February 2, 1891.] 
Supplement to the “ Tropical Agncultuvist.'' 
607 
Specimens of natural products from all parts 
of the Island will find a temporary liome in tlie 
school, the students of which, from contact with 
so representative a collection as is sure to he 
formed, and one, moreover, Avhich will deal 
largely with agricultural products, sliould derive 
incalculable benefit. It is to be hoped that it will 
be found practicable to have the .specimens on 
view after they are finally classified and 
arranged. 
Paddy groAvers in lower AmbagamuAva are moi'e 
fortunate than the majority of their brethren. 
A hundred bushels an acre are not an uncommon 
crop there, while a cultivator AAdio is fortunate 
enough to have a rest-house for cattle overlooking 
his fields, is reported to take in four hundred 
bushels off an area of three acres. Transplanting 
is practised in this region, but the improved 
plough has not yet found its Avay among the 
agriculturists. Perhaps Avitli the appointment of 
Mr. Gunesekere as agricultural teacher at the 
Buddhist school at Hatton, tliere is a prospect of 
the neAV iilough being introduced to the neigli- 
bouring culthuitors. 
A beautiful specimen of tlie Acherontia Satanas, 
the Sinhalese representative of the English Death s- 
head moth (A. atropos) has been receWed for 
tlie School Museum. Tlie beautiful moth belongs 
to the family Sphingidee or haAvk-nioths of the 
Lepidoptera order. Tlie distinguishing character 
of this insect is a skull-like mark on its back, 
and from this circumstance and the squeaking 
sound it emits when disturbed, it it said to he 
regardeil Avith much superstitious dread by the 
country peoxile of England and other parts of 
Europe. 
The caterpillar of this moth measure some- 
times nearly fiA'e inches in length and is of con- 
■siderable thickness. It is beautifully marked, 
and on the last joint of the body there is a 
process curving over the joint like a tail. 
The folloAving is taken from the Rev. W. IV. 
Gill’s “ Life in the Southeni Isles ” to sIioaa- the 
very peculiar use to Avhich a species of the liaAA-k- 
moth is put to in the Islands of the >South ; — 
“ A largo handsome moth called the iriano, or 
sphinx moth ( Chcerocampn erotns) common in 
the Harvey Islands. . . . The silky proboscis, 
exquisitely coiled up, sometimes attains the 
length of five inches. At dusk in the Avarm 
season these insects are A'ery numerous, coming 
out of their hiding places and entering the dAvell- 
iugs of the natives, attracted by the light inside. 
In ancient times a certain method of secretly 
Avreaking vengeance ujion a foe Avas, on a dry 
night to catch tAvo or three in'mios, and after care- 
fully uuAviuding their j)robosces, tie on narroAv 
strips of stout native cloth lighted at one end. 
This cloth only smoulders, and like toucliAA-ood 
never goes ovd. The affrighted moths Avo\ild then 
besot at liberty as near as ])ossihh' to the <lwell- 
ing of th(' intended victim. 'I’lii' irimios dragging 
through the airlhe.se strips of smouldering cloth 
Avould make for the highly-comhustihle thatcdi. 
In a few secoiuls the house Avould he in ablaze.” 
IjMDlGEJS'GOUS FOOD PRODUCTS: 
CULTIVATED AND AFILD. 
By ^Y. A. Dk Silva. 
Cucurhitaceae. 
42. Tridtosanthes Citciimerhin, L. ,Sin. Dummellu. 
Is a Avild plant groAving in the uncultivated 
places of the Avarmer parts of the Island. It 
generally abounds in low jungles. T. Cucumerina 
is a prostrate creeper with a thin green AV'iry 
stem and alternate green, cordate leave,?. The 
fruits are OA’al, haA'ing a smooth green surface 
Avith white streaks, and are about half the size of 
an egg. 
The fruits borne on some plants have a pleasant 
taste, somewhat resembling that of cucumber, 
but in others it acquires a very bitter taste. It 
is ordinarily believed that if the fruit be eaten 
just as it is plucked, it has no unpleasant taste, 
but Avhen kept for a Avhile, even a feAv seconds, it 
acquires its bitterness ; others more superstitious 
believe that so long as the name of the plant is 
not pronounced the fruit keeps well, but the 
instant the name is uttered it develops its un- 
pleasantness ! From observations made I find 
that some plants groAvingin jungles have naturally 
the bitter principle, Avhilst others growing in 
open grounds are deAuid of it. lu both cases it 
is increased by keeping the fruit after being 
plucked. 
The importance of this plant is not much as a 
food product, but it is in great demand among the 
natives as a medicine. It has AA^ell-marked 
characteristics of a febrifuge, and is largely and 
successfully used in cases of fever. 
4.3. Cucumis Pabescens, AVild Sin. Goukekeri. 
This plant is common in the loAA'-country of 
Ceylon and groAvs Avild in Avaste lands and on 
heaps of rubbish and roadsides. It is a creeper 
with thin tendrils. The stem is green and thin, 
and the whole plant is very hairy. The flowers 
are monoecious, and are borne in the leaf axils, 
the staminate flowers being very small with 
yellow corollas. Several pistillate flowers spring 
fioni the same axils, and hence it is not uncommon 
to find tAAu to five of them in the same place, 
someAvhat in the form of clusters. The full- 
groAvn fruits are about the size of the eggs of a 
house lizard, and are rounded in shape, green when 
not quite mature and attaining a scarlet colour 
Avhen ripe. Before ripening, (he .small fruits 
possess a taste similar to cucumber, and are • 
eaten by children ; Avhilst in a ripe state they 
possess a hitter taste, but not altogether un- 
pleasant. 
44. Ceplmlandra Indica, xVaud. Sin. KoAvakka. 
Is a plant common throughout the Island 
and largely met with in higher elevations. It 
grows in Avaste jflaces, and is a creeper Avith a 
thin green stem and cordate leaves much 
resembling the above-described variety. The 
leaf possesses a darker green colour ami is not 
much covered with hairs. The fruit of this 
plant is considered to he iioisonous, though 
much (Miten by cioaas. The leaies are oaten 
os])ccially m the upcountry in the form of drv 
curries, made Avith coconut and the usual currv 
stuffs, 
