THE JVLAaAZlNE 
OF 
Tf)G OF AGmmuum, 
COLOMBO. 
as C Supi-)lemenf montJdi/ to the ''TIWPIGAL AGBICULTURIST," 
The f ollowing pages include the contents of the Magazine of the School of 
Agriculture for January : — 
THE SCHOOL OF AGEICULTURE. 
DISTBIBTJTION OF PRtZES. 
HE ANNUAL distribution of prizes 
at the School of Agriculture took 
place on the 28th November, 
1891, under the presidency of 
His Excellency the Goyernor. 
Among the company, which was the largest eTer 
assembled at the School on such an occasion, 
■we noticed the following : — 
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, the Hons. 
W. W. Mitchell, Seneviratne, Grinlinton, Abdul 
Rahiman, and Dr. Anthonisz, Messrs. A. M. 
Ferguson, C.M.G., Wm. Ferguson, H. W. Green, 
J. B. Cull, J. F. de Saram, J. W. C. de Soysa, and 
J. H. Barber, Mr. and Mrs. F. Beven, Mr. and Mrs. 
and the Misses E. Ludovici, Mr. and Mrs. and 
Miss Daniel, Mr. and Mrs. and the Misses Swan, 
the Misses Beven, Watson, Langenberg, Dr. and 
Mrs. and Miss Keith, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob de Mel, 
Mrs. James Pieris, Mrs. C. Drieberg, Miss Morgan, 
the Committee members of the Gramaraksha 
Samagama, Mr. SangarapuUey, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. 
Nicholas, Mr. and Mrs. C. Kriekenbeek, Mr. and 
Mrs. Alport, Dr. Drieberg, Mrs. E. Joseph, Misses 
Vanderstraaten and Drieberg, Mr. Richard de 
Silva, &c., &c. 
The building was gaily decorated for the 
occasion. At the main entrance was erected a 
triumphal arch boaring the inscription " Welcome 
to IJ. E. Sir Arthur Ilavelock, k.c.m.g.." The 
drive from the gateway was left unadorned, 
evidently with the idea of securing for tlie 
visitors a good view of the grounds ; but from the 
main entrance to the school and along the long 
corridor till the largo luills at the posterior end 
of tho buildings were reached, a profusion of 
flowers, foliage and fruitage tastefully put 
together adorned the walls and pillars or hung 
from the roof. The usual embellishments, consist- 
ing of mosses, coconut leaves and bunting n^ere 
much improved by the addition of arecanuts, 
dates, sugarcane, tamarinds, cacao, &c., and 
hundreds of miniature bouquets of roses and 
other flowers that hung from festoons. The 
adornment of the principal hall gave evidence of 
much care and troiible, and here in addition to 
the other decorations were groupings of foliage 
plants, and a splendid collection of the choicest 
flowers in vases and cornucopias. The whole 
length of the long corridor was also strewn witli 
rose petals, which however became a source of 
danger on tlie cemented floor and liad to be swept 
aside. A carpeted space in front of the platform 
was reserved for the Governor's party, and there 
the floral arrangements were particularly striking 
and elegant. 
The following is the Pkincipal's report : — 
The pleasant duty falls to me today, of ex- • 
tending to Your Excellency a hearty welcome to 
the School of Agriculture, on this the first 
occasion on which you have come to px'eside at 
our annual prize-giving. 
You arc not altogetlier a stranger, sir, to this 
institution, for with your well-lmown prompti- 
tude to acquaint yourself with the condition and 
needs of all departments of Your Excellency's 
Government, you visited the School shortly after 
your arrival in the island, and on that occasion 
expressed yourself, to quote Your Excellency's own 
words, " much interested in this useful institution.'' 
The pleasure of welcoming you, sir, is moreover 
greatly enhanced by the fact that within the 
short time that has elapsed since you assumed 
the reins of Government, you have given un- 
mistakeable evidence of your kind and encourag- 
ing sympathy with the cause of agricultural edu- 
cation iu this couutry. We who are engaged iu 
