[October I, iSgr. 
S93 
Stupplmnt to the “ Tropical Agriculturist.” 
centre between four trees, or, if in new land, 
under large trees in well-worked-U]) soil, wliicli 1ms 
afterwards been mixed np with decaying leaves 
and compacted. If the beds are laid down in the 
open, it is advisable to lightly cover over the 
planted nuts witli a quantity of old straw which 
will protect the nuts from the sun, ami eventually 
decay and mingle with the soil. The bed.s when 
prepared after the first two methods, should he 
watered three times a week, hut if .straw ho uso<t 
to cover them, twice a week will ho suflicieut. 
If a copiou.s shower of rainfall, 12 or Id dny,s 
may he allowed to elapse before again watering. 
The nuts, if damaged in no way, will begin to 
sprout from 3 to 4 months after planting, and in 
six months' time will ho ready for transplanting. 
It generally happens that some plants will he 
more forward than others, owing to ditfuronco in 
the thickness of shell. Those trees which have 
nuts with very thick shells are considered very 
valuable, and' are calhul “ fighting coconuts,” 
fetching from 25 to 50 cents oach, e.specially 
about the 12th of April, the date of the Hindu 
New Year, when “coconut fighting" is a common 
pastime. 
In former times the rows of plants, when 
transplanted, where juit 24 feet ajjart, hut this 
plan wa.s found to ho a mi.stnko, as the trees did 
not sulUciently shade the ground. Now all now 
plantations have the rows 22 feet ui)nrt’, and the 
new method not only keepstho ground cooler hut at 
the same time economises space, each acre thus 
containing about fit) plants. If, from necessity, 
plants have to he selected from native nur.series, 
tall spindly ones should be rejected. A good 
plant should have dark green leaves, a stem in- 
clined to he thick, and 2 or A feet in height. 
Plants with yellow leaves should he avoided — 
as this is an infalUhlo sign of weakness. 
The ludes for receiving the i)hints shoiihl he 
about A feet sejuaro and 1 j to 2 feet deej). 
Care should lie taken to remove any stone.s and 
roots that may he in or near the hole, while 
just before planting it is advisable to throw in 
half a bucket of water to keep the soil moist 
till the regular watering commences. In 
tran.sphmling the palms the young roots should 
not us fnras possible he injured. .\ stout-jioiuted 
stake may he used ns a lever for raising the 
nuts in the nurseries. 
After placing the palms in the holes prejiared 
for them, a quantity of decayeil leaves, wood, A:e., 
may he put round each iilaiit before tilling in 
with earth. Stamj) the loose earth well, taking 
care that the plant reniain.s perfectly straight. 
Then make a circular bed nil round the palm to 
retain any water put in, and conclude by pouring 
over a full bucket of water, 
It. Athkuton. 
(To hn conlimied.) 
« 
T1IK DAIRY. 
Dairy work in Ceylon sliouhl receive more 
attention, and a proper supply of good milk ami 
huttei ought to ho brought within the reach of 
the inhahitants of our cities and towns. The 
residents of Colombo aro awaw' how diflicult it 
is to procure pure cow milk, what is sold as such 
being very often adulterated with buffalo milk 
and water in various jjroportions. The adultera- 
tion of milk with water, if the water is good is 
only a minor evil, the loss being only in 
pocket, hut it is a far more serious matter if the 
milk has been obtained from a diseased cow, and 
what guarautoo have we that the milk offered 
for sale in our streets is the produce of healthy 
animals? The milk is also affected by the nature 
of the water that the cow drinks, or that added 
to the milk. Microscopic investigations hare 
revealed the fact that if a cow is allowed to 
drink water containing animalcuhe, these minute 
forms of organised life maybe found in its milk. 
The ill-effects of drinking diseased milk may 
not he always a])])arent especially in the ca.se td' 
adults, hut there are instance.s known where dis- 
ease and death have been directly traced to the 
ill-f'ft'ecta of drinking unwhole.some milk in the 
case of children who are the large.st consumers of 
milk. The (|uestion suggests itself — what ought 
to he done to ensure a good and wholesome siip- 
jdy of milk ? The mere inspection of the milk 
would he useless, the only effective and vnost 
convenient method being the inspection of dairy 
cattle and dairies by qualified persons, anil 
prohibiting the sale of milk e.xcept by licensed 
dairymen. 
There is a gnait demauil for good milk and 
butter in Colombo, and tlil.t has been to some 
extent met by the establishment ot a dairy on a small 
scale in connection with the Agricultural School. 
A year and a half ago we started with only one 
cow, Iho whole of whoso milk we then found it 
diflicult to sell, in face of the oiquisition offered by 
milkmen and bungalow servants, but our hopes 
have been realised beyond our most sanguine ex- 
liectations by our possessing today a dairy of 15 
cows with an e-ver-incronsing demand for our 
milk, which we are unable to meet without the 
small assistance w( hope to receive from (iovern- 
meut. 
In establishing dairies iti a country like Ceylon, 
an important matter is tho opportunities they 
give for the systematic study of the feeding ami 
mauagement of milch cattle, the different breeds, 
tho (|ualities and <|uantitios of tho milk yielded 
by them, and of the means of improving those 
breeds, also tho necessity for the introduction of 
ini])roved dairy appliances, A:c. 
The marvellous dairy results which have been 
obtained iu Kuroi)e and America are mainly due 
to the most careful selection and breeding of good 
milk-giving strains. 
Dairyman. 
b.VniYRCS SYDVKSTRI.S. 
Lfit/ii/nm Si/lvestrii i.s the name of a legumi- 
nous fodder ])lunt which, from all accounts must 
bo considered nothing leas than a boon to the 
agriculturist, and especially to cattle farmers. 
Its eiperimental cultivation is about to be under- 
taken iu India, whore, if the experiment 
])rove a succes.s, tho plant will no doubt be in- 
troduced into, and extensively cultivated in, 
Ceylon. Lnt/ii/nin A'yfcc.'ifci'sis reported to grow 
luxuriantly year after year on the most 
barren ariil land, and to bo o.xcel- lent, foilder 
for cattle. Tho plant is a native of Germany, 
and its merit.s were first brought to light by 
I’rofe.s.sor Wagner, who improved tho wild variety 
by cultivation for 15 years. 
