SGRK^ULTURSL 
COLOMBO. 
Added  as  a Supplement  Monthly  to  the  “ TKOFIGAL  AGRICULTURIST.'’ 
The  following  pages  include  the  Contents  of  the  Agricaltnral  Mayazine 
or  May  ; — 
Vol.  VIIL]  MAY,  1897.  [No.  IL 
SEASON  REPORTS  FOR  MARCH. 
ESTERN  PRO  VINO R.—V&My. 
Preparations  for  A"ala  cultivation. 
Fruit.s  and  vegetables  tend  to  be 
scarce  and  dear  in  many  parts, 
though  the  supply  of  vegetables 
was  fairly  plentiful  in  Colombo, 
Tlie  dry  weather  is  to  some  extent  interfering 
with  Yala  cultivation. 
Cetttral  Prowncc.— Paddy.  Malm  harvest  being 
taken  in  or  over,  Yala  cultivation  commenced 
in  many  places.  Crop  faiily  good. 
Northern  Province. — Paddy.  Kalapokam  crop 
taken  and  thrashing  commenced  in  Jaffna,  reaping 
going  on  in  Mannar,  outturn  reported  good 
though  crop  somewhat  damaged  by  flies. 
Southern  Province. — Paddy.  Y^ala  going  on  in 
Galle,  dry  weather  unfavourable  to  growth  both 
here  and  in  Hambantota.  Tissa  fields  are  ripe 
and  in  blossom. 
Eastern.  Province. — Paddy.  Early  Munmnri  liar- 
vest  on,  and  a commencement  made  with  Pinwari. 
Caterpillars  have  done  some  damage  to  the  young 
paddy.  Prospects  are  however  good.  Cattle 
murrain  dying  out  in  Batticaloa  district,  only 
ca.<es  of  a mild  type  e.xisting  at  present. 
North-Western  Province. — Paddy.  Harvesting 
going  on  in  most  places  and  thrashing  also 
begun ; prospects  generally  good.  Murrain  in 
two  Rorales  in  the  Kurunegala  district. 
North-Central  Province. — Paddy.  In  some  parts 
Yala  ploughing  and  sowing  is  going  on,  while  in 
others  the  last  crop  is  not  quite  done  with  yet. 
Occasional  cases  of  murrain  in  Nuwaragampalata. 
Province  of  Uva. — Paddy.  Preparation  for  Malm 
harvest  is  going  on.  Judging  from  appearances. 
good  crops  are  to  be  expected.  Some  foot  and 
mouth  disease  in  Yatikinda. 
Province  of  Sahararjammea. — Paddy.  In  the 
Ratuapura  and  Xegalle  districts  the  Malm  harvest 
is  closing  and  Yala  cultivation  commencing ; 
prospects  favourable  generally. 

RAINFABli  TAKEN  AT  THIO  SCHOOL  OF 
AGRICULTURE  DURING  THE  MONTH 
OF  APRIL,  1897. 
1 
Thursday 
Nil 
19 
Monday 
1-78 
2 
Friday 
Nil 
20 
Tuesday 
•81 
3 
Saturday 
•17 
21 
Wednesday  . 
•33 
4 
Sundav 
•17 
22 
Thursday  . 
•40 
5 
Monday 
•17 
23 
Friday 
Nil 
6 
Tuesd<ay 
•02 
24 
Saturday  . 
Nil 
7 
Wednesday  . . 
Nil 
25 
Sunday 
•47 
8 
Thursday 
Nil 
26 
Monday 
1-00 
9 
Friday 
•29 
27 
Tuesdaj' 
•88 
10 
Saturday 
Nil 
28 
Wednesday . 
*63 
11 
Sunday 
Nil 
29 
Thursday  . 
Nil 
12 
Monday 
Nil 
30 
Friday 
Ni 
13 
Tuesday 
Nil 
1 
Saturday  , 
Nil 
14 
Wednesday  . . 
Nil 
15 
Thursday 
4-70 
16 
Friday  . , 
Nil 
Total. 
.11-82 
17 
Saturday 
Nil 
Mean . , 
•39 
18 
Sunday 
Nil 
Greatest  amount  of  rainfall  in  any  ill  hours  on 
the  1.5th  Thursday  inche.s  -|■70^ 
Reeordo.i  by  A.  R.  JEIUiMl.vn. 
KAFFIR  CORN. 
This  cereal  wdiich  has  lately  been  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  agricultural  public  in  Ceylon  through 
the  columns  of  the  local  Examiner,  and  concerning 
which  w'e  have  received  many  enquiries,  is  really 
an  old  acquaintance  under  a new  name. 
Kaffir  corn,  also  called  Guinea  corn  or  the 
Indian  or  great  millet,  is  botanically  known  as 
Sorcihum  viclgare,  and  in  India  as  “Jowari’’ 
and  “ Cholum.”  By  the  last  name  it  must  be 
familiar  to  many  who  at  first  imagined  tha 
