34 



A general falling off of the value of exports of American 

 cotton cloths to China during 1906 is reported by the Bureau 

 of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor. It 

 is believed that this condition was due to over importation of 

 cotton goods into China during the previous year. Some 

 anxiety had been felt in the United States in consequence cf 

 this diminution but it now appears, in addition to the former 

 overstock that the reduction in the imports by China is gen- 

 eral and is not aimed exclusively at American products. 



The total trade of Great Britain for 1905 amounted to nearly 

 five billion dollars, and established a new record. The wave 

 of trade prosperity as shown by the above figures appears to 

 have affected almost all branches of industry. 



FARMERS' INSTITUTE OF HAWAII. 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



The fifth annual meeting of the Farmers' Institute of Ha- 

 waii took place at the Kamehameha Boys' School on Saturday, 

 February 2, 1907. An attractive program had been arranged 

 by the Secretary, but owing to the continuance of the inclem- 

 ent weather which had prevailed of late, the attendance was 

 sparse and the exercises were much curtailed. 



I. AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The day's proceedings commenced at 3 o'clock, when the 

 meeting was called to order by the President, Jared G. Smith. 

 The annual report and the financial statement were first read 

 by the secretary-treasurer, and accepted. A copy of these 

 will appear in a subsequent number of the Forester. 



The President then reported the action of the Institute with 

 reference to the recent agricultural exhibition, and expressed 

 himself satisfied that the results which had been achieved fully 

 justified the part which the Institute had taken. 



It was stated by the secretary-treasurer that, owing to the 

 limited time at his disposal, he had been unable to put into 

 effect the preparation and circulation of a letter to members 

 and to others interested in the society, bringing before their 

 notice the necessity of rendering more stable the financial con- 

 dition of the Farmers' Institute. The regular payment of 

 annual dues would do much to increase the effectiveness of 

 the work which w^as often hindered for lack of outstanding 

 fees. Of the one hundred persons addressed, twenty had 

 responded. 



