95 



The Director of Public Gardens submitted two reports each from 

 Mr. W. Cradwick and Mr. W. J. Thompson and a report of Hope Ex- 

 periment Station, ail of which were directed to be circulated. 



The Director of Public Gardens made application for an increase of 

 £75 to his Vote for forwarding seeds and plants from Hope by coastal 

 steamer, so tV-at the freif>l t could be paid for those receiving plants. It 

 was decided that this should not be done. As regards the excess of 

 £25 on this year accourts it was agreed to ] ass the amount. 



'I he < hemist submitted the following papers : — 



(a) Eeports of Banana Experiments in Yere. This was directed to 

 be published in the " Bulletin." 



(b) Application for admission as an Agricultural Student by Thomas 

 Dixon, Highgate. It was agreed to admit him on probation for a term 

 of one year. 



(c) Report on Manurial Experiments on Sugar Cane. This was di- 

 rected to be forwarded for publication in the Agricultural Journal. 



(d) Letter from Mr. Van Diepen, formerly Laboratory Student, re- 

 porting his progress in Costa Rica. 



(e) Memo on Appointment of Superintendent of Sugar Experi- 

 ments. 



With regard to the re-appointment of the Assistant Chemist it was 

 resolved to recommtnd his appointment on the same terms as before 

 and that he should not be placed upon the fixed establishment. 



Prison Farm. — The Director of Public Gardens submitted recom- 

 mendations to \ urchase a Rice Huller for hulling the rice at the Farm, 

 which amoxmted to about 34 flour barrels lull. It was thought better 

 to ascertain whether a purchaser could be found for the unhulled rice 

 rather than get a Huller. It was also suggested that it might be dis- 

 posed of locally for poultry food and (ther purposes. It was resolved 

 to ask the Inspector General for a note of the cost of cultivation of the 

 crop, excluding the capital expenses. 



An offtr ircm the United Fniit Co. to enter into a contract for the 

 bananas grown at the Prison Farm was submitted. It was agreed to 

 request the Inspector General to enter into a contract for a term of 

 years and to recommend that the short bunches be sent to the Lunatic 

 Asylum for the u?e of the inmates there. 



The CI airman stated that as regards the supervising of the agricul- 

 tural work at the I'rison Farm, the Inspector General was of opinion 

 that Mr. Geer the Chief Warder could now carry on the work effi- 

 ciently and it was agreed to give Mr. Palache notice that his services 

 would not be required from the end of the financial year. It was, how- 

 ever- agreed to ask him if he would still be willing to advise the Board 

 regarding the work at the Farm when required, at a certain fee. 



In reply to a question whether the Farm was paying, the Chairman 

 stated that it showed a profit of about £250 for the first 11 months of 

 the current financial year, not counting crops in the ground. This was 

 Considered very satisfactory. 



A s r gards the Fermentation Chemist's salary and travelling ex- 

 penses, the Chairman stated that this had been provided for in the 

 general estimates, but should be re-imbursed from the Imperial Grant 



