August I, 1890.] 
Supplement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist. 
'53 
of adult plants undoubtedly turn towards the 
moon on fine clear nights. 
Mr. Kanes-Jackson has lately written a sen- 
sational letter to the London Times on ‘‘ The Earth 
losing Primal Fertility.” He asserts that in about 
a hundred thousand years or so there will be 
nothing produced on the earth. Not long ago 
another alarmist endeavoured to show that phos- 
phoric acid at least would be completely exhausted 
ill the soil before long. We have really had 
enough of these pessimistic theories already. 
Hyriyal (£9 Sc3(^) Arsenicum auripigmentmn is 
sulphuret of arsenic, and sadilingam (t03q(3oC33?) 
is vermilion or mercury sulphide which occurs 
native as cinnabar the chief ore of mercury. 
The former is of a reddish-yellow colour and is 
largely used by the natives in painting, the 
latter is of a reddish hue and also used by the 
natives in painting images, &c. — the hyriyal, ac- 
cording to a correspondent, being sprinkled over 
the vermilion to give it a gloss. Both these sub- 
stances are sold in the native bazaars. 
SCHOOL NEWS. 
The Agricultural Improvement Society met on 
Friday the 11th July for the first time after the 
holidays, when a paper on the past and present 
state of paddy cultivation was read by Mr. 
Estagoepillai. The subject was ably dealt with 
by the writer, and many interesting points were 
brought out, and discussed by the members. Mr. 
Mendis consented to read a paper on the opening 
out of new land by agriculturists in Ceylon at 
the next meeting. 
We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a 
packet of geological specimens from Mr. Theodore 
Gooneratne of Matara, and a mat of gorgeous 
design made of the fibre of Niyande (Sansievera 
Zeylanica) from Mr. E. M. B. Seneviratne. 
The results of the half-yearly examinations 
held in May show that Mr. J. Kodipilly and Mr. 
Johannes stand at the head of the Senior and 
Junior classes respectively. 
The Seniors are having a few special lectures 
in Zoology as bearing on Agriculture before the 
end of the session, which also terminates their 
connection with the School. 
The printed Syllabus of the school is now ready, 
and is got up with the neatness characteristic of 
the Government printing press. 
During the Maha season (July to November) of 
last year seedlings grown from four seers of Ma 
ivi paddy were transplanted. The field was pre- 
pared, as has been the case since the introduction 
of the iron ploughs, by ploughing before the 
setting in of the regular monsoon rains and leaving 
the soil exposed to the action of the weather for 
six weeks before the final preparation of the land 
for sowing. No manure was applied. The seed- 
lings were jilanted 6 inches apart each way. The 
plants tillered and grew very well The crop) was 
reaped towards the end of March last and yielded 
9 bushels of paddy. 
In May a small pilot of ground was planted with 
Indian Corn. The soil is a free sandy loam. It 
was twice dug over with the mamotie and thrown 
into ridges 3 ft. apart. Trenches were made on 
the top of these ridges and well-rotted cowdung 
was applied and covered over with soil. The seed 
was dibbled in on the topi of the ridges 4 inches 
apiart. The seed used was pirocured from the 
bazaars, but it is hoped that a better variety as the 
Queensland or Cuzco would be obtained for regular 
cultivation. The plants came iipi well for a time, 
but the very dry weather which prevailed in 
May and June killed most of them. The plants 
that survived have grown vigourously and are 
now flowing three months after pilanting. The crop 
was hand hoed once and watered three times. 
Indian Corn occupies an important pilace as one 
of the best food crops, and there is no reason why 
it should not be more extensively grown. Under 
ordinary cultivation 200 lb. of grain may be grown 
per acre on good soils, besides 2g to 3 tons of 
straw may be expected per acre. This straw is 
rich in .saccharine matter, and is a valuable 
food for all kinds of farm-stock. Indian 
Corn is admirably suited for growing in the 
intermediate spaces left in cotton cultivation. 
It only occupies the land for about 4 months, 
and will pay at least all the expenses and leave the 
cotton which is sold for pnofit, thus obviating the 
usual objectionof the unprofitableness of cotton cul- 
tivation. Indian Corn may be successfully grown 
as a fodder crop. About 12 to 13,0001b. of fodder 
may be expected per acre, and this fodder is highly 
prized in America as a food for milch cows. 
On a previous occasion a small plot of land 
planted with Indian corn was entirely destroyed 
bv field mice which dug up> and ate all the seeds 
in the night. It is advisable therefore to tar the 
seed before sowing to preserve it from the attacks 
of mice, squirrels, &c. If Indian Corn is grown 
alone, the seed should be sown in rows 3 feet apart 
at the rate of about .30 lb. per acre. If cultivated 
with cotton, the rows of corn should be 4 ft. apart, 
and those of cotton the same distance alternately. 
