384 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



to deal at all exhaustively with so large a subject. The exi- 

 gencies of space will only permit of a brief review of the Report 

 of one of the Commissions above referred to. This, however, 

 will sufficiently emphasise the value of scientific methods in 

 extending agricultural industries and also, to some extent, 

 in securing favourable markets for the produce. 



It is recognised that true agricultural progress cannot be 

 confined to merely increasing the production. Many other 

 factors have to be taken into account; among them may be 

 mentioned efficient means of communication by steamers and 

 telegraphs, and opportunities of disposing advantageously of 

 agricultural produce, so that the cultivators may obtain 

 adequate remuneration for their labours. 



The first West India Royal Commission was appointed by 

 her late Majesty Queen Victoria in December 1896. To this 

 was entrusted an inquiry into the condition and prospects of 

 the West Indies, and " to suggest such measures as appear best 

 calculated to restore and maintain the prosperity of those 

 Colonies and of their inhabitants." Sir Henry Norman was 

 chairman. The other members were Sir Edward Grey (the 

 present Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) and Sir David 

 Barbour. 



The Commissioners reported in the autumn of 1897 that 

 owing to various causes the West Indies, a purely agricultural 

 community, were at that time in a very depressed condition, 

 and they recommended the adoption of measures having for 

 their object the improvement of the conditions under which the 

 cultivation of the sugar-cane, the chief mainstay of some of the 

 Colonies, was carried on, the introduction of other and more 

 remunerative industries, suitable for the conditions existing in 

 the West Indies, and the creation of an Imperial Department 

 of Agriculture. The latter was organised in October 1898, 

 and during the last twelve years, as will be shown later, 

 valuable work has been done, with the co-operation of other 

 agencies, in improving the general condition and prospects of 

 the Colonies. 



The second Ro3^al Commission, appointed in August 1909 

 by the late King Edward, had not to deal directly with the 

 improvement of agricultural methods and the increase of 

 exportable commodities, but to secure a reliable market for 

 West Indian productions, especially for sugar. 



