March 2, 1891.] 
THf TROPICAL AQRIOULTURIST. 
62^ 
THE EAINFALL OF LAXAPAXA ESTATE, 
MASKELIYA. 
Laxapanagala, “ the mountain of the hundred 
thousand lamps,” is so called because bands of 
pilgrims to Adam’s Peak were and we suppose 
still are in the habit of congregating at its base 
and there lighting their lamps at midnight pre- 
paratory to the ascent of the mountain of the Sri 
Pada (sacred footstep), so as to reach the summit 
before sunrise. It is one of the chief flanking 
ranges of the central mountain, and nearly 6,700 
feet above sea-level, so that it ought to and does 
intercept a considerable portion of the rainfall of 
the south-west monsoon. But the estate of 
Laxapana is evidently less fully exposed to the 
monsoQU current than is Theberton at a straight 
line distance of three miles ; for while the aver- 
age rainfall of Theberton (the rainiest position on 
the Surveyor-General’s map) is 217 inches, the 
average of Laxapana is only 147 inches. Mr. 
George Greig, in sanding us his very interesting 
diagram, coloured and conveying to the eye a vivid 
idea of the rainfall for each month and each year 
of the past fifteen, — notices the curious reduction, 
of the average from 157'35 inches in the first 
11 years to 121-21 by the results of the last 4. 
As there seems to have been no failure of the 
south-west monsoon generally, the question natu- 
rally arises whether there has been any change in 
the locality of the rain-gauge, or any erection of 
buildings or growth of a grove of trees which might 
affect the local results? The figures ou which the 
largely differing averages are founded, are as follows : 
— 1876 133-30 inches; 1877, 176 10; 1878, 159 05; 
1879, 177-65; 1880, 141-62; 1881, 155-83; 1882; 
191-62; 1883,151-07 ; 1884,143-05; 1885, 147-53; 
1886, 153-72. These are the years (11) and figures 
which established, apparently, the rainfall of the 
estate at an average of 157-35 inches. Then came 
the remarkable decrease which in four years brought 
the average of those years down to 121-21 inches, 
thus:— 1887, 118-80 inches; 1888, 133-52; 1889, 
126-90; 1890, 106 01. In this the lowest year of | 
all at Laxapana, the rainfall at Eifindale, down 
the valley, was considerably more than double 
the quantity, not leas than 249-33 inches. We 
have little doubt that the record for the neigh- 
bouring Theberton will considerably exceed 200 
inches, so that the persistent diminution of rain- 
fall at Laxapana for 4 years, until we get 
only 106-61 inches in 1890, against 191-42 in 1882, 
is one of the most puzzling of meteorological 
phenomena we have met with. We have records 
of great discrepancies in particular years, but here 
we have a sunspot period of 11 years giving an 
average, which might well be relied on as true 
and permanent, of 157-35 inches ; while the average 
of 4 years succeeding 1886 gave an average of 
only 121-21. The average for the whole fifteen 
years was thus brought down to 147-71 inches. 
Wo might adduce the explanation of the com- 
mencement of a cycle of drought in 1886, but for 
the continuance of records of normally heavy rain 
in the neighbourhood. We seem shut up, there- 
fore, to some local cause of changed position of 
rain-gauge shelter, of buildings or trees, change 
of the gauge itself, or change in the observer? 
The monthly averages are given as follows: — 
January 2 67 inches, February 2-28 ; March 5-09 ; 
April 10'33 ; May 17 85; Juno 27-1'J. In 1888 the 
rainfall of this month at Laxapana was 44 
78 
inches, against the enormous deluge of 84 inches 
at Theberton; July 22-20,- August 18-75; Sep- 
tember 12-14; October 16-68; November 9-65; 
December 7-76. 
Looking at the rainfall map, it is interesting to 
notice how the deposit of moisture increases as 
the monsoon current sweeps from the western 
shore at Colombo, inland. The average at Colombo 
is i.-i round figures 89 inches ; then a little 
to the eastward amidst the foot hills is Labu- 
gama with 161 inches ; at about an equal 
distance again, and still amongst the lower hills 
comes Pambagama with 163 inches ; finally we come 
to the rainiest centre in our mountain region and 
find Theberton, at the elevation where the mass of 
the rain clouds strike and are cooled down by the 
mountains, 3,315 feet, wiih 217 inches. But for 
some intercepting hill or spur, Laxapana ought 
to be well up to a similar figure. Local features, 
however, divert both wind and rainfall very 
materially. 
...... 1 ^ -• - 1 . ^ 
GAS DIRECT FROM THE MINES. 
Dear Sir, — Having read with intere.st the letter of 
Hon. R. Eussoll on the abatement of the smoke uni- 
sance, and having experienced the difference in Pitts- 
burg. U.S.A., since natural gas was introduced there, I 
beg leave to submit the following suggestion. 
In the United States natural gas is already piped 
fifty or sixty miles, audit has been proposed to pipe 
it 250 miles or more to the seaboard. Fetohing the 
crude coal to Lond-m by rail involves using a car that 
often weighs as much or more than its load, the car 
having to be hauled back empty. The coal then has to 
be hauled to the house, carried to the cellar, carried 
up to the fires, and finally, the ashes carried away, 
and the soot and dirt created in the room cleared up. 
As a matter of fact, we consume our coal at great loss 
by first heating it in the grale and then buroing the 
gas it evolves. 
As I sit by a glowing, gas fire, I, imagine that — 
l«t. The gas consumed in London is immeu.sely 
euhauoed in cost by the transportation of the raw 
coal to the gas works in the city. 
2nd. That a very cheap /i^a< gas could bo produced 
from coal. 
3rd. That gas oouhl be manufactured at the mines 
(the nearest of which are about 110 miles from Lon- 
don) and piped to the Oity with great economy and 
at a great reduotion from present rates. 
4th. That the towns and dwellers along the route 
between the mines and Loudon would take a liberal 
supply also. 
There may bo some practical difficulties to be over- 
CJme, such as forcing orsiickiug gas long distauces, leak- 
age of the pipes, etc., but these do not seem insuper- 
able nor even very great. 
The cost of the plant, in pipes, may be large, but 
the economy would seem to be so groat as to recoup 
that. — Re.speotfully. Houace J, SMtTii. 
44, Gresvenor Road, London. 
— Speaker, Dec. 27th. 
INCREA.SED DEMAND FOR JUTE. 
Government encouriigemf at for the production of 
jute in thejowor Blississippi valley has proved a failure. 
The quantities raised are not sufficient to cover even 
a small fraction of the annual cotton crop. Even 
under high cultivation the plants have failed to obtain 
the lu.xuriant growth of those raised in India. The 
difference in the cost of labor in India and this country, 
together with climate disadvantages, apparently ren- 
ders it impossible for us to compote in the production 
of this article. 
_ The plant requires a very strong soil and compara- 
tively little cultivation. The regions in which it is 
grown were originally swamp lauds, which were core- 
fuUy drained under the direction of the English 
government. Being carried to Dundee as ballast over 
iilty years ago, it fortunately came uudor tho iu.speo- 
tiou of a Freuch weaver, who studied its properties 
