8i6 
Supplement to the '^Tropical AgricultunstJ 
[May I, 1891. 
cousti'iictioii of bridges. The Juice of the Bassia 
leaves along with coconut milk is used in cases 
of bui’iis and for allaying rheumatic pain. The 
astringent bark is used in fever and also to 
promote^ apetite. The oil e.vtracted from the 
seed i,Sj^used externally. 
4 
AGBICULTURE IN THE NORTH. 
Sib, — Since the abolition of the tax on dry gi’ains, 
many suggestions hai o been thrown out with a 
view to encouraging a more extended cultivation 
of these products ; and it is gratifying to read 
that the Agriculturists of the North are as busy 
as ever preparing their lands for these crops, 
and that in all likelihood a good outturn will 
follow. This is very encouraging news to those 
who are interested in the affairs of Jaffna, and 
it is all the unore cheering after the late reports 
of the failure of the paddy crop. When the tax 
was about to be abolished, it used to be thought 
that such a relief will bring about a careless and 
indifferent disposition in the cultivation of dry 
grains. Happily the reverse has been the case! 
The Jaffna cultivator needs no instruction or 
direction for the raising of dry grains, for the 
reason that by long ex^ierience he has arrived at 
the most improved methods of cultivating such 
products ; but where he does need help and 
special guidance is in fruit culture and gardening, 
for which, though he has a soil of great capabilities, 
he has little taste and enterprise himself. While 
thinking over the opportuiiites for improvement 
in this direction, by a strange coincidence the 
Ceyloti Fatriot of the lOtli instant, suggested in 
its columns the idea of establishing Experimental 
Gardens throughout the Island, and .specially 
recommended the formation of a Board of Agri- 
culture in Jaffna, The Fatriot goes on to say 
that “A competent Agriculturist should be in 
charge of each garden nominally under his local 
superior, the Government Agent, but responsible 
to the Director (of the Peradeniya Botanic 
Gardens); and these iirofessional men attached 
to these gardens should, in addition to keeping 
their gardens in the highest state of efficiency, try 
their utmost to spread a knowledge of the im- 
proved method of cultivation, and send annual or 
quartely reports to the Director as to the state of 
their gardens, with remarks and suggestions of their 
own, as to the economic plants and vegetables 
suitable to the soil of their gardens, putting in 
their requisition for such plants as are not obtain- 
able locally and generally; keeping the Director 
duly informed of every thing which in his opinion 
will bo of benefit to the people. Now that 
through the laudable exertions of Mr. Green, a 
liatch of graduates are annually turned from the 
Agricultural School, with a com])etent knowledge 
of their subject, their .services can be engaged 
for a trifling sum com|>ared with the enormous 
expense necessary to get dowm Agricult uri.sts from 
Knglund or t be Continent.” 
\Vitl) regard to the board of Agriculture, the 
Fatriot delivers itself as follow'S : — 
•' Devoid, tbougb he (the Government Agent) lie 
of acieiitilic knowledge and training, lie will be 
the means of iloiiig great, good if guided by a 
eomiietent ami resjamsible Agricult.nrist. The 
whole force of lieadmeli can be held in leading 
^jtring'' and made notriiii roU'Wi to sju'cad a liiiow- I 
Iidge of improved gardening and cultivation of 
economic plants througliout their re.spective 
divisions. To tiid the Government Agent and advise 
him in all important matters, the formation of a 
Board, consisting of the chief headmen of Jaffna 
and a feiv of the leading landed proprietors, inde- 
liendent of Government, will be a very desirable 
step. 
■ It may thus be inferred from the.se remarks of 
the Veylon Fatriot, representing as it does the 
interests of the Tamil community of the North, 
that the inhabitants of the Jaffna Peninsula are 
not reluctant to adopt any useful plan that may 
be suggested and appear practicable. 
One good result such a system as the Fatnot 
sugge.«ts will be the breaking down of a good deal 
of selfishness and comsenation that clings to 
the northern culti\ ator. Take for instance the 
growing of grapes which is so limited in 
extent, for tlie main reason that the secret of 
their successful cultivation is jealously kept by a 
few who are loth to proclaim it to their brethren. 
In this connection I may mention the advantages 
of such a publication as the Magazine of the 
School of Agriculture, in wdiicli there is at present 
appearing a useful contribution on the cultiva- 
of the Grajie Vine. 
Again, in tlie case of cucumber, cultivation is 
also confined to a comparatively few. The variety 
grown here hasiiroved itself a pirofitalile croji, and 
one for whicli there is an eager demand in the 
market, but its more extended cultivation is pire- 
vented by unworthy means (sucli as withholding 
seed or supiiilying bad seed) for fear that the 
result might be a di.sadvantage to a few favoured 
but selfish individuals. 
It will thus apipiear that it is vey desirable that 
by some means, — whether through the School of 
Agriculture in Colombo or the Board of Agricul- 
ture at Jaffna, — a more liberal system of cultivation 
should pirevail in ttie North^ that there should be 
no obstacles in the way of procuring whatever 
seed is required, and that opportunities should be 
allowed for the exi gence of a healthy competition, 
which is one of the fundamental laws of 
Agricultural Industry. 
I am very anxious that some effort should be 
made to establish these desirable results, which I 
doubt not will liave the sanction of the Govern- 
ment Agent of the North (liimself a successful 
cultivator of fruits), and it is for that reason that 
I have touched on the pilan pint forward in the 
C'ei/lon Fatriot, and endeavoured to supplement 
and strengthen its remarks in urging the claims 
of Jaffna for more enlightened direction and 
supiervision of its agricultural aff'aris. 
I am, yours, &c., 
R. C. Muitiah. 
Colombo, 18tli April 1891. 
THE CULTIVATION OF MANIOC. 
( M aiiihot Util irima . ) 
Bv \V. A. De Sn.A'A. 
Tlie Manioc belongs to the order Euphorbiacea 
and fbrives in warm regions. The original home 
of the Manioc is considered to be the New 
Worlil, wlience if has been introduced into 
eastern countries. Tlie jilant is in great repute 
wlu'rever it is cultivafed on account of the 
largo (juautity of food mateiials it piroduces in 
