March 2, 1891.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
651 
coloured nuts on samo cluster wbich unfortunately were 
destroyed by rats at their early stage. _ D- 
[ rile cluster of nuts which are a curiosity can be 
seen at our office. — E d, T. A.] 
POULTKY DISEASE ; A EEMEDY WANTED. 
Dear Sib, — Can you or any of your correspon- 
dents gives me some information as to the treatment 
of a disease which has appeared amongst my 
poultry ? It may be described as follows Lumps 
all over the head, which increase in size until the 
bird is blinded by them when, of course , it dies of 
starvation. Some chicks were first carried off, and 
then it attacked and slew several promising 
young turkeys. Any advice as to the treatment of 
the disease will be most gratefully received by a 
DISCOURAGED HOUSEWIFE. 
[This is no doubt the disease, so fatal to turkeys, 
regarding which we had several letters a year or 
so ago. Segregation and fumigation with sulphur 
or- tar should be tried. — E d. 2'. A.] 
DANDELION. 
Peradeniya, Feb. 2nd. 
Sib, — Your correspondent “ Upper Nilambe ” can 
obtain dandelion plants from Hakgala gardens on 
application. We obtained seed from N. India in 
1882, and in my annual reports for that and 
the succeeding year, will be found, under the 
heading “ Taraxacum,” a full account of its pro- 
gress as a cultivation. The roots do not become 
very large in our poor soil ; but the pLant has 
already escaped from the garden and commenced to 
establish itself as a wild plant. I observed last 
September a large colony of it by the side of the 
Baduila road a little below Hakgala, and it will 
doubtless in time become a common weed in our 
high districts as it has alrealy in the Nilgiris. — 
Yours faithfully, HENRY TRIMEN. 
OUR JUNGLE TREES AND OTHER PRODUCTS. 
Dear Sir, — Has it never occurred to you while walk- 
ing through the jungles here, that during almost every 
month ditferent kinds of seeds are to be found, and, how 
few planters can tell the names of the trees their seeds 
came from f These rrfiections have often led mu to 
wish for some pamphlet or booklet on the subject; and 
I think, now that the Oeylou Government have so able 
a staff of Forest Officers, it might undertake the publi- 
cation of a work iu colored illus'.rations full size of the 
fruits so far as practicable, aud of the seeds of the 
various useful trees now to be found iu cur jungles. 
Such a work ought to have a rerdy sale in Ceylon, but 
ai art from that, it would be au immense boon to the 
European aud English. speaking natives of the country. 
In addition to a description of the seed or fruit, there 
ought to be a short oeecriptiou of the leaves, bark, 
color of the wood and its uses. 
How many planters in Ceylon have been deceived by 
rascally rawyers and shingle contractois ? Is it uottho 
case that many planters must trust to their c.irpeuters’ 
honesty or knowledge of the timber reriuited for build- 
ing or shingling purposes, aud they are scarcely to be 
blamed if t.liey have no means of acquiring the in- 
formation, hf nee 1 Ihii.k a t ookb t of the ki: d f refer to 
ismuchw.ne . To give only - tie instance. Thereof 
of a bungalow scarcely tbreu years shingled with 
shingles said to be Irom one tree, is now iu such a 
Slate of dry rot, that many of tlio shingles cun bo 
broken between tiiiger and thumb like sboribn ad. The 
superiiitendont trifjted to his carpenter’s know ledge of 
suitable wood, as the best known shingle trees were 
perhaps not so pleutilul as in the e.arlier coffee days. — 
Yours truly, AN OLD PLANTER. 
[“ Old Planter ” is making a rulher large 
order all at once on the Forest Department : 
whftt is first wanted is a thorougtily reliable Guide 
to the various Timber Trees and their native 
names. For this want, the late Mr. Wm. Ferguson’s 
pamphlet deserves to be reprinted ; but from Dr. 
Trimen’s list, as now available, “ Old Planter ” 
might learn a good deal. Many Sinhalese can 
tell him their name for the tree on which any 
fruit or seed produced, grow and then by referring 
to the index, he would be able to get the Botanical 
name. Still there is no doubt that later on we 
may well look to the Government and their 
Forest Department for a useful Guide to our 
jungle trees and products.— Ed. 2, A.l 
RAINFALL IN KADUGANNAWA, 
At the Gate of the Central Province, Feb. 7th. 
Dear Mb. Editoe, — I for one was interested in 
Mr. Wm. Maegregor’s memo, of rainfall ♦ at the 
Gampola end of Kadugannawa, I thought that the 
Bukanda hill would have attracted more rain than 
it appears to have done. Situated as I am in the 
centre of the district, I often envy my neighbours 
at Allagalla and Gona Adika, because the rain clouds 
seem generally to discharge themselves at the 
extremes of the district, leaving me to mourn over 
disappointed hopes. I also annex a memo, of rain- 
fall, which may be of interest to someone, should 
you think proper to print it. I only commenced 
to keep a register from the middle of 1887, but the 
six months of that year show what ought to have 
been a heavy rainfall for the year. 
The old district, so favorably known in the days 
of coffee, is being rapidly opened up for tea, and 
will yet come to the front. This is undoubtedly 
the elevation for indigenous tea, and it goes on 
flushing when all other jdts shut up. There was 
some talk about Government opening up the roads 
from this to Gampola, but if they are not quick 
about it, they will have a difficulty in finding it when 
they do commence. 
Kadugannawa village is fairly healthy, but I am 
surprised it is so, for the drainage and smells are 
abominable. If the Government Agent came 
oftener it would be a blessing. He was here 
the other day, and iu anticipation of his 
visit huts were whitewashed, drains cleansed 
and dirt put out of sight. When I saw the 
change m the aspect of affairs, I began to think 
that ihe Cesarevitch, at least, was to honor us 
with his august presence. We want a police 
station badly, and a rt sponsible man to look after 
the sanitation of the place. The villagers on all 
sides are a lawless lot, and a fine field there is 
here within a radius of 4 or 5 miles, for the 
Salvation Army to work in, but they prefer to 
have a meeting occasionally for the English-speak- 
ing population, and the big drum is regularly 
beaten in the street to the great delectation of 
the little boys. Excuse these disjointed notes 
Yours truly, KaDUGANNAWa'. 
Memo op Eainpall. 
CQ 
P 
18S7 
inches 
33 
P 
Jao. 
Feb. 
2 
March 
0 
April 
7 
Hiiy 
11 
June 
20 
July 
4.22 
10 
Aug. 
16 
5-^1 
16 
Sept. 
15 
3-25 
u 
Oct. 
22 
IS-47 
21 
Nov. 
23 
12-f9 
18 
Dec. 
20 
lG-45 
10 
Total ... 
. 107 
61-lt) 
138 
1833 
1889 
>> 
1890 
inches. 
p 
inebes- 
M 
inches. 
t) 
5-34 
•37 . 
G 
2-21 
15 
ib.u 
G 
1-70 
i 85 
22 
12/U 
19 
6-87 
e-ji 
19 
10.74 
8 
4-i4 
15- 92 
18 
3.91 
15 
ll-f8 
1-91 
24 
lo*54 
17 
9-01 
3-G9 
15 
8-13 
16 
5-05 
3-70 
17 
9*31 
13 
10-63 
18-18 
11 
6-97 
20 
9-83 
6*22 
10 
7-eo 
13 
7-81 
8 30 
7 
2-08 
9 
6-09 
70't;6 
158 
81-78 
118 
82-SU 
• See page 049 .— Ed. T , A , 
