THK MAQAZINB 
OP 
Tf)G moot OF AGRIOULTURG, 
COLOMBO. 
as Sup2)lement monthhi to the “ riiOPICAL AQBICULTUEIST,” 
The following pages include the 
Agriculture for January : — 
TIIK SCHOOL, OF AttRICULTL’EK. 
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. 
LIE ANNUAL distritmtiou of prizes 
at the School of Agriculture took 
place on the 28th November, 
1801, under the presidency of 
II is Excellency the Governor. 
Among tlio company, wliich was the largest ever 
assembled at the School on such an occasion, 
wo noticed the following ; — 
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, the Hons. 
W. W. Jlitchell, Seueviratiie, Griniinton, Abdul 
Rahiman, and Dr. Anthonisz, Messrs. A. M. 
Ferguson, c.m.q., Wm. Ferguson, H. \V. Green, 
J. B. Cull, J. F. do Saram, ,1. W. C. de Soy.sa, and 
J. H. Barber, Mr. and Mrs. F. Beven, Mr. and ilrs. 
and the Misses E. Ludovici, Mr. and Mrs. and 
Miss Daniel, Mr. and Mrs. and the Misses Swan, 
the Misses Beven, Wat.son, Langenborg, Dr. and 
Mrs. and Miss Keith, Mr. anil Mrs. Jacob de Mel, 
Mrs. James Fieris, Mrs. C. Drieberg, Mis.s Morgan, 
the Committee members of the Gramaraksha 
Samagama, Mr. Sangnrapulley, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. 
Nicholas, Mr. and Mrs. C. Kriekenhoek, Mr. and 
Mrs. Alport, Dr. Drieberg, Mrs. E. Joseph, Jlisses 
Vandorstraateu and Drieberg, Mr. Richard do 
Silva, &c., &c. 
The building was gaily decorated for tlie 
occasion. At the main entrance was erected a 
triumphal arch bearing the inscription “ Welcome 
to H. E. Sir Arthur Havelock, k.c.m.o..” The 
drive from the gateway was left unadorned, 
evidently with the idea of securing for the 
visitors a good view of the grounds ; but from the 
main entrance to the school and along the long 
corridor till the large halls at the posterior end 
ef the buildings were reached, a profusion of 
contents of the Magazine of tJie School of 
flowers, foliage and fruitage tastefully put 
together adorned the walls and pillars or hung 
from the roof. The usual embellishments, consist* 
ing of mosses, coconut leaves and bunting were 
much imi)roved by the addition of nrecanuts, 
dates, sugarcane, tamarinds, cacao, &c., and 
hundreds of miniature boiupiets of roses and 
other flowers that hung from festoons. The 
adornment of the i)rincipal hall gave evidence of 
much cure and trouble, and here in addition to 
the other decorations were groupings of foliage 
plants, and a splendid collection of the choicest 
flowers in vases and cornucopias. The whole 
length of tlie long corridor was also strewn with 
rose petals, which however became a source of 
danger on tlie cemented floor and had to be swept 
aside. A carpeted space in front of the platform 
was reserved for the Governor's party, and there 
the floral arrangements were particularly striking 
and elegant. 
The following is the Principal’s report : — 
The pleasant <luty falls to mo today, of ex- 
tending to Your Excellency a hearty welcome to 
the School of Agriculture, on this the Hrst 
occasion on which you have come to preside at 
our annual prize-giving. 
You are not altogether a stranger, sir, to this 
iirstit ution, for with your well-known prompti- 
tude to acquaint yourself with the condition and 
needs of all departments of Y'^our Excellency’s 
Government, you visited the School shortly after 
your arrival in the island, and on that occasion 
exiuessed yourself, to quote Your Excellency’s own 
words, “ much interested in this useful institution.” 
The plea.sure of welcoming 3 'ou, sir, is moreover 
greatlj’ enhanced by the fact that within the 
short time that has elapsed since you assumed 
the reins of (iovernment, you have given un- 
mistakeable evidence of j’our kind and encourag- 
ing sympathy with the cause of agricultural edu- 
I cation in this countrj’, We Yfho are engaged ia 
