532 
SnppUment to the “ Tropical AgncuHurist,” 
[January i, iSgr. 
Mith u scarlet pulp, are flat, and peculiarly 
shaped. The te.sla of the seedis marked as if it had 
been engrayed. The fruits which are much used as 
a vegetaiile are esteemed on account of their reput- 
ed medicinal iiroperties. They have a bitter taste. 
The degree of this bitterness seems to vary with 
the surrounding conditions under which the plant.s 
are grown. The curries and ditferent preparations 
made from this fruit, though relished by many, 
are unpleasant to some owing to the bitter taste. 
The leaves of this plant are said to be a good 
vermifuge and are used with other substances in 
eutaneous affections. 
41. yiomordica Dioica:, Eox. Sin. Toombakariwila. 
This is a perennial creeper, with a thin much- 
branched stem, growing wild in the warmer 
parts of the Island. It is never, or very rarely 
cultivated. The leaves are similarly shaped to 
the Jf. ('henrmfia above described, but are smaller 
in size and lighter in colour. This plant is 
dioecious. The fruits are small, rounded in form 
tind have a succulent pericarp, of a light green 
colour, covered with small protuberances which 
give the fruit a characteristic ajipearance. It 
forms a good edible vegetable, having none of the 
unpleasant characters of the preceding sjiecies. It 
is also considered to have many medicinal pro- 
perties, and is always recommended to invalids. 
A yam is found at the root of this plant 
which is used by IS'ative Medical Practitioners in 
tlie preparation of different medicines, and 
especially those used for snake bites. 
^ 
THE LAWS or CEYLON EELATING 
TO AGRICULTURE 
(Ord. No. 21 of 1867 amended by 2 of 1873 
and 2 of 1887.) 
II. Tu Promote the Maintenance and Extension 
of Paddy Cultivation in this Island. 
“ Proprietor ” means, except when otherwise 
ju’ovided, the proprietor of paddy lands only, and 
includes the cultivator or person in actual pos- 
session of any such land. 
“ District ” means any Corle, Pattu, Village or 
other subdivision of a ])iovince as the Govern- 
ment Agent thereof may deem convenient. 
1. Meetinys to form Irriyation Districts. 
1. The Government Agent of any province 
may,' whenever he thinks it advisable or upon 
a rerpiisition signed by not less than ten pro- 
prietors call a ]iublic meeting to form an irriga- 
tion district for the encouragement and exten- 
.■^ion of ])a(hly cultivation. 
2. In case the extent of the District should 
render more meetings than one necessaiy, tlie 
Go\ernment Agent may form several divisions 
of (-uch district and liold a meeting at each 
fli\ inioii. 
II. The (ioNcrnmeut Agent to give notice of 
hueli nieel ing, at least om; montli l)cfore the day 
li.ved foi- tlie meeting, stating its obj(>ct and 
callitig (in ])roj)rielors to attend in jierson or by 
|iro.\y in writing. 
III. .Meetings to be held at. tin; time and 
jilace appoinleil, in t he (iresenice ol' ihe Gov(“ru- 
ment .\geiit. Every ]irojn-ietoi' ]n-e,s(>nt, eitlier in 
pei’son or liy pi’o.vy in wi-iling, is entilkal to 
declare to the < toverjiinent Agoit, 
(1.) AYhether he wishes that the district should 
be constituted an irrigation district within the 
meaning of this Ordinance. 
(2.) Whether he wishes that the Ordinance 
should for that end be carried into operation 
with the aid of headmen or of Village Councils, or 
of both. 
(h.) After explanation bv the Government 
Agent of the results that would follow, accord- 
ing to this Ordinance, from the different inodes 
of carrying the Ordinance into ojieration, if the 
proprietors determine to adopt the aid of the 
Village Councils, it shall be lawful for them to 
apjjoint a Committee of not more than twelve nor 
less than three iiersons to be associated with the 
Government Agent for the purpose of drawing 
up rules for the enforcement of ancient customs 
or for advising him in matters connected with 
the irrigation of the district. 
(c. ) Where more meetings than one are held 
for any district, each division to be allow'ed to 
appoint its xirojiortion of the Committee to make 
up the number of the entire district. 
{d.) Minutes of meetings to be signed by the 
Government Agent and to be deposited in the 
Kachcheri, ami certifii'd copie.s thereof to la- 
transmitted to Government. 
IV. Objections to votes to be decided by the 
Government Agent ; such objections and the 
deci.sions thereon to be recorded in the minutes. 
V. Alajority (of two-thirds at least) to deter- 
mine all resolutions ju'ojjosed at meeting, s. 
Y'l. Districts and rules under No. 9 of 18d0 
and No. 21 of 1861 to continue. Projirietors to 
liave power to change their determination in 
rosxiect of the (piestious referred in the 3r(.l sec- 
tion both as rt'spects the districts constituted 
under the above Ordinances as well as under the 
pre.sent. Such fresh determination to be binding 
until altered again. 
VII. Where projirietors cannot be convened, 
the Government Agent to draw uj) rules for the 
enforcement of ancient customs, and to carry 
this Ordinance into operation with the aid of 
headmen. 
VIII. Acts done in contravention of the said 
customs or rules- to be iuve.stigated by the head- 
men or by the Ahllage Council according to the 
election made by the district under the .3rd 
section of this Ordinance. 
II. Headmen. 
I. One or more headmen shall be appointed, 
if the result of the meeting under section 3rd 
of this Ordinance be in favour of such a course, 
to attend to all matters connected ■vvitli the 
irrigation of the district, and to prevent the in- 
fraction of rules in reference thereto. 
II. (1.) Headmen shall be appointed by a 
majority of iirojjrietors present either in person 
or by proxy. 
(2.) Government Agent to have power to 
dismiss any headman guilty of misconduct. 
(3.) A'acant oflices to be filled up by head- 
nnm elected by majority of jvroxvrietors. 
(4.) Till such election takes idaces, the Gov- 
ernment Agent may ai)i)oint provi.sionally. 
III. 1. Headmen may take prompt action, 
where such action is necessary, to prevent damage 
accruing to any proju-ietor by any act committed 
in bi'f'ach of tlu' rules and i’e])Ort it to the 
Gov(‘niment Agent. 
