27 



Assuming that the production of II CN in the presence oi water 

 actually takes place in Cassava as in the plants mentioned, we have 

 v ,., to ascertain the oame and character of the glucoside and enzyme 

 which causes the change. 



It is highly probable, however, that the public will shortly be 

 better informed, as work on this subjed is in progress under able 



direction. 



592. COTTON. 



l',v direction of the Government, arrangements have been made to 

 secure" Cotton seed for the coming planting season. 



Two hand s^ins have been imported and a suitable haling press is 

 under order. The Secretary of State has informed His Excellency the 

 Governor that the Cotton Growers' Association has agreed to handle all 

 cotton consigned to their care free of charge except for brokerage. 



One of the gins has been put into working order at St. Clair. 



A working committee has been appointed to assist the authorities. 



A pamphlet giving full information on the Cotton Industry will 

 shortly be issued. 



593. -BANANAS. 



A pamphlet giving information to Banana planters has been pre- 

 pared and it is hoped will be issued shortly. 



The new varieties at St. Clair which were introduced from tin- 

 East Indies via the Dominica Botanic Station have commenced to fruit. 

 The first bunch is mature and turns out to be something (piite different 

 to any hitherto grown in the Colony. It came to us under the name 

 of Mnsa discolor. 



594.-A CURIOUS LIZARD. 



During the mouth of December I found on the road a small 

 animal which I at first took to be an earth worm. Closer examination 

 showed it to be. a small lizard with minute legs, which are evidently 

 of little use to it for progression purposes as it was adopting the 

 curling and jumping of the common earth worm. Mr. R. R. Mole 

 who has made a particular study of this class of animals informs me 

 that it is rare in Trinidad, but that he took specimens to England m 

 1897. which were found on the lands of the Botanical Department. 

 At the British museum Mr. Mole informs me these specimens were 

 determined as Scolecosaums Guvierii, and de Verteuil in his history 

 of the Island makes mention of the animal. On showing it to one of 

 our nursery hands he stated that he had frequently seen them in leaf 

 mould. Not knowing on what to feed it. I had some well rotten leaf 

 mould brought in and placed the animal on the surface. In the space 

 of 10 seconds, it buried itself completely in the earth, with a motion 

 very similar to that of earth worms, in which the minute legs appeared 

 to be of little service. Our specimen Mr. Mole thinks is about one- 



