436 
Siq:>plement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist'' 
FDec. 1, 1S97. 
witli the public by the publicntic ii of periodical 
circulars on impor:aut s ihjects. Mr. Willis (the 
Director of Botanic Gardens) intends to arrance 
for personal instuction by members of the Staff, 
whether by lectures away from Peradeniya, or 
by demonstrations in the Garden and elsewhere. 
The latter branch of work, however he thinks 
should be connected w'iih the School of Agri- 
culture, and he proposes to bring it before the 
Committee dealing with that institution.” 
Arrangements have been made for the appoint- 
ment of a “Scientific assistant” to the Director of 
Botanic Gardens. For the first occupant of the 
post the Director is trying to get a man with 
sufficient training in the study of fungi to enable 
him to work out the life histories of the fungi 
of the cocoa and betel diseases and others. 
Another man might be afterwards obtained who 
would study rubber thoroughlj', then perhaps 
a skilled viticulturist to teach vine-growing in 
Ceylon, and so on. 
Tous-les-mois, St. Vincent arrowroot and Queens- 
land arrowroot are different names for Canna 
edulis. The farina from the tubers of this plant, 
which has been more than once referred to in 
the Magazine, [vide vol. VI., Xo. 3, page 28, and 
vcl. IX., No. 4. page 36] is considered to be 
equal to or more valuable than ordinary arrow- 
root, thougli not so white In 1894 a crop of 
Canna edulis rvas raised on the School of 
Agriculture grounds. AVe may mention that the 
preparation of arrowu’oot from this plant is not 
unknown to the natives. In Badulla and the 
Eayigam Korale it is cultivated for this purpose. 
AVe read in the Government Resolution ou the 
report of the Agiicultural Department of Bengal 
for 1896 the following reference to Agriculturai 
^Education : — “The Agricultural Conference held in 
Calcut ta in 1896 recommended (1), that tlie course 
of study in primary and middle schools should 
be revised so as to include a graduated series 
of lessons in agriculture and in other subjects 
of elementary science; (2), that agricultural 
classes should be opened in connection with the 
Seebpore Engineering College; and (8), that a 
certain number of appointments in the public 
service should be reserved for those who have 
received an agricultural education. The sanction 
of the Government of India ho.s recently been 
received for the opening of agricultural classes 
at Seebjpore, and the details of the scheme, which 
wull soon be published, for giving effect to these 
recommendations of the Conference, are now being 
worked out. AA'e also note in the same connection 
that agricultural exhibitions were held in no less 
than 15 centres dining the year, and that they 
were all assisted by Government witli grants of 
money which were chiefly spent in prizes. 
The expenditure of the Department on agri- 
cultural enquiry and improvement alone (excluding 
pay of superior establishment, silk experiments, 
vetirinary work, &c.) was RIO, 354 ; and the Lieut- 
enant-Governor expresses his opinion that the ex- 
penditure which is spoken of as small is more 
than justified by the information collected and 
practical results achieved. 
AVe would draw special attention to the re- 
commendations referred to above, especially to 
that by which a certain number of appointments 
will be reserved for those who have received an 
agricultural education. It is to be hoped that 
the Ceylon Government will also come to 
recognise the necessity of holding out some in- 
ducements in order to draw to the School of 
Agriculture each year a number of students of 
fair intelligence and respectability, so that the 
teachings of modern agriculture might find in 
them a good nidus, and eventually leaven the 
whole mass of our rural population. 
Among the visitors at the School of Agriculture 
during November was Professor J. L. Janson, 
Professor of Agriculture in the Imperial University 
of Japan, Tokiyo. Prof. Janson spent a couple of 
hours on the premises, in going over the grounds, 
and visiting the Government dairy in wliich 
he was particularly interested. It would appear 
that while the work of the Japanese Agricultural 
College has developed in the direction of agricul- 
tural chemistry, little or nothing is being done in 
the way of dairying and cattle breeding. 
Altogether the Professor’s visit wms a most in- 
teresting one, and having done a great deal of 
travelling, his agricultural experience is both 
extensive and valuable. 
The Colonial A'eterinary Surgeon left for the 
Xurunegala district during the latter part of 
November, as cattle plague was reported to be 
prevailing there. Mr. Sturgess, who made some 
serum inoculation experiments on the last 
occasion he visited an infected district, intends 
to carry out further e.xperiments, this time with 
bile, on the lines recommended by Dr. Kech. 
By the time the present number of the 
Agricultural Magazine reaches the hands of 
our readers, the Christmas season will have 
begun, and we therefore take the opportunity 
afforded us here of wisliing each and every one of 
our supporters and w ell-wisliers a bright and 
happy Christmas and the prospect and a prosperous 
New Y^enr. 
As usual, the present issue of the Magazine ap- 
pears as a double number at this sea.^on. Subscri- 
bers will please therefoie note that Nos. 6 and 7 
appear in a combined form. 
AVe would draw attention to the advertisement 
on the cover referring to bee hives. 
Tagasaste or Tree Lucerne iCystisus proliferus) 
which has been so much written about ns a 
fodder plant would not seem to have much 
chance of extended cultivation in the Island. 
Mr. Nock, of the Hakgala Garden.'^, writing about 
the tree says : “The Cystisuses generally do not 
do well here, being very uneven in growth,” — 
one year making long shoots and the next 
scarcely any at all, and then going right out 
during the heavy rains or drought. However, 
Cystisus canariensis has done fairly well for 
some years, and last y^ear we raised a few 
plants of the Tree Lucerne (C. proliferus). They 
did w’ell for a time, and then most of them 
