The Tropical Agriculturist. The Agricultural Journal of Ceylon November 1930

At the morning session on this day after a few introductory remarks and a welcome to His Excellency by the Director:of Agriculture on behalf of the Board and Department of Agriculture His Excellency addressed the Conference and expressed hi9 pleasure at the good attendance and at the presetation of the reports of the enquiry into the conditions of paddy cultivation in the Island an enquiry w [...] With the present depression in some of the major agricultural products and with the increase of unemployment in the Island the chances of the farmer reverting to his former position in the paddy fields appear to be more hopeful even though there is an impression in the minds of many that the educated youth cannot be induced to go back to the land. [...] Any relaxation of the principles involved in the method of irrigation causes poisonous gas to emanate from the soil on the re-submegence of the land which proves injurious to the growth of plants. [...] I am no doubt keenly alive to the need of British capital and British enterprise for the develoment of the agricultural resources of the Colony and to the large proportion of tra(fe that has developed and the standard of properity attained by the opening up of tea and other estates. [...] The first one was taken on the initiative of the Agricultural Associalion. The second committee happened to be the Select Committee of the Legislative Council connected with the Irrigation Ordinance of 1918.