His Excellency: — We should judge them on at their merits. 
This application is granted now. If any application is made by any 
particular branch I have a similar grant from the Society, if it can 
be shown that the Society’s funds will admit it, so much the better. 
We want to improve the breed of the cattle. 
Mr. OBEYESEKERE wanted to know if R 5 ° would be sufficient. 
His Excellency The £,50 is only towards part of the cost. The 
local Society is to pay the other portion. It is a case of self-help. 
Mr. Fernando’s Munificence. 
His Excelleny said, with regard to. the proposal of Mr. Fernando 
“ it will be necessary before this case come before us for our adop- 
tion to have some report upon it and I suggest that the Government 
Agent of the Western Province, Mr. Obeyesekerk and Mr Drie- 
BURG be appointed a Committee to see Mr. FERNANDO .and report 
upon this at the next meeting. The motion can then be put that the 
Society thankfully accepts the offer and the thanks of the Society to 
Mr. Fernando can be formally placed on record I therefore pro- 
pose the Committee as mentioned.” 
The appointment of the Committee was adopted. 
Cotton Experiments. 
His E ellency again referred to cotton experiments which he 
thought h..d been carried out most successfully. From the Experi- 
mental Station 1 16 pounds of seed had been distributed. Altogether 
sufficient amount of seed had been acquired to sow up Soo acres. 
This was very satisfactory as it showed that the cultivation ot cot- 
ton was being seriously considered. “ If this goes on, continued 
His Excellency, “ I hope and believe we shall find that cotton is a 
very important factor among our industries.” 
The Board then adjourned. 
CEYLON’S PLACE IN THE RUBBER 
INDUSTRY. 
Interview with Mr. Hoffman. 
Messrs. Lewis and Peat’s Letter Criticised. 
Mr. Richard Hoffman, the well-known London financier, who 
has been “doin<^ Ceylon with Rubber in view, besides being 
directly interested in the industry in partnership with well-known 
Ceylon planters, leaves by the O.-R. s. s. Orontes to-night. During 
his two months’ stay in the island, Mr. HOFFMAN has been nearly 
everywhere and seen nearly everything there is to see m connection 
with rubber, having added considerably to his knowledge gained 
on previous visits to Ceylon and through his connection with the 
London market; and his opinions may, therefore, be considered a? 
those of an expert. 
