TPIE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Sept, r, 1897 . 
ting boys to catch them, and there seems to be no 
reason why the same plan should not be successful 
in the case of such large tea-pests as caterpilLtrs, 
cocoons, etc.” Among other interesting notes in 
this number are those relating to the mango weevil, 
insects infesting croton plants, ticks infesting fowls, 
and the reprints, especially that referring to the 
formation of new colonies by Tcrmes incif'ujus, and 
the crow as an insect destroyer. The 60 pages of 
which this number consists coateiin a quantity of valu- 
able and interesting information . — Madras 3Iail. 
NEW AREAS OF CULTIVATION IN 
THE HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT. 
There was but little new land brought under 
cultivation during the year. 
Ir. Magam pattu a tract of forty acres under 
Yodawewa was asweddumized. 
In East Giruwa pattu Mr. Elliott, late Govern- 
ment Agent, Southern Province, commenced to culti- 
vate the Walawe estate, but no new land was sown 
before the end of the year. 
In West Giruwa pattu there was more land than 
usual cultivated during the year, but none of this 
was cultivated for the first time as far as I can 
ascertain. — Mr. Hopkins' Administration lieport for 1890. 
^ 
FOOD SUPPLY IN MATARA DISTRICT. 
The paddy crops reaped during the year were 
fair average ones. The outturn was about the same 
as in 1895, viz., 750,000 bushels. This was supple- 
mented by imported paddy for the estates and 
portions of the district to the extent of about 10,000 
bags. The figures are practically the same as last 
year. In the Morawak korale and portions of the 
Kandaboda pattu the extent of land capable of irri- 
gation is small, and the inhabitants have for years 
been dependent on fine grain of different kinds to 
supplement their food supply. These crops w’ere 
average ones last year. There was however money 
to be earned for clearing and cultivating citronella 
estates, and the villagers were thus able to buy 
better food, and did not attempt to grow much last 
year. The crops of coconuts, jak, breadfruit, &c., 
were very good, jak and breadfruit being especially 
plentiful. Vegetables of the common sort are grown 
through most of the district, but not in large quantities, 
and taken to the communal markets, where they 
find a ready sale. Fish is taken by coolies to the 
markets at Tihagoda, Kirinda, Uakmana, and 
Kamburupitiya. There is practically no room for 
any extension of paddy cultivation. All available 
land has been brought under cultivation, and is in 
most cases assured of its water supply from one of 
the numerous tanks, anicuts, and channels with 
which the district is supplied. As regards coconut 
planting, I do not know of any large extents being 
opened. Mr. Le Mesurier has cleared and planted 
some land near Kotawila, and also inland on the 
edge of the Dediyagalamukalana; but native capita- 
lists do not seem to cai-e about opening anything 
but the very best land. This is scarce everywhere 
and even near the coast, where there is still uii- 
planted land : most of it is condemned as unsuita- 
ble. — Mr. Viffors’ Administration Report for 1890. 
Mounting Engkavings. — Cut a piece of clean waste 
paper the same size as the engraving, and lay the 
engraving face downwards on a table or board, with 
the waste paper underneath. Now paste the back 
of the engraving until it is limp and saturated. 
The cartoon paper should then be damped with a 
sponge until saturated, and placed on the pasted 
back of the engraving. Press it down fiat with a 
duster, put drawing pins or tacks roond the edge, 
and leave for twenty-four hours. Trim off when dry. 
— From Work for July. 
CROPS AND F'OOD SUPPLY IN THE 
HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT. 
Though the rainfall during the year was not above 
the average, the crops were fair, thanks to the 
different irrigation works in the district The acreage 
under paddy and fine grain and the yield is esti- 
mated by the Mudaliyars as below : — 
Paddy. Fine Grain. 
Acres. Bushels. Acres. Bushels. 
Magam Pattu .. 4,384 87,780 380 3,012 
East Giruwa Pattu .. 2,227 11,148 1,972 6,348 
West Giruwa Pattu .. 10,830 130,646 3,572 17,864 
Total .. 17,441 229,574 5,824 27,224 
A good supply of vegetables is usually raised in 
the West Giruwa pattu, such as pumpkins, cu- 
cumbers, brinjals, &c. These are planted in the 
chenas in the same enclosures as fine grain, so it is 
not possible to form any estimate of the extent 
cultiv'ated or the yield. It must, however, be con- 
siderable, for during the annual pilgrimage to 
Tissamaharama I noticed large quantities of vege- 
tables, chiefly ash pumpkins, exposed for sale by 
the roadside between Banna and Ambalantota. Of 
such vegetables there was a good supply, but coco- 
nuts, jak, breadfruit, and sweet potatoes were rather 
scarce owing to protracted drought. 
There is an abundant supply of sea fish, which, 
however, is not made the most of by the local 
fishermen, who in their small boats are afraid to 
venture out to sea, and consequently the fishing 
grounds near the shore are overfished, and the 
number as well as the size of the fish caught is much 
below what it should be. During the north-east 
monsoon fishermen come in large boats from the 
Galle and Matara Districts, and during their stay 
catchy large numbers of fine fish, the results of 
standing well out to sea and fishing water which is 
undisturbed by the local men. 
Thanks to tbe large number of Mohammedans in 
the town of Hambantota, beef is generally to be 
had once or twice in the week, and the quality is 
very fair. At Tangalla, however, the supply is less 
certain, and the quality of the meat worse. Mutton 
is unknown, but goat meat is eaten occasionally by 
the better classes in the town. Fowls are scarce 
throughout the district, and ducks are never seen. 
On the whole, the food supply during 1890 was 
amply sufficient for the wants of the people, and no 
complaints of scat city reached me from any quarter. 
—Mr. Hopkins' Administration Report for 1896. 
Exploration and Cultivation in Austra- 
Ll.\.,— Winding up an article on recent explora- 
tion and loss of life on the Australian Continent, 
the Sydney Mail well say.s ; — We are about 
celebrating the glorious reign which is the 
longest in our histoiy. A feature, and not per- 
haps tlie least important, is that in the space 
of 60 years this vast continent has been sur- 
veyed from every one of its coasts through its 
remotest parts and now thanks to the bravery 
and the skill of thousands of pioneers, known and 
unknowm, it is for ever dedicated to the occu- 
pation of mankind. Coolgardie lies beyond an 
explorer’s “farthest.” England receives the wool 
and perhaps tlie mutton and beef that are 
grown over the graves of Burke and Wills and 
the unmentioned resting-place of Leichhardt. 
We in New South W’ales grow wheat w’here 
Oxley and Sturt gave no hope of human sub- 
.sistence. The Australian desert has infinitely 
receded, but, as the fate of Welts and Jones de- 
notes, there is a desert. 
