Suppkmini to the ^'Tvipkal AgncuHunst," 
[July I, 1890. 
76 
I find that Saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate) is 
prepared from the dung of bats in some parts of 
the island, The process as explained to me is 
\-ery simple. The dung is dissolved in water with 
some clay obtained from ant-liills, and the mixture 
is strained ; after which the liquid is boiled and 
left to cool, when the saltpetre separates out in 
crystals. This is how the natives obtained their 
saltpetre in past times for the preparation of 
gunpowder. 
A good many coffee lands which one time 
brought wealth to their owners are now thick 
lantana jungles, and the habitat of the wild boar 
and jackal. When coffee was king they say that 
gambling and drinking were far more common 
than they are now in the Kandyan villages : and 
an amusing story was retailed to me of these 
times which, apocryphal as it may seem, I was 
assured is a true one. 
It seems that two Kandyan coffee landowners 
were at a loss how to dispose of the superfluous 
rupees which they possessed, and the novelty of 
the situation suggested to them an equally novel 
mode of relieving themselves of their useless cash, 
while at the same time it was intended to impress 
the world with an idea of the abundance of their 
possessions. These illustrious Agriculturists sought 
the interior of a hotel (which alas was a too com- 
mon rendezvous for successful coffee planters), 
and after a sumptuous repast produced Manilla 
cigars — wrapped in silver foil ? No, but in 
genuine “ ten rupee notes.” They could not, 
however, have been educated smokers, for they 
smoked their cigars with the foil round them, and 
even drew the attention of those present to the 
strange proceeding ! Is there a better illustration 
of the height of smallmindedness ? Doubtless, 
these tAvo gentlemen, who I am assured are still 
alive, eking out an existance on a bit of paddy 
land, have by this learned the art of economy and 
— smoking ! 
Cotton cultivation is carried on to a large ex- 
tent in Dumbara and Matale Districts by both 
Europeans and Natives. Lower Dumbara is well 
known for its rich soil, and a good deal of tobacco 
is also grown there. Several varieties of cotton 
have been planted, such as Sea Island, Kidney, 
New Orleans and Egyptian. ITunuketale planta- 
tion, belonging to the Spinning and Weaving Com- 
pany, is also in the Matale District. The estate' is 
1 20 acres in extent, and represents several Amrie- 
ties of cotton. Egyptian has, however, been 
found best suited to the district, and there are 40 
acres fully planted with this variety Avhich grows 
freely and bears profusely. Two crops are obtain- 
ed : the plants being pruned after the first crop, 
and pulled up after the second. Kidney cotton 
also groAvs Avell, but its yield is not so good as the 
Egyptian. New Orleans does not seem to do A'ery 
V. I'll in flie.se part.s. Sea Island succeeds better in 
Dmnbarn OAving to its humid climate, the dry 
climate of Mat, ale faA’-ouring Egyptian. The seeds 
of Sea I.slaml is said to deteriorate in Dumbara, 
jirThajis, owing to the Avant of sufflcient saline 
mutter in the soil. Planting and pruning at the 
]iioper time seem to be the secrets of .successful 
cultivation. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
Mr. J. P. Lewis, in his Administration Report of 
the Vavuniyanvilankulam District, Avrites of cot- 
ton ; — “ Some Fiji or Kidney, and New Orleans 
cotton was received, and was distributed to the 
headmen to be soAvn. The results of the experi- 
ment as regards the former variety were unfavour- 
able, a large proportion of the seed not haA'ing 
come up, but the New Orleans variety of cotton 
.seems likely to do Avell.” Mr. M. S. CraA\fford, in 
his report on 1 he Mannar District, says of cotton : — 
“ SeA'eral lots of cotton seed were distributed and 
sown, but failed from want of rain. The soil of 
the district is admirably suited to the growth of 
cotton, and considerable quantities of the native 
variety are groAvn in the island, where it is used 
for the manufacture of nets. No new areas of 
cultivation were opened during the year.” 
Cattle disease seems to have caused much loss 
during the past year in the Mannar District. It is 
reported that cattle suffered much from a disease 
called Kaliccal (purging), and large numbers, par- 
ticularly buffaloes, died. The disease is supposed 
to haA'e been introduced from India. No remedies 
were tried. On this subject Mr. Lewis reports 
from the MullaittiA'u District that the total num- 
ber of deaths during the year 1889 were 266 
buffaloes and 107 neat cattle. During the A'isita- 
tion of the epidemic over 40 per cent of the cattle 
of the district were carried oft' by it. 
The following extract regarding the introduc- 
tion of new A-arieties of cotton into the i.sland, is 
from the Administratioai Report for 1889 of the 
Government Agent of the Western ProA’ince : — 
Cotton. — A n attempt has been made to intro- 
duce cotton cultivatio)!, and, as in the case of 
Liberian coffee and other products, the special 
patronage of Government has been iiiA’oked to 
assist it. 
If the GoA'ernment or the promoters would p>ay 
the cost of all the experiments, I think the at- 
tempt to introduce it Avould be very laudable ; 
but so far as I can judge what is done is this ; — 
The native land-owner is assured by the Govern- 
ment Agent or the Assistant Government Agent 
that cotton cultivation is a most remunerative 
speculation, and he is induced to clear and prepare 
his land. This he does at some considerable cost, 
which he himself has to bear. He is then furnish- 
ed with imported seed, which he is told is of a 
A’ery excellent variety imported at great expense. 
Unfortunately, such seed has hitherto generally 
turned out to be very bad, and often utterly un- 
suited to the climate. Only about ten per cent, 
grows and produces a crop. This has to be watch- 
ed and protected from r’ats and other enemies at 
some cost, and AAdien the cotton is picked it is 
taken OA'er by the persons who provided the seed, 
and paid for at a rate AAdiich could not possibly 
repay the producer even if he had a most magni- 
flcent crop, but Avbich under all the circumstances 
leaves him a certain and considerable loser. If 
he complains, he Avill probably be told that eA'ery- 
one regrets that the description of seed supplied 
to him has been found not to be that best suited 
to the Colony, and he is advised to try a different 
variety Avhich has just arriA'ed, and is sure to be 
successful, and will be given to him remarkably 
cheap. 
