Nov. 1, 1897.] 
Supplement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist. 
363 
OCCASIONAL NOTES, 
The visit of Mr. Macdonald of Ramie fame 
has aroused a new interest in the cultivation 
of this ■well-known fibre plant, and we are 
inclined to think has also engendered a certain 
amount of confidence in the new industry. 
There was some talk about our having got the 
wrong vai'iety of the plant. We will not here 
enter upon the discussion of the botanical 
difference between Rhea and Ramie, suffice it 
to say that Mr. Macdonald has stated that we 
have got the correct sort which could be easily 
identified by the white-back leaves that 
characterize the true Ramie. We should there- 
fore abandon the word “rhea’’ for “ramie,” as in 
this instance there is a good deal in a name. 
We may state for the information of our 
readers that Ramie fibre cuttings can be had 
either at the School of Agriculture or from 
Messrs. Clarke, Young & Co,, at Rs. 20 per 
1,000 cuttings one foot long. We shall be glad 
to show the specimens of fibre, thread, and 
cloth prepared from ramie — which were given 
to us by Mr. Macdonald — to anyone who may de- 
sire to inspect them. 
Arrangements which had been made for a 
first excursion-class of agricultural students, 
when the Henarntgoda Gardens were to be 
visited, had to be abandoned owing to the 
irregularitj' of the train service as a result of 
the big rock slip on the line. 
We have, to thank Messrs. Freudenberg & Co. 
for samples of the following manures : — Blood- 
meal, Kainit, Basic Slag and Sulphate of Potash, as 
well as for a number or pamphlets treating of the 
properties and uses of these fertilizers. We 
hope to make reference to the manures in 
their relation to Ceylon crops, in a future issue. In 
the meantime we 'would only say that the fact 
of Messrs. Freudenberg & Co. having brought 
these fertilizers into the local market must 
prove a great convenience to growers — at least 
to those who are wise enough to think of 
reducing their manure bill by replacing 
their stock compounds with the equivalent of 
more cheaply mixed fertilizing agents. 
We are glad to have among our numerous ex- 
change that most acceptable and up-to-date Journal, 
The Australian Tropiculturist, for which we 
thank the Editor. We are greatly obliged to 
M essrs. Hynde & Stark of Zomba B.C. Africa for 
their letter of the 26th August, and are pleased to 
know that our magazine reaches them. P. G. S.’s 
letter from Mildura, Victoria, received. 
INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE. 
In his Administration Report for last year, Mr. 
W, B. Davidson, Assistant Government Agent 
of the Province of Sabaragamuwa e.vpresses his 
views on Agricultural Education — ^with reference 
Bpecially to the case of the native cultivator— 
and indicates the directions in which he thinks 
the School of Agriculture should work: — 
“What we ask from the Agricultural School and 
the Royal Botanical Gardens is (1) that ihe 
Superintendent and Director should guide us when 
we want information ; (’J) that we should be 
supplied with seeds and young plants when we 
want them ; and (3) that the Superintendent of 
the Agricultural School, or a really competent 
assistant from the school or from Ilenaratgoda 
or Peradeniya, should deliver special poijular 
lectures on any new garden development. E.(/., 
this year we want in Four Korales to have all 
the information we can get on (1) the grondug 
and preparing of rhea fibre ; (2) the preparation 
of the tanning material in the greeu arecanut, 
and an analysis of the increased profit to be 
derived from preparing the product locally. Again, 
this year and next in Three Korales I want 
the whole country to hear all the facts and 
figures about plantain culture, so as to have 
their produce properly cultivated and ready for 
the railway to carry it to the market. If Mr. 
Drieberg can prepare popular lectures on these 
points w’itli lemelight illustrations and such-like 
attractions, 1 will guarantee to find twenty 
audiences in selected neighbourhoods, and the 
net advantage to the country •ndll in one sea- 
son exceed all the advantages derived from any 
attempt at local school training. In fine, from 
my point of view, the one benefit derivable by 
this district from the appointment of an 
Agricultural School in Colombo is that the 
Superintendent, or a competeirt assistant, should 
deliver locally ircpular lectures on popular subjects. 
He should fidlil the same functions as are 
discharged by a “ County Council ” lecturer, e.g., 
as in Sussex. 
“ The sirbject is fully discussed in my reports 
of the 2nd December, 1895, and of the 16th 
February, 1897. 
“ In the same reports I have reviewed the 
history of the attempts to introduce new paddy, 
e.g., muttusamba, pulukhamban, and Cart lina, 
and of barley ; of new garden fruits such ns 
pomegranate, mandarin orairge, Madagascar pa- 
payui, porneloe, loquat, jambu, guava, and the 
Cochin goraka ; and of new commercial xrroducts, 
such as tea, Liberian cofiee, cacao, cotton, 
cloves, pepper, and rhea fibre. The growing of 
rhea fibre pronrises to develop into a cottage 
industry.” 
We have not had the pleasure of reading 
the two reports referred to by l\Ir. Davidson in 
which he has fully discussed the subject of 
Agricultural Instruction, for though, curiously 
enougli, we receive the Agricultural reports and 
papers published in India and most of the British 
Colonies, we are not supplied with the local pub- 
lications bearing directly on the agriculture of the 
Island. 
Nearly all the suggestions made by Mr. 
Davidson were eurbodicd in the scheme which 
was drawn up by the Superintendent of the School 
of Agriculture for the re-organising and better 
equipping of the school and for carrying on the 
work of the Agricultural Branch of the Edncalioual 
Department on more practical lines. This schema 
was appended to his annual rep>ort for 1896, 
and, reprinted in the September number 
