■x88 
tHt tftbPibAL Ab«^»eULtUPl§r. [September i, 1890. 
of Commerce Journal, July 5. [Tlie dye is yielded by a 
coccus allied to our coffee bug, but which feeds on a 
species of cactus. The aniline dyes have adversely 
affected the trade in this substance as well as that in 
Indian and other madder.— Ed. T. AJl 
• 
CATTLE AND CATTLE MUEEAIN IN CEYLON. 
Our correspondent “ Truth ” is very much 
mistaken if he supposes that we do not appreciate, 
as much as he does the value of cattle for 
industrial and food purposes. The difference 
between us resolves itself into a question of the 
eSeotiveness of measures of quarantine in stamping 
out disease. Such measures and the destruction 
of affected herds have proved efficacious in countries 
like Britain, where the humane principles of 
Christian civilization are applied to the treatment 
of animals and where cattle are warmly lodged 
and amply fed. In such countries cattle disease 
is not indigenous, as it is in the Eussian steppes, 
in most parts of j India, and most certainly in 
Ceylon, although our correspondent writes as if, 
like cholera, cattle murrain was always introduced 
from India. We can prevent cholera from assu- 
ming an epidemic form in Ceylon by segregation 
and other measures, more or less iieroic, because 
the dreadful disease is not of local origin and we 
are able generally, at once, and effectually to deal 
with the first cases introduced from India. But 
as regards rinderpest and other forms of cattle 
disease we are comparatively helpless, because 
disease, in the germinal form at least, is ever 
present and ever will be until the natives learn to 
feed and fold their cattle according to the dictates 
of humanity and the principles of enlightened 
science. In recent letters from Nuwara Eliya the 
writers have contended that the measures of 
quarantine and restriction as to feeding grounds 
eventuated in a greater destruction of cattle than 
was due to the epizootic disease against which 
the precautions were taken. The difference between 
Britain and Ceylon is accentuated by the fact that 
in the one country cattle are bred and “ byred ’’ 
and fed with reference to consumption as beef. 
Here their chief value by far is with reference 
to their employment in agricultural operations 
and, notwithstanding the advance of railways, 
for draught purposes on roads to a very large 
extent. Some years ago we had to point out to this 
very correspondent that the stringent measures he 
advocated for the repression of an epizootic, if 
carried actually into effect, would put a stop to the 
principal traffic and commerce of the island. The 
difficulties still remain, as the Nuwara Eliya case 
shows, and we confess that our own hopes of improve- 
ment rest on the gradual disappearance of disease, 
as the natives are taught by Government measures 
and individual efforts and as they profit by such 
teaching, to add adequate shelter to plenty of 
nutritious food in the treatment of their cattle. 
Our readers are aware that we have frequently 
advocated the utilization of some of the tanks 
which have been constructed and reconstructed of 
recent years, in the irrigation of grass meadows 
for the provision of cattle food as well as for 
the growth of rice to feed the owners of cattle. 
Then much could bo done by clearing rice grounds 
left fallow and also village reserves of all low jungle 
and weeds so as to encourage the growth of the 
more nutritious of our native grasses some of which 
are excellent. In addition to these, why should not 
the cultivation of the valuable water grass, so 
common in Colombo be extended to the swampy 
lands of rural districts? Government, through its 
Agents, could do much to help on reform by 
ofiering prizes for such culture ; for the best and 
cleanest kept village feeding grounds ; for the 
best constructed and most carefully attended 
cattle sheds, as well as for the best bred and best 
fed, largest and strongest cattle. At present so- 
called wooden ploughs which merely scrape the 
surface soil in the shape of mud are used to the ex- 
clusion of real ploughs calculated to stir effectually 
six inches of earth, however light such ploughs may 
be, because of the chronic weakness of the badly- 
fed and in tended draught cattle. In a private 
letter our correspondent denounces 8ir Arthur 
Gordon who did so much for irrigation, because 
he did nothing calculated to improve the breed 
of cattle. We suppose our late Governor would 
adduce the supply of pure water in so many places 
as a great step in advance for the improvement 
of the health of cattle ; and there can be no doubt 
that the more rice is grown by irrigation, the 
greater is the supply of food for cattle in the 
shape of straw, husks and occasionally grain. But 
we quite feel that in addition to due attention to 
irrigation as well as other modes of culture, our 
new ruler would do wisely and well in taking up 
with energy the cognate and no less important prob- 
lem of improving the breed and condition and saving 
from periodical destruction by disease the cattle 
on which so much of the agriculture and internal 
traffic of Ceylon is dependent. We feel sure that 
it will be the irclination as well as the duty of Sir 
Arthur Havelock to initiate and further all the direct 
efforts possible to secure such desirable objects. 
It is for, this reason among others, that we have 
urged the widening of Irrigation into Agricultural 
Boards, but if a permanent change of that kind 
is not contemplated at present there ought to be 
a special effort made in reference to cattle disease. 
Meantime let it be specially noted that not 
only every tank constructed, but every mile 
of railway, carriage road, bridle and village 
path by which the country is opened up and 
intercourse and commerce facilitated, tends not 
only to improve the condition of the people 
of Ceylon, but to render possible such measures 
as will lead to the improvement in breed and 
condition and the protection from disease of 
the cattle, which are not merely a source of 
wealth in themselves, but on the presence of 
which in sufficient numbers and in good working 
condition the prosperity of the country’s 
agriculture and commerce so largely depends. 
One of the ablest of Sir Arthur Havelock’s prede- 
cessors, Sir Hercules Eobinson, who did so much 
for systematic irrigation, recognized so fully the 
importance of this cattle question, so closely allied 
to the other, that he appointed a Commission to 
report on the subject. That Eeport, which em- 
bodied matter of considerable interest, might well be 
reprinted as an extra Sessional Paper now, and made 
the basis for the conduct of investigation, report and 
recommendations by a fresh Commission, of which 
Mr. Wm. Smith ought to be a member as he was 
of the previous one. With him might well be 
associated Mr, Green of the Department of Public 
Instruction, Mr. Drieberg of the Agricultural 
College, and Messrs. Eamanathan and Seneviratne 
as representing the two great sections of the 
native community. If a Commission of seven should 
not be deemed too unwieldy, another civilian who 
has taken special interest in the subject might bo 
added, as well as a well qualified member of the 
general community. On this occasion the Com- 
mission need not be peripatetic. It can collect 
much and valuable information, suggestive of wide 
improvement, while sitting at Colombo. 
After having written the foregoing we read for the 
first time the English version of Mr. W. A. de 
