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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Extracts from Proceedings. 



The usual monthly Meeting of the Board of Agriculture was 

 held at Headquarter House on Wednesday 1 2th June; present: 

 Hon. H. Clarence Bourne, Chairman ; the Island Chemist ; the 

 Acting Director of Public Gardens ; His Grace the Archbishop ; 

 the Superintending Inspector of Schools ; Messrs. G. D. Murray, 

 Conrad Watson, and the Secretary. 



Arrowroot — The Secretary submitted correspondence with the 

 Superintending Medical Officer on the question of supplying the 

 public institutions with Jamaica Arrowroot instead of importing 

 from St. Vincent. A list of the prices paid by different public 

 institutions, including country hospitals, show that local con- 

 tractors charge prices ranging from 3d. to 6d. per lb. The supplies 

 for the General Penitentiary are imported from St. Vincent. The 

 Kingston Public Hospital appear to get their supplies from the 

 Penitentiary, no supplies being kept at the Island Medical 

 Stores. Previous correspondence had left the impression that 

 the Island Medical Stores were responsible for the supplies 

 used in public institutions generally, and that the arrowroot 

 used was imported. The Secretary was directed to continue his 

 efforts to secure local supplies for the public institutions, if 

 available. 



Vanilla — The Secretary reported that, as instructed, he had 

 written to the Rev. John Maxwell, Giddy Hall, St. Elizabeth, who 

 had long taken much interest in Vanilla cultivation and grown it 

 to a small extent, and that gentleman had replied giving full in- 

 formation as to his method of curing, and saying he would be 

 pleased to devote some time to visiting districts in Westmoreland 

 and Hanover to explain to the small growers there how the crop 

 of pods,now ripening, should be handled, if his travelling expenses 

 were paid. He further stated that Vanilla growing and curing- 

 was an industry that thousands of girls in certain districts not fit 

 for field work and unable to earn a living by needlework, could 

 engage in easily. The Secretary stated that he had already 

 circulated the papers, and he read the remarks of members. 

 After further discussion, it was agreed that although Vanilla 

 growing was a declining industry in the Seychelle Islands, owing 

 to the competition of the artificial product Vanillin, and to dis- 

 ease, the vines grew so readily in certain districts of Jamaica, 

 and the pods cost so little to produce, that it would form a suit- 

 able additional industry for small settlers. It was, therefore, re- 

 solved to accept Mr. Maxwell's offer to assist the industry, and, 

 subject to the consent of the Governor, pay his travelling expenses 

 from the vote for travelling of the Director of Public Gardens 

 and Plantations, the whole of this vote not being required by the 

 Director this year. 



Brahmin Bulls— The Secr2tary reported that with regard to the 

 order for two Brahmin Bulls for Texas, U.S.A., he had a letter 

 from the Agent of the Leyland Line, New Orleans, stating that 



