DIARY KEPT IN THE VALE OF DOOMBERA-NEAR KANDY.

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1841, 19th April to the 26th.-Showers of rain have continued falling every day this week, with the same close and oppressive state of the atmosphere in the middle of the day and evenin as last week, but the mornings are cool and calm.-Wind variable, scarcely any, but just before a shower of rain

comes on.

Thermometer Average.-71° 6 A. M.-79 2 P. M.-78 8 P. M.

From 26th April to 3rd May. More rain in quantity has fallen during this week than the last, the showers partaking more of the character of continued rain which has fallen steadily every day for two or three hours at a time. The atmosphere has been generally calm bat much cooler than hitherto.What wind there has been, was from the S. W.

Thermometer Average.—71° 6 s, M.-78 2 P. M.-77 8 P. M.

All this rainy weather has been of exceeding great benefit to the plantations in this valley, and all the trees ru consequence look fresh and vigorous. The fruit begins to shew itself in considerable quantities.-The rain which has fallen during the past month April, may he said to be as much again in quantity as that which fell in April 1840.

From 3rd of May to the 10th.-During the first two or three days of this period the weather was cloudy, and a few showers fell, but since the days have been fine and dry with a strong breeze from the S. W. generally.

Thermometer Average.-716 A. M.-78 2 P. M.-77 8 P. M.

Very little Dew in quantity falls now especially if there is any wind dur ing the night.

From 10th May to the 17th.-Sky cloudy generally but the weather fine and dry with a strong breeze all day from S. W. during this week, except the last day which has been one of continued rain for the last 24 hours and seems likely to continue.

Thermometer Average. -About the same as last week though the climate is decidedly cooler and pleasanter to the feel than it was a fortnight ago. Operations. In the commencement of the month, were, planting on the Estates which are forming-supplying with plants on the older estates where the trees have died or been missed-and for the last ten days every one has taken advantage of the dry weather to get the planted parts cleared of weeds

The rain appearing likely to set in again, makes it a favorable time for all Planters about to commence estates to get in Coffee "Seeds" and "Seedlings" into Nurseries, so that they may have the benefit of all the cloudy and rainy weather, to be expected from the S. W. monsoon.

The formation of Gardens likewise should not be omitted by the Planter during this season, in order that he may have all the culinary vegetables so essential to the health of residents in a Tropical climate, nearly all of which, with a little care, grow most luxuriantly in every part of the "Central province."

Those who can do so, may also plant between the Coffee trees of newly planted' parts of their estates, the Indian maize" for the use of their cattle, and what will also answer for the same purpose, several kinds of Native grain known by the names of" Colln," "Oondhu," "Moong hatta" &c. which grow without further trouble than slightly stirring up the soil and throwing in the

seeds.

The health of all Europeans on this side of the country remains very good but from what little can be learnt of the natives they appear to suffer from attacks of diarrhea, dysentry and fever during these rains. The health of coolies on the estates remains as yet generally good. B. D.

OBSERVATIONS of therMOMETER AT THE KANDY LIBRARY,

FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE MONTH OF APRIL.

We have read with much interest some "Papers" printed by the Agricultural Committee of the Royal Asiatic Society of London, on "the Cultivation of Cotton in India." It is proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the only kind of Cotton likely to thrive. in our eastern possessions and find a large and profitable market at home, is the "Pernambuco." This plant flourishes remarkably well in high situations, having a red lateritic soil, and from the little care required in its cultivation and preparation for the market, we should say that it is deserving of attention in this island where there is so much of the poor, stony red soil adapted to it, and which is unfit for either Coffee or Sugar. One great advantage of the Pernambuco Cotton is that from the peculiarity of the pod, the seeds can be easily separated from the staple, and that a hand picking to free it from dirt and impurities, is all that would be requisite to fit it for the market. It is stated on competent authority that at least one half of the Cotton yarn exported from Great Britain might be manufactmed from this species of Cotton, if at a mode rate price, which would at once create a demand to the extent of 150,000 bales per annum. In the manufacture of Cotton goods the warp, or long threads, might be of the Pernambuco which if at a low figure, would supplant all other descriptions of Cotton for this purpose. Here then would be a further demand of 250,000 bales annually, making in all a market for 400,000 bales, which at the American price of 74d. to 8d. per pound would be a total value of £6,500,000!! Some samples of E. I. Pernambuco have

been pronounced of a most serviceable quality, and such as to induce a most extensive use of it. The chief peculiarities of it are fiue colour, a property of swelling in the process of bleaching, which, filling up the vacancies between the threads, gives the fabrica most substantial appearance, and also a greater facility for taking colors than is possessed by many of the An erican grown cottons. The Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India" have offered three prizes of £2,000, £1,000 and £500 to the growers of the finest samples of Cotton in the provinces of the Bengal or Agra governments. The samples must consist of 300 bales each and be the growth of one person. The prizes are to be repeated during three successive years, commencing in 1843.

Until very recently we were not aware of the existence of a most extensive institution called the "London Library." It was formed as a kind of joint-stock society for the purchase of all works of value appearing in the metropolis, which were to be perused by the shareholders at their own houses. Thus combining the advantages of a circulating library, with the higher ones of the British Museum. The capital of the Library is, we believe, £100,000 and in the list of the Committee we perceive the names of several of our leading literary characters. The secretary is Thomas Carlyle, the author of "Chartism," "The French Revolution," &c. &c.

In a recently published statistical work we met with some interesting details of the Geneva clock and watch manufacture. The annal export of these articles to various parts of the world is very large. The manufacture was, until of late years, confined to the towns of Tyrbag and Neustadt, but it has now extended to other places. In 1836 not less than 198,000 clocks and watches were exported to America alone from one single manufacturing town, in which there are 70 master makers fully employed. A good workman can finish six common clocks weekly; of those that strike and also that have an alarum, four weekly; and of the best eight-day clocks, two weekly; therefore, if one reckons at the medium rate of four clocks for each workman per week, and al low to each master two journey men, the yearly manufacture of clocks and watches, in Schwenningen alone, is about 30,576; which op an average, are, worth 91,728 florins! (about £10,000.)

The manufacturers of Germany are rapidly progressing, and in many articles taking the supply of foreign markets out of our hands. The manufacture of machinery is being carried on most extensively and profitably, and in many cases under the immediate superintendance of some of our countrymen. Next to machines, sugar is perhaps the most successfully manufactured. In Bohemia alone there are upwards of fifty establishments for making sugar from Beet-root, the whole of which is for home consumption. The Cottou manufactures are represented as being in a most prosperous state, as also that of glass; there are not less than 75 manufactories of glass, which give employment to 3,500 families producing annually to the value of 60,000,000 gui ders.

We trust that the serious attention of many of our readers has been given to the letter of Britannicus in our last, on the subject of "Heathen Females." There must be few bere who are not deeply sensible of the truly deplorable state of the Singhalese women, both moral and physical; in proportion to that feeling should be our exertions to remove the causes. As yet but little has been done; that little, however, we will look upon as good seed, and although, doubtless, some of it has been sown in bad ground, there must be some which will bring forth good and plentiful fruit. We believe that the Female School alluded to by our correspondent has failed chiefly in consequence of the natives of high castes not liking their daughters to mix with those of inferior castes. It would therefore appear that a female school to be conducted with success should be divided into several classes in separate rooms: for to attain our objects of education and civilization, we must go prudently to work and not war too openly against national prejudices. The curse of caste must be undermined by slow and imperceptible degrees, not by actual oppositon; to attempt to overcome it before educating, would be as useless as to endeavour to drive a wedge into a fissure with the broad end foremost. On the other hand give the native sound practical education and caste must tall.

While προπ the subject of education we will say a word about the "Cotta Institution" and the "Cotta Youths. We have been present at the examination of the latter and were certainly surprised and gratified at their thorough acquaintance with Greek, La