174 



A memorandum was submitted reporting tliat the Sumatra to- 

 bacco when made into cigars, had not turned out so well as was 

 expected. Samples of cigars made with imported Sumatra wrap- 

 per and a Hope grown Sumatra wrapper were submitted for inspec- 

 tion. The Director of Public Gardens said that the necesary 

 conditions, viz., damp nights, did not occur at Hope, for the pro- 

 per curing of the Sumatra leaf, but if the experiment was to be 

 repeated they might try to overcome the difficulty. It was agreed 

 to repeat the experiment at a cost not exceeding £25. 



The Secretary reported that on the matter of Horsebreeding the 

 Agricultural Society had considered and approved of the proposals 

 aud their Secretary was to bring the matter to the notice of the 

 new Governor when appointed. 



A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary intimating that 

 the Scheme submitted by the Board for utilizing the Imperial 

 Grant of £ 1 0,000 for Sugar had been approved by Sir Augustus 

 Hemming in Privy Council and that the Director of Public Works 

 had been directed to proceed with the extension of the Laboratory 

 at once. Mr. Cork desired that it should be recorded in the Min- 

 utes, that he objected to this Scheme. 



A report from Mr. Cradwick was submitted recording that he 

 had inspected cotton cultivations on the Pedro Plains and found 

 them satisfactory so far as the cultivation and crops,were con- 

 cerned, but the great want now of the people was to find a market 

 for their first small quantities, else they would be discouraged. 



His Grace the Archbishop said that he was very much interested 

 in this attempt to establish a profitable industry suitable for the 

 circumstances of these plains, and he hoped that the Board could 

 come to some solution of the question of finding some immediate 

 market for the quantities already grown and being grown by the 

 settlers there. A committee consisting of the Hon. W. Fawcett, 

 Messrs. C. A. T. Fursdon, J. W. Middleton and the Secretary was 

 appointed to consider what might be done, and so draw up a re- 

 port as to the position of the industry. 



Mr. Fursdon asked what was to be done with the cotton from 

 the Prison Farm which he had ginned. The Secretary was in- 

 structed to see if it could be sold in Kingston for stuffing mat- 

 tresses, sofas, &c. 



The Secretary submitted letter from the Colonial Secretary au- 

 thorising him to supply enough Paris Green to treat the experi- 

 mental cotton plots receiving the £5 grants. 



A report from the Secretary was submitted, showing that a total 

 of 4,225 lbs. of Sea Island Cotton seed had been sent out, sufficient 

 to plant 700 acres. There was only a balance of 36 lbs. of the 

 supply left in hand. 



