T'TTTn 
COLOMBO. 
Added  as  a Supplement  Monthly  to  the  “ TROPICAL  AGRIGULTURISTT 
The  following  pages  include  the  Contents  of  the  Agricultural  Magazine 
for  September  : — 
Vol.  VIL]  SEPTEMBER,  1895.  [No.  3. 
GRAP15  CULTIVATION  IN  CEYLON. 
HE  cultivation  of  the  grape  has  been 
the  subject  of  a number  of  com- 
muuications  whicli  have  from  time 
to  time  appeared  in  the  pages  of 
this  Magazine.  Mr.  E.  T.  Hoole 
in  particular  has  written  much  on  the  subject,  in 
wliich  lie  has  evinced  peculiar  interest,  no  doubt 
having  first  had  his  attention  drawn  to  the 
possibility  of  extending  grape,  culture  in  Ceylon 
by  his  long  experience  of  the  industry  in 
Jaffna.  . In  a late  number,  this  correspondent 
contributed  a most  interesting  account  of  the 
cultivation  of  grapes  in  North-West  Inda,  and 
commended  the  system  there  adopted  to  the 
notice  of  cultivators  in  at  Ceylon.  Not  long 
after  the  publication  of  this  account  we  had  a 
visit  from  Mr.  Zanetti,  with  whom  arrangements 
were  subsequently  made  for  carrying  on  an 
experiment  in  grape  culture  on  the  grounds  of  the 
School  of  Agriculture  at  Colombo.  Mr.  Zanetti  is 
an  expert  in  this  branch  of  agriculture,  of  which  he 
has  bud  long  and  intimate  experience  of  an 
extensive  nature  both  on  the  Continent  and  in 
Australia.  Hitherto  grapes  have  been  cultivated 
to  a very  limiied  extent  in  Ceylon,  the  Jaffna 
peninsula  being  the  locality  where  the  largest 
number  of  vines  occur.  But  as  far  as  we  are 
aware  no  single  grape  grower  in  Ceylon  possesses 
more  than  a couple  of  plants  in  his  garden,  and 
these  have  been  grown  as  spreading  vines  on 
bowers  or  pandals.  The  continental  method  which 
is  now  being  adopted  wherever  viticulture  is  an 
established  agricultural  industry  has,  we  believe, 
never  before  been  attempted  in  Ceylon,  and  its 
demonstration  will  be  otie  of  tlie  features  of  tlie 
e.xperimont  at  the  School  of  Agriculture,  where, 
moreover,  the  most  approved  systems  of  pruning, 
manuring  &c.  will  be  practised.  Some  criticism 
has  been  raised  by  the  choice  of  Colombo  for  the 
experiment,  as  it  is  thought  that  the  climate  is 
too  humid  for  the  grape.  Single  vines  have 
however  been  known  to  flourish  in  nearly  every 
part  of  Ceylon,  and  it  will  remain  to  be  seen 
whether  given  a suitable  soil,  selected  varieties, 
and  expert-treatment,  a vineyard  cannot  be  estab- 
lished in  the  metropolis.  We  believe,  however, 
that  Mr.  Zanetti  does  not  intend  to  limit  his  ex- 
periment to  Colombo.  Personally  it  is  a source  of 
great  gratification  to  us  that  an  opportunity  has 
been  afforded  for  the  carrying  out  of  so  desirable 
an  experiment,  which  we  can  only  hope  will  prove 
an  unqualified  success.  We  have  already  had 
many  communications  on  the  subject  of  the 
experiment,  and  .some  of  our  correspondents  have 
given  us  their  own  e.xperiences  of  vine  culture. 
^ 
LAWS  OF  CEYLON  RELATING  TO 
AGRICULTURE. 
Chapter  IX. 
Recovery  of  Money  due  under  this  Ordinance. 
1.  If  default  be  made  in  the  payment  of  any 
instalment,  charge  or  rate  under  this  Ordinance  in 
repayment  of  any  amount  expended  on  the  con- 
struction &c.  of  any  irrigation  work,  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  the  Government  Agent  or  any  person 
authorized  by  writing  under  his  hand  to  seize  the 
land  herein  declared  specially  bound  and  liable  or 
any  movables  thereon  to  whomsoever  such  land 
crop  or  moveables  may  belong,  and  to  sell  the  same 
by  public  auction  at  any  time  not  less  than  twenty- 
one  days  from  the  date  of  seizure. 
2.  If  default  be  made  in  the  payment  of  any 
other  sum  payable  under  this  Ordinance  it  shall 
be  lawful  for  the  Government  Agent  or  any  person 
authorized  in  writing  under  his  hands  to  seize  any 
property  belonging  to  the  defaulter,  wheresoever 
the  same  may  be  found,  and  to  sell  the  same  by 
public  auction  at  any  time  not  less  than  twenty- 
one  days  from  the  date  of  seizure.  Provided  that 
no  seizure  of  any  land  be  made  if  the  defaulter 
surrenders  free  and  unclaimed  movable  property’’  to 
satisfy  the  total  amount  of  the  debt,  Provided  also 
