Sepfehiber i, tPpi.] Supplement to the " Tvopical Jgricultuvist,'" 
21$ 
the Kiriys Stream. This stream is now con- 
siderabljr reduced in breadtli owing to, 1 suppo&j, 
the deposit of sediment. The fields are about 250 
aniuiiams in jjaddy sowing extent; and a panoramic 
view of them cnukl be got from theMariawatte Tea 
Factory. An atuvri or granary with carved coUossal 
pillars' for the storing of paddy was constructed 
by one of the later kings. Tlie wooden part of 
the structure is massive and grotesque, and yet 
ornamental. This atvva was capable of holding 
about 20,000 Inishels. The late Martyn Mohan- 
diram of Gampola, a Kandyan Chief reputed for 
his riches, repaired the structure, taking care to 
preserve its former shape and style. This atuoa 
is at present known as the Gampola Atuva, and 
belongs to Kehelpanala Pohath Walauwa. The 
fertility of these fields has been reduced to an 
appreciable degree, as may be proved from a com- 
parison of present crops with the produce of former 
times. The fields being Maligawa property are 
exempted from all taxes." 
A correspondent writes: — " One cannot but 
admire the excellent arrangements made by the 
Agricultural Department of Madras for gathering 
information regarding the condition of all 
branches of agriculture. Men qualified for the 
worlc of inspecting and reporting on such subjects 
as crops, cultivation, cattle, &c., are sent about tlie 
country to enquire into these matters, with a view 
to rendering such timely aid as it is possible to 
give, when assistance is needed. Here in Ceylon 
it is only after the lapse of much time (and it is 
during such time that any action, if necessary, 
sliould be taken) that the existence of any abnor- 
mal circumstances connected with any branch 
of agriculture is made known by a casual 
reference to the fact in the report of a revenue 
officer. As might be expected the reference it- 
self is too vague to be of any practical value, no 
details, reliable facts and correct figures being 
given. tVhile in the Madras Presidency infor- 
mation is gathered firsthand by Agri- 
cultural Inspectors wlio travel about with this 
object in view, in Ceylon similar information is 
commonly geithered by some illiterate unpaid 
minor headman, who so far from j)0ssessing a 
special knowledge of agricultural matters, is some- 
times poorer in his general attainments than an 
ordinary village schoolboy. The information 
gathered by these minor headmen is passed over 
to others, who though higher in station are not 
more intelligent than they ; in due course the 
information reaches the Mudaliyar, through whom 
it reaches headquarters. I am able to 
give an instance of how ' reports ' are made 
from my own personal experience. A village 
headman casually enquired of me what 
weight of arrowroot tubers would be suflicient to 
produce one pound of flour. Having had no 
experience of the prejjaration of arrowroot flour at 
the time, I answered that I was not in a position 
to give a definite answer, but that I thought about 
10 or 12 lb. would be necessary. Some time after- 
wards it came to my knowleclge that the headman 
who questioned me had to furnish a report on arrow- 
root, and had mentioned in his report that 13 lb. 
of tubers were necessary to produce one pound of 
flour. Fortunately the headman not wishing to let 
it bo known that he had got this information 
secondhand, did not mention the name of his 
j authority. This report passed through several 
ihaiids, appearing no doubt as the outcome of tlie 
personal expei'ience of the individual who last 
submitted it. In the end the figures of the 
Wewita Agricultural Instructor, which were 
obtained as the result of numerous experiments, 
and which were published for general information, 
were called in question on the authority of the 
report, whose history I have niu'rated I" [We can- 
not but think, a,, we earnestly hope, that this is 
only an exceptional case. — Ed.] 
KAPOK OR THE SILK COTTOJv TREE. 
( Eriodendron Anfractuosum.J 
By W. a. De Silva. 
There are several species of plantg which sup- 
ply a silky down, known by the popular name 
of Silk Cotton. In different countries this name 
is applied to the product of different species of 
plants ; but most of these products have had hardly 
any commercial value, as silk cotton is totally un- 
fit for spinning purposes. The staple obtained from 
some of the species has now got a certain economic 
value, as it is used as stuffing material for pillows 
and cushions, and sometimes for adulterating with 
genuine cotton and wool. There are two species 
of trees in Ceylon which produce the silk cotton — ■ 
commercially known as Kapok. Among these 
the most important one is the Eriodendron an- 
fractuomm, the Sinhalese Imbul, and the Tamil 
Elavum. This tree thrives well in the warmer 
parts of the Island. 
It generally grows Avild, but is at present cul- 
tivated to some extent in certain localities. It 
must not, however, be understood by this that 
the tree producing the Kapok is ever systemati- 
cally cultivated, but it is only planted here and 
there in plantations. 
The tree attains to very large dimensions, often 
growing to the height of eighty feet. The trunk 
is straight and the branches are borne on the top 
of the tree. The bark in the lower part of the 
mature trunk is covered sparsely with thick 
prickles, which form into small knobs as the tree 
grows older. The timber of this tree is very 
light, and hence is only adapted for the purposes 
of fuel, but of late, after being sawn into planks, it 
has been used in the manufacture of tea boxes, &c. 
The plant begins to bear in its third year. 
The flowers which are of a pretty large size with a 
thick whitish corolla and a cup-shaped greeu 
clayx are borne once a year in February-March, 
and the fruits which are formed rery soon after 
are ready for plucking in April, May and June. 
During the flowering time flying foxes frequent 
the trees, as they are very fond of the yoimg 
blossoms. The fruits are long and cylindrical, 
about five inches in length and three in circum- 
ference, and are filled with a downy cotton — staple 
very short and curled— interspersed with black 
seeds. This down forms the ' Kapok ' of com- 
merce. Tlie productive power of the trees 
differ much according to size and age. For 
instance, a fully-grown tree witli numerous- 
branches might yield about lialf a hundred- 
weight or even more of Kapok, while a young 
tree with a few branches might yield not more 
than a pomul or two, 
