CHIEF ‘AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS. 161

Rice, which ranks next in point of acreage, is the universal
food of the Island,and about 350 varieties of it are recognized.
The grain does not lend itself to exhibition, but samples are
shown by Mr. A. P. Goonetilleke, who also exhibits fine
grains, consisting chiefly of millets and pulses. A curious
tray made of grains of rice in the husk (paddy) is shown by
Mr. H. T. S. Ward, Director of Irrigation.
There are over a hundred exhibitors of Tea, the most
important product of Ceylon from a commercial point of
view. All qualities and grades of black and green may be
seen, though perhaps it will be found in its most agreeable
shape in the freshly poured article sold in the cup in the
Ceylon Court. Trade information about this and other commercial
 products will be found in Chapter IV.
The Kitul palm (Caryota wrens), which thrives best in the
lamp mountainous zone, is represented by its valuable black
fibre, and the “jaggery ” or coarse sugar made from the
sweet “toddy ” drawn from its “flower” by a special caste,
with whom this sugar is an important article of diet.
Arecanuts (Areca catechu), also called betel-nut, the
fruit of the most graceful of the Ceylon palms, flourish
averywhere. All that can be spared from local consumption
is exported to India, It is the essential concomitant of the
“betel leaf (Piper betle) chewed universally by the natives,
and was one of the chief sources of revenue of the Sinhalese
 kings. The nut is a valuable tanning agent, and when
roasted and powdered is an excellent dentifrice; it is exhibited
 by Mr. J. P. Obeyesekere, Dr. W. H. de Silva, and
Mr. A. P. Goonetilleke.
Mr. A. E. Rajapakse has gent in a comprehensive exhibit
of Cinnamon and the implements used in its preparation ;
also photographs illustrating the manufacture of the product.
The oil is shown by Mr. H. L. de Mel and others.
Citronella oil (Andropogon nardus), so much in demand
among perfumers, is manufactured exclusively in the south
of Ceylon, from where are sent Mr. B. Samaraweera’s
exhibit and numerous others. Besides the exhibits of Cacao
in the bean, Messrs. C. C. Barber &amp; Co. show prepared Coeoa
and Chocolate and Cocoa butter (locally manufactured in
the only Cocoa factory in the East); Mr. M. B. Swampillai,
Tobacco; Mr. H. V. Bagot of Kalutara, the Para rubber
which secures so high a price in the London market ; and the
Cardamom Committee the dainty seed which they are
axploiting in the chief countries of the world.
The production of West Indian Arrowroot is small and
insufficient for the local demand. Manio¢ (Manihot utilissitna),
 from which cassava is made, is an imported product