135 

 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Agriculture was 

 held on nth April. Present: the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 

 Chairman, the Director of Public Gardens, the Agricultural 

 Chemist, His Grace the Archbishop, the Hon. Thos. Capper, 

 Messrs. C. E. deMercado, C. A. T. Fursdon, J. W. Middleton, G. D. 

 Murray, and W. Harris, Acting Secretary. 



Representative of the Agricultural Society — A letter was read from 

 the Agricultural Society stating that Mr. Fursdon, who is already 

 a Member of the Board, would also represent the Society. 



Nomination of Members to fill vacancies — Letters were read from 

 the Northside Sugar Planters' Association declining to nominate 

 a member, also from the Hon. C. B. Vickers and Mr. P. H. Greg 

 stating that it would not be convenient for them to accept seats 

 on the Board. 



Science Teaching in Secondary Schools — The correspondence on 

 this subject was submitted, and was ordered to be circulated 

 amongst the members. 



Manurial experiments with Bananas at Burlington — ^A letter was 

 presented from the Hon. H. Cork reporting the failure of these 

 experiments, and a memorandum from the Agricultural Chemist 

 dealing with the matter. It was decided to write to Mr. Cork the 

 substance of the Chemist's memorandum. 



Draft of Proposal re Sugar Experiment Committee — The Govern- 

 ment submitted a proposal for the appointment of a Committee to 

 co-operate with the Island Chemist in the management of the Sugar 

 experiments. It was pointed out that the appointment of such a 

 Committee was recommended by this Board in April 1904, and 

 the proposal was generally approved. On the suggestion of the 

 Archbishop it was recommended that the Committee should be 

 styled an Advisory Committee. 



Rotation of Crops in Cotton cultivation — A letter from Sir D. 

 Morris with other correspondence on this subject was submitted. 

 It was decided to circulate this correspondence. 



Packing of Oranges and Grape Fruit — A letter from Mr. Joseph 

 Darling addressed to H. E. the Governor was brought up for dis- 

 cussion. It was decided to reply to the Government that the Board 

 is well aware of the evils that exist but it is unable to suggest a 

 practical remedy. 



Mr. E. f. Wortley as Assistant at the Crystal Palace Exhibition — 

 Mr. Fursdon addressed a letter to the Chairman on this subject. 

 It was agreed that the Government should be urged to grant the 

 necessary leave which need not exceed five months. 



His Grace the Archbishop and Mr. deMercado here left the 

 meeting. 



Experiment Station — Labour, and distribution of Canes — It was de- 

 cided that the present area under Canes should not be reduced. 



The Hon. Colonial Secretary left at this stage, and the Director 

 of Public Gardens took the Chair. 



