854 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agrcultwist." [June 2, 1902. 
RAINFALL TAKEN AT THE SCHOOL OF 
AGEICULTURE DURING THE MONTH 
OF MAY, 1902. 
1 
Thursday 
... -13 
17 
Saturday ... 
•86 
2 
Friday 
.. '07 
18 
Sunday 
•32 
3 
Saturday 
.. *70 
19 
Monday ... 
•12 
4 
Sunday 
.. -08 
20 
Tuesday 
Nil 
5 
Monday 
... -08 
21 
VTednesday... 
6*86 
6 
Tuesday 
... '43 
22 
Thursday . . 
•24 
7 
Wednesday 
.. -40 
23 
Friday 
•15 
8 
Thursday 
... -20 
24 
Saturday , . 
•09 
9 
Friday 
... Nil 
25 
Sunday ... 
Nil 
10 
Saturday 
.. Nil 
26 
Monday 
•06 
11 
Sunday 
.. Nil 
27 
Tuesday 
Nil 
12 
Monday 
... -02 
28 
Wednesday 
•20 
13 
Tuesday 
... -11 
29 
Thursday ... 
•84 
14 
Wednesday 
... -15 
30 
Friday 
•10 
15 
Thursday 
... -12 
31 
Saturday . . 
1-40 
16 
Friday 
... 1-02 
1st June 
I^06 
Total... 15 -68 
Mean... '51 
The greatest amount of rainfall registered in 
24 hours on the 21st May, 1902, 6-86 inches. 
Eecorded by Alex. Pebbea. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
We publish in this issue an account of the 
cultivation of ground-nuts, of which a small crop 
has just been taken at the Stock Garden, from 
whence the seeds will be distributed to School 
Gardens. As we stated in our last issue it 
is surprising how little this plant is cultivated 
in the Island, in spite of its being so valuable 
a product for dietetic and other points of view. 
About the middle of May •we had the oppor- 
tunity of inspecting the mangbsteen plantation 
on Mr. J. Dassanayake's property at Bellana, where 
the mangosteeu tree flourishes as luxuriantly 
as we have seen it do anywhere. At the time 
of our visit the trees were heavily laden with 
crop just coming into maturity. 
We were struck a few days ago by the peculiar 
odour of chlorine gas in the gardens of the School 
of Agriculture, and were reminded of the fact that 
we had the same experience last year, as far 
as we remember about the same time. We have 
failed to connect the odour with some form of 
vegetation in the neighbourhood, but it may 
be that it comes from some neighbouring 
garden, as it seems to be brought by the 
wind at intervals. There is no reason for believ- 
ing that the smell is due to decomposition. 
Have any of our readers had a similar experience, 
or do thoy know of any flowers emitting the 
peculiar odour referred to ? 
Of the fruits that are well suited to the very 
Bandy soil of the "Cinnamon Gardens" of 
Colombo are the custard apple and the pine. A 
plantation of tho latter has been bearing very 
well all through May, and there will be more fruit 
to gather in June. The custard apple trees ar 
just now in heavy bearing, and always bear good 
crops. The trees have been given a small dressing 
of rape manure which we have found good for all 
fruits. The great trouble with custard apples 
is to keep the fruit from being attacked by 
squirrels. Apparently nothing will force the 
orange into bearing in such a soil. Trees growing 
in the clay soils of the Matale district are worth 
looking at about this time. 
SERICULTURE AN INDUSTEY FOE 
THE NATIVES OF CEYLON. 
As long ago as August, 1896, a correspondent 
writing to the Agricultural Magazine made the 
following allusion to this subject : — It must be 
admitted that we have very few industries in the 
Island capable of giving employment to the native 
agriculturist, and especially to the members of his 
family during the time they have little work in the 
paddy fields. The Sinhalese cultivator is accused 
of apathy and gross laziness, but the average 
tillers of the soil cannot be expected to possess the 
knowledge and resources necessary for experiments 
in connection with new industries with a view to 
their adoption. No one will, however den}', that 
when he knows of an industry that is likely to bring 
him an income and will not interfere either with 
the cultivation of his field or with his liberty os a 
proprietor, he ii not only ready to adopt it, but is 
capable of carrying on the work with success. 
Under these circumstances it surely behoves those 
who have the welfare of the country at heart to 
experiment in connection with and popularise such 
industries u will give employment to and draw 
forth the latent energies and capacity of a large 
number of the rural population. The improvement 
of the villagers' condition cannot be effected by the 
introduction of any industries which require large 
capital, and which will necessarily involve 
factory work and cooly labour. These will benefit 
the larger capitalists, but the material and moral 
welfare of the agricultural masses can only be im- 
proved by providing them with work that will not 
necessitate the sacrifice of their independence or 
the neglect of their holdings, however insigni- 
ficant these may be. They must be encouraged 
to depend on themselves and work for themselve* 
and not to work for others to the neglect of their 
land ; end they must not be encouraged to congre- 
gate in manufacturing centres where with busy 
surroundings they begin to feel discontented, a 
condition which leads to much trouble. Under 
these circumstances the importance of home in- 
dustries cannot be over-valued. Sericulture or the 
rearing of silkworms may prove to be one of the 
industries adapted to the peculiar circumstances of 
thevillagers. We say "may"bocause there are 
industries which though they appear likely to be 
suitable will eventually be found to contain some 
element which makes it impossible for the people 
to carry it on with success. This point can only 
be satisfactorily settled by one or more experi- 
ments, and there is no reason why such a trial 
should not be undertaken in Ceylon. 
