792 
Sup'plement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist." [May 2, 1893. 
AGKICULTURAL SHOWS. 
Agricultural Shows are everywhere recognised 
as a powerful factor in the agricultural education 
of the people, 
We have lately been peru.^ing a communication 
made by a farmer to an English Exchange, in 
which the writer states the many -ways in which 
he derived material benefit by attending a Show 
of the Royal Agricultural Society in the provinces' 
And if the English farmer with the ready means 
of communication available to him and the 
facilities he has for deriving information through 
the press and other ways, is prepared to confess 
that there is so much good in Agricultural Shows, 
it will be confessed that to the village cultivator of 
Ceylon, living in remote parts of the interior of the 
Island, with little opportunity of hearing or 
reading anything calculated to improve his 
agricultural knowledge, the benefits derivable 
from Shows must be incalculable. The educa- 
tional influence of Shows is in many ways greater 
than that of the written words of a book or news- 
paper or the .‘poken words of a teacher or 
lecturer, since they i>rovide object lessons which 
always leave a lasting impression on the mind. 
Again, these Shows are important mediums for 
the dissemination of knowledge, for visitors do 
not simply look at what is to be seen without 
getting all the information that is to be gained 
with regard to the means of producing the ex- 
hibits so strikingly set before them. 
But for bringing about the best results there 
must be some system in holding Agricultural 
Shows. What we mean is that a programme of 
these Shows should be once and for all decided 
upon, and everybody should be well acquaiuted 
with the details, while, what is of most importance, 
the Shows should be held at regular intervals, 
and if possible at different centres. There will 
thus be healthy competition which is often made 
impossible by the fact that a Show is fre- 
quently sprung upon the agricultural community 
after many years. Various interesting facts are 
made known by Shows, such as the best season, 
elevation, &c„ for producing the best results with 
different crops, the comparative merits of pro- 
duce raised under different conditions, the period 
of growth of plants, the effect of manures — facts 
whichare often lost sight of inordinary cultivation. 
It is a matter for congratulation that H.E. the 
Govei’nor is in favour of Agricultural Shows being 
held in the colony, as is to be inferred from the fact 
that there is so much activity being displayed in 
this direction of late. We should expect that a 
marked influence and improvement for the better 
will before long be discernable in the quality and 
scope of agricultural practice among native 
cultivators, — a result greatly to be desired. 
HOW TO TELL THE AGE OF NEAT CATTLE. 
The age of an animal may be ascertained by the 
teeth until it rcacho.s the age of six years, after 
which time the horns are the only guide. Cattle 
cast no teeth until they reach the age of two 
years, when they get two new teeth ; at three 
years they get two more, and every succeeding 
year t^YO, until five years old, when they are 
termed “full-mouthed,” although, strictly speak- 
ing, they are not “ full-mouthed ” until they 
reach the age of six years, because the two corner 
teeth are not matured until that period is reached. 
Tile age may also be detei'mined by the horns; 
but in some cases the most enlightened judge is 
deceived, as the horns may be scraped or filed In 
such a manner as to deceive any person. 
At the age of two years the horns are without 
wrinkles ; but at the age of three a wrinkle 
appears at the base, and eve.rj^ succeeding year 
another appears; so by adding two to the number 
rf rings on the horns the age may be ascertained. 
“Poverty rings” are sometimes to be seen on the 
horns, which are brought about by starvation 
when rearing the animal, but are smaller than 
those brought about by age. 
Mr. James Irving, M.R.C.V.S.L., gives the 
following as the test of age in dairy stock: — 
Table of Early 
Average Improved 
Breeds. 
Table of Late 
Average Improved 
Breeds. 
Table of Late 
Average Unimprov- 
ed Breeds. 
Years. 
Months 
Number of 
teeth. 
Yeara- 
Months 
Number of 
teeth. 
Years. 
Months 
Number of 
teeth. 
1 9 
a 3 
2 9 
3 3 
4 1 permanent 
6 1 incissors. 
8) 
2 3 
2 9 
3 3 
3 9 
4 [permanent 
8 f incissors 
sj 
2 3 
t 0 
4 0 
5 0 
-'i 
4 (permanent 
6 I incissors 
sj 
— Queensland Agricultwal Journal. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
l)r. Somerville writing to us with reference to 
a subject that \yns lately discussed locally says; 
“ Lshouldnot think it impossible that strong smell- 
ing manures might give a flavour to garden and 
farm produce, but only if used irrationally." 
As the result of actual trial it was found, on 
using the lactometer for testing the products of 
the cream separator worked at the School of Agri- 
culture, that while the specific gravity of the skim 
milk was 1'035, that of the cream was below the 
1-000. This gives an indication of the utter 
unreliability of the instrument. 
^ Messrs. R. de Silva, Lucas Mendis, and M. A. 
Fernando, who lately completed their course at 
the Forestry School, have been asked to be in 
readiness to take up appointments in the Forest 
Department. The new batch of Forestry students 
whose term commenced on May 1st, are all 
drafted from the Forest Department. 
AVe understand that a number of Ceylonese 
young men will probably leave for New Guinea in 
June to work for a Syndicate formed with the 
object of developing the agricultural resources of 
that Colony, and that one of the old boys of the 
Colombo School of Agriculture will most likely go 
out with the party to open out land for coconut 
cultivation. - . -- 
We have to thank the Hull Oil Manufacturing 
Company, Limited, for a sample of their Homco 
Castor Meal, and their offer to send a consignment 
of the fertilizer for experimental purposes, 
