54 



Several of the Demerara canes give most remarkable results, and in 

 some instances these results have been confirmed by the Louisiana 

 Experiment Station under Prof. Stubbs. 



If it can be shown that similar results can be obtained in Trinidad, 

 viz. : 1st a sugar yield of 27 per cent, over the usual yield from the 

 Bourbon cane. 2ndly that the same weight of cane can be grown 

 per acre, as is produced by the Bourbon, and that the cane itself is 

 less susceptible to disease, than that variety ; a step in advance of no 

 little importance will have been secured and a step which must commend 

 itself to the sugar planters of the Colony, and encourage them to put 

 such canes into cultivation, in place of their old favourite the Bourbon. 

 This cane will however be grown side by side with others, so that a 

 direct comparison may be instituted between the results obtained 

 from it, and from the other varieties. 



126.-HBRBARIUM SPECIMENS. 



Whenever the name of any plant is required by correspondents 

 shall always be glad to secure its proper determination for them 

 either by our own efforts ; or by sending it to well known specialists. 

 The resources of the Trinidad Herbarinm are daily becoming more 

 useful for this purpose and our sets of local plants are year by year 

 proving of greater service for this purpose. 



"Zn sending sj^ecimens of plants for investigation it is necessary to 

 have good specimens of leaves, floivers, fruits, amd roots, and in the case 

 of bulbous plants, the bulb also. 



" When they are sent from a distance it is best to j^repare the specimens 

 by drying them under pressure between the folds of absorbent paper, other- 

 wise the parts shrinh and breah so as to be hardly recognisable. 



" When the dried plants are sent they should be protected from breah' 

 age in the post by being enclosed between pieces of stiff card board. PacJc- 

 ages weighing less than eight ounces can be sent by post free of postage, if 

 addressed to the Head of this Department with the ivords ' On Her Majesty's 

 Service ' written plainly on the outside. Write the name of the sender 

 also on the outside of the pachage. In the letter accompanying the speci- 

 mens, state where collected, the date, and any other particulars of the 

 plant, ivhether reputed poisonous, medicinal or itseful. 



^^ In addition to this I would state, for the information of correspon- 

 dents, that the determination of the plaiits or specimens sent is always 

 forwarded to them, provided that they heep for their own information a 

 simUa/r specimen ivith a duplicate mmiber attached to it, corresponding to 

 that on the specimen forivarded, as it is not always possible to ret2irn sped- 



