109 



larly high. Potash is the constituent of which there is the lowest re- 

 serve and the smallest available supply. 



7. Unless crops far in excess of those at present obtained are made 

 possible by irrigation and more thorousrh cultiuation, it would appear 

 probable that in the majority of cases these Jamaica sugar soils would 

 not repay any outlay in artificial fertilisers. In the majority of cases, 

 good farming should suffice to maintain a high standard of crop re- 

 turns over a period of years without any necessity for spending money 

 on imported fertilisers. 



I must, in conclusion, record thanks for the valuable co-operation 

 of the managers of the various estates where soil analysis has been 

 checked by manurial experiments. These, repeat<^d on successive crops 

 and modified as circumstances may suggest, should enable a reliable 

 generalisation as to the manurial requirements of these several soils 

 and districts to be made and to add greatly to the value of soil analy- 

 sis as a guide to special local requirements. The chemical analyses 

 were chiefly carried out by Mr. H. S, Hammond ; the physical analy- 

 ses by the writer with the assistance of Mr. E. J. Wortley. 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held at Head Quarter 

 House on Tuesday, 10th March. Present — The Hon. the Colonial 

 Secretary (Chairman), the Hon. the Director of Public Gardens, the 

 Island Chemist, His Grace the Archbishop, and Messrs. Fursdon and 

 Shore. 

 The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 

 A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary enclosing a commu- 

 nication from Dr. Morris upon the subject of the representation of the 

 West Indies at the Canadian Exhibition. After some discussion it 

 was agreed to adopt Dr. Morris's suggestions so far as the sending of 

 exhibits was concerned. It was thought that the best plan would be 

 to a-k Mr. Barclay to work up the exhibits under the direction of Mr. 

 Fawcett. The Board was of opinion that the products of the Colony 

 should be regularly represented at the four chief Exhibitions as a 

 means of stimulating trade with Canada. 



Reports were read from the Island Chemist upon : — 



(i.) the Laboratory equipment, stating that the acetylene gas 

 plant was now working satisfactorily and might be considered 

 a thorough success, that the work of the Laboratory was being 

 kept back by the insufficient water supply ; 

 (ii.) the agricultural experiments, reporting progress in the mat- 

 ter of the sugar experiments; 

 (iii.) the educational work, submitting a syllabus of the examina- 

 tion upon which the Agricultural Scholarships are to be award- 

 ed. It was agreed to forward this to the Schools Commission 

 for any observations, and tc publish it upon its receiving the ap- 

 proval of the Commission; 

 (iv.) the Laboratory Apprentice Scheme, stating that two appli- 

 cants had been chosen from a large number and recommending 

 the appointment of tv o other apprentices. This was agreed to. 

 Ameraorandum re the supposed attacking of orange trees by ants writ- 



