Vol. XVII. No. 425. 



THE AGRICULTrrUAI. SEW&. 



•213 



present level, but considerably increased. A distinc- 

 tion will have to be drawn between the necessary 

 routine, such as scientific sanitation and inspection 

 work on the plantations, and the research work largely 

 to be carried on in the institutes suofgested. Both are 

 essential. 



In older countries the function of higher scientific 

 research is connected with educational institutions of 

 the highest standing — universities old ar;d new. It 

 would seem probable that the best results in the tropics 

 micht be attained by a similar relationship. Professor 

 Farmer's ideas are therefore indirectly a further justifi- 

 cation of the plea that has often been urged by those 

 interested in the development of the tropics as 

 to the need of establishing in these regions one or 

 more teaching universities, where biological research in 

 the science of agriculture might receive especial atten- 

 tion, seeing that, for practical purposes, agriculture is 

 at present the only industry of these undeveloped 

 countries. 



CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT SOCIETIES IN 

 MAURITIUS. 



The report on the working of cooperative credit societies 

 in Mauritius, for the year ended June 30, 1917, has been 

 forwarded to the Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for 

 the West Indies, by Dr. Tempany, Director of Agriculture 

 in that colony, and from this report it appears that very 

 .satisfactory work has been performed by the societies during 

 the year under review. The total number of the societies 

 was twenty-three, comprising 2,823 members. 



A clo.se control is kept over the operation of the societies 

 by the official inspector, for it is found that it is necessary 

 to exercise very careful supervision of accounts, as the 

 system of book-keeping in force is by no means simple. The 

 general principles involved appear, however, to be fully 

 grasped by the member.* of the various societies, and errors 

 are readily recognizable. In addition to the work of 

 supervision of accounts, the inspector freely gives advice 

 on all points to the managing committees of the societies. 



The principal loans made have been for purposes of 

 cultivation, and in special cases loans have been issued also 

 for such objects as weddings and funerals. Some cases 

 of advances for the purchase of land have likewise been 

 recorded, 



The necessity for prompt repayment of loans has been 

 emphasized, and the report records that although the total of 

 loans is considerably larger than in any previous period, the 

 outstanding debts show an appreciable decrease over the 

 total recorded in the preceding year. 



In some few instances it has been observed that members 

 of the managing committees of societies are in arrears of the 

 repayment of loans which they have received— a very bad 

 example for the bulk of the member.*. The tendency is also 

 witnessed in some cases to grant disproportionately large 

 loans to members of managing committees. Too great a 

 tendency in this direction is to be deprecated, for it should 

 be a guiding principle of such societies that, as far as possible, 

 equal facilities should be afforded to all members to take 

 advantage of the financial assistance which their society is in 

 A position to offer. 



While there hive been no additions to the numVier of 

 societies operating, and the num'-ier of memSers is about the 

 same as last yeai\ the increase in share capital points to 

 steadily increasing popularity and appreciation of the move- 

 ment. The total share capit'tl on June 30, 1917, was Rs. 

 116,307, an increase of over Rs 10,000 on the previous year. 



An outstanding feature of the year's work lies in the 

 increase in the deposits of non-members, carrying interest, 

 which have been placed with the societies. The amount 

 of outside capital which such .societies are able to attract to 

 themselves in this way is a trustworthy indication of their 

 condition, and of the confidence which the public reposes- 

 in them. 



The sum of money to the credit of the reserve funds is 

 steadily increasing, the policy having been adopted that no 

 dividends are to be declared by any society until the expira- 

 tion of five years from its foundation, and all profits earned 

 are credited to the reserve fund during this period. This, 

 provides an adequate guarantee against the effect of unfore- 

 seen losses which may occur in the future. It would appear,, 

 on the whole, that the condition of the societies indicates 

 operations on sound and safe lines. 



The association of the work of the supervision of the 

 societies with the Agricultural Department appears to pro- 

 duce satisfactory results. The work of the Agricultural 

 Department is brought into touch with the small planters, 

 and a spirit of confidence in the department, so essential 

 for successful progress in agricultural matters, is arousedi 

 among them. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



On the return of Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc, to resume- 

 his duties as Entomologist on the Staff of this Depart- 

 ment, Dr. J. C. Hutson, B.A., Ph.D., has retiredi 

 from his acting appointment, which he held during 

 Mr. Ballou's absence from December 191<i until the 

 middle of July 191S. 



Dr. Hutson is shortly proceeding to England to- 

 offer his services for war work. 



A post-card has been received by the Imperial' 

 Commissocer of Agriculture for the West Indies from 

 Lieut. J. A. Robotham, of the Machine Gun Corps, to 

 the effect that he is now a prisoner in the Officers' 

 Prison Camp at Pforzheim in Baden, Germany^ 

 Mr. Robotham was formerly Agricultural and Science 

 Master at the Grammar School, St. Kitts. His friends 

 might note his address, should they care to communi- 

 cate with him 



From Nature, June 6, 1918, we learn that 

 Dr. C. A. Barber, Sc.D., now Sugar-cane Expert in the 

 service of the Government of India, formerly Super- 

 intendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands, has 

 been made a Companion of the Order of the Indiaa 

 Empire. 



Dr. Barber's researches are calculated to be of very 

 great service in arriving at a true knowledge of the 

 genetic constitution of sugar-canes; at the same time 

 they are already of value, as advancing the develop- 

 ment of the Indian sugar industry. Prior to his work 

 on sugar-canes Dr. Barber did much valuable werk of 

 a botanical nature, amongst which his researches on. 

 the growth of the SandaJ-wood tree was particularly- 

 noteworthy. 



