104 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Aug. 2, 1897. 
degrees in the island. Mr. Willis’s detailed pro- 
posals have generally our approval, only he must 
recognise the fact that any letter or circular affect- 
ing the leading industries ol the island will at once 
be, in his time as in tliat of his predecessor.^, pub- 
lislied and discussed in the daily press and so 
secure a far wider circulation (among readers 
of English) than he or the Government could 
•dve to it among the educated community. 
Again, corres))ondence arising out of any 
bulletin will necessarily gravitate to the 
press, rather than to -Mr. Wiliis — and the latter 
must remember that the planters include men 
of great experience and shrewdness, as well as 
practical agriculturists. Now, how are the “com- 
mentaries ” as well as the “ text ” to be pre- 
served and made available for ready reference ? 
Mr. Willis can scarcely turn die Gazette into 
an Agricultural journal for correspondents as 
well as for his bulletins ? It was to supply 
this felt want that we (personally) so long ago 
as 1881 started The Tropical Agriculturist, in 
whicli not only everything locally published, 
but all we can gather from other lands, l>earing 
upon our subject, is embodied. Dr. Trimeii most 
fully approved of and constantly contributed to 
the T.A.', while he seemed to hai-e the index of 
the successive volumes (there are 16 volumes with 
the one closing this month and all handy of 
reference) at his fingers’ ends, often writing to 
us, “ I see you are discussing — : you will 
find all about that product in T.A. vol— p.age— and 
vol — page — ” and so on. Mr. Willis’s bulletins 
will be specially useful for reference in the 
monthly l.A. But let him beware of starting 
experiments or discussions which have already 
been thre.shed out in Ceylon. Beware too, of 
trying too much at first — essay lectures for in- 
stance; although practical demonstrations at the 
Gardens ought to be widely beneficial ; as also the 
proposed tours, and inquiries as to new products, 
local pests, &c., wiiich indeed might be made 
most useful. We are ready to help in every 
way in our power and think a very interesting 
“ departure” is indicated in Mr. Willis’s pro- 
gramme : — 
COMMUNICATION AND CO-OPEHATION BETWEEN THE DE- 
PARTMENT OP THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS AND 
the agriculturists, &c., of the colony. 
It is very desirable that there should be greater 
and more ready communication and co-operation be- 
tween the Department of the Royal Botanic Gardens 
and those whom it is chiefly designed to benefit, viz., 
the agriculturists, horticulturists, and botanists of the 
Colony. Many interesting cultivations, experiments, 
&c. are often going on in the Gardens, of which 
the' public sees or hears nothing except in the brief 
annual report, which is not the place in which to 
give detailed accounts of such work. And, on the 
other hand, the staff of the Department, for want 
of better communication and means of getting in- 
formation, often remain for long in ignorance of 
important occurrences, such as the appearance of new 
diseases, the starting of new cultivations or new 
methods of cultivation, and so on. A few suggestions 
as to ways of overcoming these difficulties are given 
below 
publication of information concerning the 
GARDENS AND WHAT IS GOING ON THEREIN. 
(1) I would suggest the publication at intervals of 
a scries of circulars or bulletins, each as a rule deal- 
ing with one subject only. The cost of a one-page 
circular would be about R3 per 1,000 copies. These 
circulars might be kept at the Gardens and distri- 
buted free or sent by post or receipt of a stamp for 
postage. Their publication should not be at fixed 
intervals, but whenever required. As examples of 
what is meant, the first few might deal with “ the 
Chocho,” “Rhea fibre,” “the Cacao disease,” “new 
ornamental plants,’ and so on. In some casgs 
Sinhalese or Tamil translations might also be pre- 
pared for distribution among the villagers. 
(2) 1 would suggest the publication in the Govern- 
ment Gazette and elsewhere, if thought desirable, of 
advertisements of important seeds or plants on sale 
at the Gardens. 
(3) I would also suggest the giving of occasional 
lectures on important subjects, such as diseases of 
plants, new cultivations, &c., by the staff of the 
Department in Colombo, Kandy, or elsewhere. 
Also the giving of occasional demonstrations at the 
Gardens upon such subjects, e.y., upon rubber-tap- 
ping at Henaratgoda, or upon fibre plants at Pcra- 
deniya., Notice of such meetings in Kandy. Such 
lectures or demonstrations could hardly’ fail to be of 
mutn.al advantage both to cultivators and to this 
Department. 
II. — the CDLLECTION of INFORM.ATION by .IND for THE 
DEPARTMENT. 
(4) I would suggest that occasional tours be made 
in different districts of the Colony to investigate the 
various cultivations carried on, the diseases of plants, 
&c. ; and that the results of these investigations be 
from time to time submitted to Government as 
special reports, which might also, when deemed ad- 
visable, be published as separate bulletins or circulars 
(see above). 
(5) I would suggest that the Superintendent of 
Hakgala Garden and the Curator of Peradeniya 
Garden should be authorized to travel with or in 
place of the Director on these expeditions whenever 
the aid or advice of a highly skilled practical 
Gardener is needed. 
(6) I would suggest that the Government Agents 
and other Administrative Officers, native headmen. 
Secretaries of planters ’Associations, &c., be requested 
to assist this Department by informing me from 
time to time of new cultivations started, old ones 
abandoned, outbreaks of diseases, and so on. Such 
a request might well form part of the first (intro- 
ductory) circular issued by this Department. 
John C. Willis, 
Director, Royal Botanic Gardens 
THE CACAO DISEASE AGAIN. 
Mr. J. R. Martin affords us a very straightfor- 
ward account of his connection with the steps taken 
to provide for the scientific investigation of the 
cacao disease. It shows that so far from being 
opposed to such inquiry, he has specially 
courted it— only that he dreaded exaggerated 
reports of the extent of the evil so soon as it 
was known the Government had been moved to 
take the matter in hand. We can sympathise 
to some extent with this feeling ; but the great 
matter to be regretted now is that Messrs. Martin 
and Dickenson did not know how exactly Mr. E. E. 
Green, was, as an entomologist, fitted to undertake 
for them the investigation inquired. We take it 
Mr. Martin has not seen Mr. Green’s scientific work 
or he would have felt safe in inviting him to 
e.xainine any trouble or disease attributable to. 
a “ poochie.” Had it been a fungus, the case 
would have been different. But, as matters 
stand, we trust the Government will lose no 
time in asking their “honorary entomologist” 
to visit, examine and report on the cacao dis- 
ease, induced by a “poochie,” in the Matale, 
Dumbara and Kurunegala distric s. Even if Mr. 
Green were unable to provide an adequate 
remedy, his report could not fail to supply the 
information required at Kew or by referee experts 
n the mother country. 
