292 
Supplemnt to the " Tropical A gncu/turist." [October 1,1891. 
centre between four trees, or, if in new land, 
under large trees in well-worked-up soil, which has 
afterwards been mixed up with decaying leaves 
and compacted. If the beds are laid down in the 
open, it is advisable to lightly cover over the 
planted nuts with a quantity of old straw which 
will protect the nuts from the sun, and eventually 
decay and mingle with the soil. The beds when 
prepared after the first two methods, should be 
watered three times a Avoek, but if straw be used 
to cover them, twice a week will be sufficient. 
If a copious shower of rain fall, 12 or 14 days 
may be allowed to elapse before again M^atering. 
The nuts, if damaged in no way, will begin to 
sprout from 3 to 4 months after planting, ami in 
.six months' time will be ready for transplanting. 
It generally happens that .some plants will lie 
more forward than others, owing to difference in 
the thickness of shell. Those trees which have 
nuts with very thick shells are considered very 
valuable, and are called " fighting coconuts," 
fetching from 25 to 50 cents each, especially 
about the 12tli of April, the date of the Hindu 
New Year, when " coconut fighting" is a common 
pastime. 
In former times the rows of plants, when 
transplanted, where put 24 feet apart, but this 
plan was found to be a mistake, as the trees did 
not sufficiently shade the ground. Now all new 
plantations have the rows 22 feet apart, and the 
new method not only keeps the ground cooler but at 
the same time economises sjiace, each acre thus 
containing about 90 plants. If, from necessity, 
plants have to be selected from native nurseries, 
tall spindly ones should be rejected. A good 
plant should have dark green leaves, a stem in- 
clined to be thick, and 2 or 3 feet in height. 
Plants with yellow leaves should be avoided — 
as this is an infallible sign of weakness. 
The holes for receiving the plants should be 
about 3 feet square and I5 to 2 feet deep. 
Care should be taken to remo\"e any stones and 
roots that may be in or near the hole, while 
just before planting it is advisaljle to throw iu 
half a bucket of water to keep the soil moist 
till the regular watering commences. In 
transplanting the palms the young roots should 
not as far as j)ossible be injured. A stout-pointed 
stake may be used as a lever for raising the 
nuts in the nurseries. 
After placing the palms in the holes prejiared 
for them, a quantity of decayed leaves, wood, ^c, 
may be put round each plant before filling in 
with earth. Stamp the loose earth well, taking- 
care that the plant remains perfectly straight. 
Then make a circular bed all round the f)alm to 
retain any water put in, and conclude by i)ouring 
over a full bucket of water, 
R. Athebton. 
CTo be continued. ) 
THE DAIEY. 
Dairy work in Ceylon should receive more 
attention, and a proper supply of good milk and 
l)uttei ought to bo l)rought within the reach of 
the inhabitants of our cities and towns. The 
residctnts of (Jolombo are aware how diflicult it 
is to procurt! jjure cow milk, what is sold as such 
being very often adulterated with buffalo milk 
and water in various proportions. The adultera- 
tion of milk with water, if the water is good is 
only a minor evil, the loss being only in 
pocket, but it is a far more serious matter if the 
milk has been obtained from a disea.sed cow, and 
what guarantee have we that the milk offered 
for sale in our streets is the produce of healthy 
animals ? The milk is also affected by the nature 
of the water that tlie cow drinks, or that added 
to the milk. Microscopic investigations have 
revealed the fact that if a cow is allowed to 
drink water containing animalcuhe, these minute 
forms of organised life may be found in its milk. 
The ill-eft'ects of drinking diseased milk may 
not be always apparent especially in the case of 
adults, but there are instances known where dis- 
ease and death liave been directly traced to the 
ill-effects of drinking unwholesome milk in the 
case of children who are the largest consumers of 
milk. The question suggests itself — what ought 
to be done to ensure a good and -wholesome sup- 
ply of milk .f The mere inspection of the milk 
would be iLseless, the only effective and most 
convenient method being the in.spection of dairy 
cattle and dailies by qualified persons, and 
prohibiting the sale of milk except by licensed 
dairymen. 
There is a great demand for good milk and 
butter in Colombo, and this has been to some 
extent met by the establishment of a dairy on a small 
scale in connection with the Agricultural School. 
A year and a half ago we started with only one 
cow, the whole of whose milk we then found it 
difficult to sell, in face of the ojiposition offered by 
milkmen and bungalow servants, but our hopes 
have been realised beyond our most sanguine ex- 
pectations by our possessing today a dairy of 15 
cows with an ever-increasing demand for our 
milk, which we are unable to meet without the 
small assistance we hope to receive from Govern- 
ment. 
In establishing dairies in a coimtry like Ceylon, 
an important matter is the opportunities they 
give for the systematic study of the feeding and 
management of milch cattle, the different breeds, 
the qualities and quantities of the milk yielded 
by them, and of tlie means of improving these 
breeds, also the necessity for the introduction of 
improved dairy appliances, &c. 
The marvellous dairy results which have been 
obtained in Europe and America are mainly due 
to the most careful selection and breeding of good 
milk-giving strains. 
Daibtman. 
LATHYRUS SYLVESTRIS. 
Lathyrus Sylvestris is the name of a legimii- 
nous fodder i^lant which, from all accounts must 
be considered nothing less than a boon to the 
agriculturist, and especially to cattle farmers. 
Its experimental cultivation is about to be under^ 
taken in India, where, if the experiment 
prove a success, the plant will no doubt be in- 
troduced into, and extensively cultivated in, 
Ceylon. Lathyrus Sylvestrisis reported to grow 
luxuriantly year after year on the most 
barren arid land, and to be excel- lent fodder 
for cattle. The jjlant is a native of Germany, 
and its merits were first brought to light by 
Professor Wagner, who improved the wild variety 
by cultivation for 15 years. 
