April I, 1891.] 
Sttpplemmt to the “ Tropical Agriculturist.’'' 
745 
presence of the Government Agent ; every proprie- 
tor within such district or division for which 
the meeting has been called shall be entitled 
to vote. 
(b.) The Government Agent shall explain to 
them the provisions of the Ordinance. 
(c.) The proprietors at such meeting shall 
appoint a Committee of not more than twelve, 
nor less than three persons, to be associated 
with the Government Agent for the purpose of 
carrying out the provisions of this Ordinance, 
and for advising him in matters connected 
with the irrigation of the district. 
{d.) Where more meetings tlian one are held, 
each division shall be allowed to appoint its 
proportion of the Committee to make up the 
number for the entire district. When any 
members of the Committee die, or leave the 
district, or refuse to act, the Government Agent 
may appoint others in their stead. 
(e.) The questions and resolutions proposed 
at any meeting, and the number of votes given 
for and against the same, shall be recorded in 
the Minutes of such meeting, and shall be signed 
by the Government Agent. Tire said Minutes 
shall be deposited in the provincial or district 
Kachelieri, and copies thereof, certified by the 
Government Agent, shall be transmitted to the 
Colonial Secretary. 
4. All questions as to the right of any person 
to vote sliall be decided by the Government 
Agent. Such question and the decision thereon 
shall be entered in the Minutes. 
5. A majority consisting of two-thirds at least 
shall decide all questions or resolutions passed 
at any meeting. 
6. The Government Agent may malce rules in 
districts where ijroprietors cannot jDirblicly meet. 
7. All acts committed contrary to tlie customs 
and rules, and all complaints relating to matters 
provided for by this Ordinance shall be investi- 
gated and dealt with in manner provided in 
Chapter IV. or Chapter VI. according to the nature 
of each case. 
II. A. J. 
(Vo be continued.) 
♦ 
THE GRAPE VINE. 
(Vitis Vmifera.) 
•1. Soil and Climate. — The Vine will thrive 
best on light soils that have a dry bottom. In 
such as are rich and deep, it will grow luxuriantly 
and produce al)undance of large fruit. In shal- 
low dry gravelly soils, it will produce less fruit 
but of iietter flavour. It grows well in the north 
of tl)e Island where the soil is generally shallow 
and dry and lies on calcareous rock. Tlie red 
sandy soils of .laffua called Clufinpadu^vciiM grow 
good grapes for wine-making. Ruteiitivo clays 
are the worst soils for (ho vine. As it Avants a 
very dry soil, it will la; advisable to drain the 
land well where it is not sulliciently dry by 
nature. The bramble has been found to corre- 
spond to a gri'at extent to the vine; and there- 
fore any soil where the former grows freely Avould 
b(> good for the latter. ,We are growing some 
vines on such a .soil here at Ifaiijjy Valley, by 
way of experiment; hut as yet 1 caunot write 
with much confidence about them, as the plants 
are still young. 
A warm dry climate is best suited to the vine : 
and if we want to lay out a vineyard we ought 
to select a site freely e.xposed to the sun, es- 
pecially to the morning sun. The dry hot districts 
of Jaffna in the north and Ilambantota in the 
south will groAV good grapes. As to the fitness of 
the former place there can be no doubt, as it has 
been practically proved by our Jaffna gardeners 
from the late Government Agent Mr. Dyke doAvn- 
Avards. Grapes might also be grOAvn wi'tli advant- 
age in or near Chilaw, Puttalam, Mannar, Trinco- 
malee, Batticaloa, and parts of Uva. There are 
indeed several other places in Ceylon where fairly 
good grapes can be grown for the table, by expert 
gardeners ; Wahakotte, which I mentioned in the 
last instalment, being one of them. But of course 
Avhere the requirements of climate and soil do 
not come up to the i^roper standard, no grapes 
suitable for making wine can be produced, as 
those grown in such places Avould be too deficient 
in saccharine matter. 
5. Propagation. — There are at least four ways 
by Avhicli the Grape Vine is propagated, A’iz., by 
seed, layers, cuttings and grafting. 
(1.) By Seed. — The vine may Ije propagated by 
seed produced by cross-fertilization for the sake 
of obtaining new A-nrieties superior in the size 
of the bunch and berry, in flavour and delicacy, 
or in point of hardiness and productiA'eness. 
But as yet grape-culture in Ceylon has not 
advanced to such a degree of developement as to 
call for propagation in this way. 
(2.) By Layers. — By this method large showy 
plants can be procured that Avill soon come into 
bearing. Loudon recommends the following plan 
for propagation by layers “ At the pruning 
season leaA'e a shoot of strong Avood, over and 
above what may be wanted for training, of a 
sufficient length to bend down to any conA'enient 
place Avhere a pot can be placed to receiA'e it as a 
layer; and also for training it during its growth. 
When the A-ine begins to push, displace all the 
buds from the shoot intended for laying, except 
the leading one. When this is groAvn to about 
8 inches or one foot in length, bend it down to 
the pot and lay it so that the top joint Avhence 
the wood has sprung, may be fixed with a strong 
crook at about one inch under the surface of the 
mould. As soon as it begins to take root, which 
may be knoAvn by removing a little of the earth, 
begin to weaken its resources from the mother 
plant, by making an incision in the Avood behind 
the pot. Deepen this incision by degrees, as fast 
as the young plant Avill bear it, until it be quite 
separated from the old one." 
(3.) By Cuttings. — This is the most convenient 
method for us in Ceylon wliere, generally speak- 
ing, Viticulture is yet in its infancy. The adA'an- 
tages of propagating by cuttings are simplicity of 
operation, economy in labour, and economy in the 
wood or shoots to be propagated from. The 
cuttings should be one foot to 18 inches 
long, and should be planted slojAing-wise so 
as to leaA'e only two eyes above ground. They 
may be first .set in a nursery or in baskets 
ami shaded till they strike, and then idauted 
out after they IniA'e gTOAA'ii sufficiently. 
(4.) By Grafting. — Delicate vines of suj)erior 
variety cun be grafted on stocks of hardy kinds. 
