November 2 1891,] 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agncultmist.” 
37 . 
for a time. In some parts of the Iviirunegnla 
district an oleaginous mi.xture with a pleasant 
scent i.s Binenred over nrecanut flovver.s liy tho 
Kapuraltt, after reciting tlie Ithipieo Oatha, and 
au.speiided on sticks in different parts of tlui 
field. In the Annradliapura district, .sand, after 
lining “charmed,” is scattereil over the llelil, 
and offerings are made to Ji/mia JJeicii/o with 
a view to inducing hia intercession to stay tlie 
ravages of tlio pe.sts. Hr. Boll, of the (Jeylou 
(livil^ Service, in writing about tlie cultivation 
of hill paddy, describe, s another keina culled 
mtva nilla, practised by the cultivators of the 
Sabaragnnmwn di.strict. 
\V hen the paddy is ajiproaching maturity other 
coremonies are gone through, the goiya, after 
purification, places three ears of grain on a leaf 
of the Bo-tree, which is held in great veneration 
for reasons too well known to need mention, 
and buries them in the kalawita or thre.'ihing 
floor, at the same time chanting some mystic 
words, invoking the gods to jirotoct the croj) 
from flood, lire, birds and wild beasts. A day 
or so prior to the harvesting a few women are 
set to smear the threshing floor with cowdnng. 
The cro]) must not be taken in on days on 
which poya (the sabbath of the Buddhists), 
danpra/mniH (when the changes in the moon 
occur) and Tltti (inau.s])iciona days) fall. Again 
the nekotrala, attired in fantastic dress, describes 
a peculiarly-shaped llgnre with ashes which he 
carries in a winnow, withaiiew topreventing 
huniynm (sorcery) and other evil influonee.s. 
This ceremony i.s known as a/iiwaiiwnet/innirei. 
Another rite of a peculiar nature follows this, 
known as fire/.irri/i’-fiijfituiirei. It consi.sts of 
« circular hole in the lield and placing 
imside a model of the .sacred footprint of Buddha 
(Sripade,) a bu.sked coconut, a creeping plant 
clusters of arecaiuits, leave.s from the heerasiinh! 
( J’itin (/ufnlrntiffiilnn's) and Tolabo ( dnnvm 
adatievm), and covering tlie.se with about three 
bundles of straw. The figures of the jmoru Min 
(leveller), laha (measure), sun and moon are 
also described with ashes in the kalawita. The 
village astrologer is of course resorted to in order 
to ascertam a lucky day to reap the field. On 
such a day a number of men with their eyes 
directed towards Adam’s I’eak, and assuming a 
joyful mood, proceed to the field with their 
sickles, and ver.ses are sung in turn by the 
reapers. Another coremony which jireeedes 
threshing consists in throe nursing mothers 
clad in white, having to go round the field 
seven times carrying jiaddy on their heads, 
and then suddeidy coming to a standstill and 
retreating, without uttering a word, to the three 
corners of the kalawita. Then after giving utter- 
ance to some incantation, they drop their burdens 
on the ground, and this is the sign for threshing 
to begin. 
T. B. I’OIIATII KKHELPANAI..t. 
^ 
flKNERAb 1TU.MS. 
We quote the following from the interesting 
report of the School of Indn.stry, llapjiy Valley, 
llaputale: — “Our chief industry, however, is Agri- 
culture. This is in accordance with our original 
plan, with the object of the (iovernment grant, 
and with the requirements of our Agricultural 
Colony. In this respect W'e are following the 
examples of the best Industrial and Reformatory 
Schools in Hugland, where farming is regarded 
as providing not only an appropriate industry 
in such schools, but ns a source of supply for 
good farm labour, and as having a good moral 
effect on the boys. .Many of the boys are also 
being trained in theoretical ngricultliro by the 
Agricultural Instructor, thus stipplying, together 
with the ordinary work, an important branch 
of technial education for the more intolligent 
lads. It may be interesting to note in this con- 
nection that this is a feature of the English 
Technical In.struction Act of 1889. Mr. Ritchie 
in nqdy to a ((uestion put by Mr. Gathorne 
Hardy in the House of Commons in Fcbniary 
last, .stated ‘ that technical education was 
intended to include not only technical but manual 
instruction, and the latter comprised instruction 
in (irocessess of Agriculture.’ Some of our agri- 
cultural ex])eriments have not been successful. 
We have been disappointed at the results of our 
cotton cultivation. But we have been fully com- 
pensated for that in the returns which we have 
realized from the planting of manioc, the roots 
being readily bought by the villagers in the 
ueighhonrhood who have developed a great liking 
for it, and will probably plant it them.selvea. 
We have also succeeded in making small quantities 
of t apioca from it, and hope before another report 
is issued to have the means of preparing it on a 
larger scale. The growth of English vegetables 
has already been mentioned ns a productive branch 
of our enterpri.so, though we must wait for the 
railway which is to come through the properly, 
before wo can obtain any considerable sale, when 
we hope to contribnto our share to the supply of 
the (tolombo markets. Nor have the so-called 
native vegetables been neglected. Brinjals, chou- 
chous, sweet potatoes, chilie.s. Sec., sufllcient, not 
only to supiily the boys with currie.s, but to sell 
to the villagers, have been grown in the gardens. 
We have to e.xjiress our thanks to Me.ssrs. Sutton 
& Son for a good sujijdy of seeds given us free of 
cost. It is a part of our iimgramme that every 
boy in the Valley, no matter what hia sjiecial in- 
dustry may be, should be taught gardening. ” 
It has been suggested by the Cet/hn Oheeri'er 
that the breeding ofhor.ses in Delft Island should 
be revived. Horses used to bo bred in Delft for 
supplying animals for the mounted orderlie.s. 
Their systematic breeding was, however, discon- 
tinued some thirty years ago, and it is now 
(iroposed that some fresh blood should be in- 
fused into the present breed, which has deteriorated 
from in-and-in breeding, with a view to producing 
animals of a better typo that might bo available 
for a tramway company. Delft is well-knowm 
for the good jiasturage it sujiplios to cattle, 
and the suggestion that the breeding operations 
should be reviveil, under intelligent supervision, 
is one worthy of serious consideration. 
The now fibre plant which was announced 
as di.scoverod on the shores of the Caspian and 
ktiown there as kanaft turns out to be none 
other than Ilihiscun Vannahinux, of which a 
small plot was raised at the school some months 
ago. It is also known as Deccan or Ambas 
