
Tuesday 
. Nil 
2 
Monday 
, Nil 
18 
Wednesdiiy .. 
. -07 
3 
Tuesday 
, Nil 
19 
Thursday 
. -16 
4 
Wednesday.., 
. Nil 
20 
Friday 
. -07 
5 
Thursday 
, Nil 
21 
Saturday 
. -01 
6 
I'.-day 
. Nil 
22 
Sunday 
. -11 
7 
Saturday .. 
. Nil 
23 
Monday 
. 4-91 
8 
Su'ulay 
. Nil 
24 
Tuesday 
. -16 
9 
Monday 
. 1-^5 
25 
Wednesday .. 
. -11 
10 
Tuesday 
. -92 
26 
Thi'-sday ,. 
. -33 
11 
Wednesday .. 
. Nil 
27 
Friday 
. -24 
12 
Thursday .. 
.- -94 
28 
Satardaj' 
. Nil 
13 
Fiiday 
. -34 
29 
Sunday 
. Nil 
14 
Saturday 
. -40 
30 
Monday 
. -17 
15 
Sunday 
. Nil 
31 
Tuesday 
. 1-04 
16 
Monday 
. Nil 
1 
Wednesday .. 
. -03 
Total in. ...11-39 
Mean in.... '37 
Greatest amount of rainfall in any 24 hours 
from 22nd to 23rd May, being = 1-93 inches. 
No. of days in which rain fell — 18 da/s. 
ALEX. PERERA. 
DEATH BY POISONING AMONG CATTLE 
There is little doubt that a large number of 
deaths among cattle is caused by the consumption 
of poisonous vegetation, and it is a pity that the 
pro[)erties of our poisonous plants are not studied 
by those best qualified to do so. 
In the Vetcrinnrij Journal is just now appearing 
a serial paper entitled " V^eterinary Toxicology " 
by Lieut. -Colonel J. A. Nuna, which when com- 
plete will prove a most valuable contributiou to the 
subject, and, as it is intended to publish it iu book 
