May I, 1891.] 
Supplement to the Tropictil Agvicnlinnst." 
The Grama Raksbaka Samagama held what 
was really their first Agricultural Show on Monday 
the 27th April at Dalugama ; and if the Society 
does not meet with any serious difficulties— too 
common, alas, in the case of societies and asso- 
ciations in this country — and grows and extends 
its influence at a rate at which we can only 
hope it will, then rvill this date he a memo- 
rable one. The interesting features about the Show 
at Dalugama was that it was intended solely for 
the encouragement of native industry and enter- 
prise, and that its object was purely a philanthropic 
one. For this reason it is unique in our agri- 
cultural record, for hitherto, however well the 
products of the soil have been represented at 
Agricultural and Horticultural Shows,. one cannot 
help thinking that these Shows were merely 
nuclei round which to gather a deal of less 
useful and more frivolous amusement. They 
always lacked tlie real business air about them. 
We heartily congratulate the Samagama (and 
especially the Secretaries) on the signal success 
which characterized their first attempt at holding 
a Show. Agi’icultural Sliows are very important 
agents in creating a healthy competition, as well 
as being incentives to industry ; but if such Shows 
are to be held more frequently as has been 
jn’oposed by the Government Agent of the 
Western Province with other recommendations 
worthy of attention— it would be well if, to a 
great extent, they were “ built ” on the excellent 
little model we saw at Dalugama last month. 
» 
LNDIGFNOUS FOOD PRODUCTS : CULTIVATED 
AND WILD. 
By W. a. Dk Silva. 
Rubiuceae. 
49. Hedyotin Auricula rici, L. Sin. Getakola, 
is a slightly woody spreading herb. This plant 
is commonly met with growing wild iii waste 
lands and cultivated places. Its slender stem 
with many branches is swollen at the nodes. 
The leaves are small, green, and of an ovate 
shape. The flowers are A’ery small and are 
borne at the nodes, where the small fruits are 
also produced. 
The leaves of H. Auricula ria are used in 
l)reparing a dry curry, but it is not much 
used as a food. The iilant is believed 
to iiossess cooling properties, and is used to 
some e.xtent by native medical practitioners in 
treating cutaneous diseases. 
fiO. Irora Cocciuea, L., 
is a tree found throughout the Island, growing- 
in both cultivated and uncultivated land. It is 
abundantly found in the vicinity of streams. The 
general growth of the plant is a shrub, but it is 
also found as a tree with well-defined large stem.«. 
The stem is much branched and covered with 
green leaves of an ovate shape, and of a rather 
leathery texture, the viens being slightly pro- 
minent. The flowers which are red with a thin 
tubuhir corolla exiauuled into four petals, are 
borne in large clu.sters, which give a character- 
istic a])]-)earanco to the trees. A large ipuintity 
of nectar is found in the (lowers of ixora. 
Till' fruit.s which are borne in clusters are of 
the shape and .size of Ceylon black berrie.s (Dun ). 
They are green and have an astringent character 
when immature, but turns soft in texture and 
black in colour when ripe. The ripe fruits are 
of a sweetish taste, and are often eaten. 
The wood of this j)lant is of a hard texture, 
but as it does not generally attain to a 
gi’eat height, its timber is not much used 
except for liandles of munioties and other agri- 
cultural implements. The flowers of this xilant 
are reputed to contain properties of purifying 
the blood. 
Comjjositae. 
ol. Rmilia Sonchifolia. D. 0; Sin. KadupaL'T-- 
is a herb found growing in the warmer parts of the 
Island in cultivated gardens and waste places. 
It has simple amplexicaul leaves with divided 
margins. The whole leaf is of a light green 
coloLir and is covered with glossy hairs. The leaves 
are found to vmry according to the fertility of the 
soils where they grow as well as according to the 
condition of the climate. The flower-heads are 
small in size and are borne 011 a sliglitly long 
peduncle. 
The leaves of this herb are used as a vegetable. 
They have a slightly acid character, and when 
made into curries this acidity gives the prepara- 
tion a pleasant taste. The leaves are .said to 
possess cooling properties, and are used externally 
in cuts and wounds and also in cases of serpent 
bites. 
Sapotaceae. 
fyl. Russia Lonyifolia. Sin. Mi. 
This is a tree which grows in the warmer parts 
of the Island up to high elevations. It attains to 
very large dimensions, and is covered with dense 
foliage. The leaves are long and narrow ; their 
margins are entire ; and the veins are ijrominent. 
The leaf is of a tough texture. The flowers 
are borne in abundance. They liave thick fleshy 
calyces and are of a whitish appearance, with a 
p>eculiar smell. The Bassia trees flower once a year 
during the months of May and June, when in 
many parts of the Island trees are laden with 
blossoms and the ground strewn with the 
flowers, while large swarms of bees always 
resort to the trees at this season. The fruits 
are formed in July and August, and they 
much resemble the fruits of the small varieties 
of mangoes both in their appearance and in their 
arrangement on the trees. A fruit generally con- 
tains two seeds, ljut it is not uncommon to 
meet with those containing three to four of 
them. The fruits when ripe are much liked 
by birds, especially parrots and flying-foxes. 
The seeds are about an inch in length tapering 
both ways and thick in the middle: they are 
covered with a smooth brittle integument. 
The seeds contain a large quantity of oil in 
them, which is extracted l)y the villagers. 
A sugary syrup is manufactured by boiling the 
juice of the bassia flowers, and is used in the 
jireparation of sweetmeats. This syrup has 
rather an unpleasant taste and smell, to those 
who are not accustomed to its use. The dried 
flowers are pounded and made into flour which is 
also converted into sweetmeats. 
The fleshy portion of the young fruits of the 
Bassia is cut into slices and made into curries. 
Bees collect large quantities of lioney from the 
flowers for (heir hives. Tlie timlicr of thi.s tree 
is trsed in house luiilding us well us in the 
