157 



countiies, if not ia temperate regions. The farmer has a new and 

 practical reason to " consider the ant." 



An accumulation has been made, of course, of seeds, specimens, pho- 

 tographs, and notes bearing on the cotton, beetles, ants, and^ many 

 other collateral matters not to be mentioned here. Even this brief pre- 

 liminary report should not close, however, without an acknowledgment 

 of the many favours of Messrs. Owen and Champney. owners of the 

 Sepacuite estate, and of Mrs Owen. Without the kind ir>vitations, 

 hospitality, and extensive local knowleJge and cooper. tion of these 

 generous friends, it would have been quite impracticable to visit the 

 Indian cotton district of the interior of Alta Vera I'az in 1902, or to 

 ascertain the existence of the coiton ant in the present season. 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held at 

 Headquarter House, on Tuesday, May 10th, at 11.15 a.m , prtsent, the 

 Director of Public Gardens and Plantations ; the Island and Agricul- 

 tural Chemist; Hon. J. V. Calder, and H. Cork, and the Secretary, 

 John Barclay, 



The Secretary reported that owing to a meeting of the Privy Council 

 then being held, the Hon. Sydney Olivier, Chaiiman, could not be pre- 

 sent—that he had received a telegram from Mr. C. A. T. Fursdon, that 

 he could not attend, and a message from His Grace the Archbishop, 

 that he was suffering from inflammation of the eye and could not be 

 present The Hon. W. lawcett was asked to act as Chairman. 



As regards native cotton seed, the Direc;oi' Public Gardens reported 

 that he had received from three different sources samples of native seed, 

 which he was planting. 



The Secretary read a copy of a communication from the Governoi.- to 

 the Jamaica Agricultural Society with reference to the improvenaent of 

 horse-breeding, in which His Excellency said that were he going to 

 remain in the Island he certainly would bo disposed t ) endeavour to 

 carry out the recommendations of 'he Committee. He could not, how- 

 ever, bind his successor to any action The Secretary was instructed to 

 ask the Agricultural ^'ociety what they proposed to do in the matter 

 and bring the reply up at next meeting. 



A report from the Director Public Gardens and Plantations on the 

 Sumatra Tobacco grown at Hope was submitted, which stated that a 

 Cuban expert had reported that it was of very good quali+y and could 

 not be known from the genuine Sumatra grown, and that it was better 

 than that grown in Cuba; the value of the best leaf was esti nated at 

 from 6/ to 8/ a lb. and inferior quality at about half that price. 



The following Minutes from the Chemist were submitted : — 



(aj Application of Gerald Brandon for admission as Agricultural 

 Student without fees. It was resolved that he should be ad- 

 mitted, but must pay the fees. 



An supplication from Mr. N. A. Rudolph, Student at Guelph College, 

 Canado, for permission to work at a portion of the Laboratory course 

 and to utten i at Hope Gardens tor two months. It wus decided that 

 permission would be granted on payment of a fee for half the term, of 

 two guineas. 



