THIE 
SGRKJULTURSL  mSCSZIDG, 
COLOMBO. 
Addod  as  a Sup})lemeyit  Monthly  to  the  “ TROPICAL  AGRIGULTU RI^TP 
The  following  pages  include  the  Contents  of  the  AyricuUural  Magazine 
for  March  : — 
Vol.  VII,]  MARCH,  1896.  [No.  9. 
SE.4SON  NOTES. 
January  1896. 
lESTERN  PROVINCE.— 
Maba  harvest  has  commenced  and 
preparation  is  being  made  for  yala- 
Fruit  and  vegetable  reported  scarce 
in  all  districts  except  Colombo, 
wliere  the  vegetable  supply  has  been  fairly  good. 
Harvest  prospects  good. 
CENTRA!,  Province. — A good  Maha-crop,  dry 
grain  good.  Fruit  and  vegetable  plentiful,  rain- 
fall generally  oufRcient.  Nfoc/t.— Foot  and  mouth 
disease  appeared  in  Uda  Ilewaheta  and  Walapane. 
Northern  Province.— crop  prospects 
fairly  good  in  all  districts.  Dry  grains  satisfac- 
tory everywhere  except  in  Jaffna.  Tobacco,  plant- 
ing completed,  want  of  vigour  in  growth  reported 
from  some  districts.  Stock. — Cattle  plague  (mur- 
rain) and  foot  and  mouth  disease  reported  from 
Vavuniyn  district. 
Southern  Province. — Paddy. — Maha  crop  be- 
ing harvested  except  in  some  parts  of  Hambantota 
district,  where  it  is  in  different  stages  of  growth. 
Vegetable  and  fruit  scarce.  Dry  grains  fairly 
good. 
Eastern  Province. — Crop  in  good  condition, 
except  that  on  lowlands,  damaged  by  rain.  Fine 
grain  good.  Stock. — Foot  and  mouth  disease  on 
the  decline. 
North-Western  Province. — Harvesting  com- 
menced. Maha  crop  being  grown,  prospects  good. 
In  Puttlam  district  insect  pests  j^eported. 
North-Central  Province. — Crop  in  various 
stages,  some  being  reaped,  prospects  good.  Tanks 
full.  Stock. — Cattle  plague  prevailing  and  no 
improvement. 
UvA. — Yala  crop  harvesting,  sowing  for  Maha 
going  on,  prospects  middling,  Chena  crops  good 
prospects.  Fruit  and  vegetable  plentiful  except 
in  Udukiuda,  where  vegetables  are  reported  to  be 
scarce. 
Sabaragamuwa  Province. — Maha  crop  being 
harvested  ; yield  generally  good.  Dry  grain  out- 
turn satisfactory.  Stock. — A few  buffaloes  in  Ke- 
galle  district  succumbed  to  cattle  plague  ; disease 
did  not  spread  furcher. 

AGRICULTURAL  SHOWS. 
Agricultural  societies  and  agricultural  shows 
have  no  proud  record  in  this  Island,  for  while 
societies  have  either  sunk  into  oblivion  through 
O 
the  apathy  of  its  members  or  been  transformed 
into  political  or  other  associations,  shows,  as  held 
in  Ceylon  have  never  maintained  their  true  char- 
acter. Our  so-called  agricultural  shows  have 
generally  been  of  the  nature  of  expositions  where 
the  exhibits  have  been  of  a very  miscellaneous 
description,  and  their  main  object  would  seem  to 
have  been  to  serve  as  a medium  for  recreation  and 
amusement.  We  are  strong  believers  in  the  utility 
of  shows  as  agents  in  the  improvement  of  agri- 
