66 
the colonies in the East ought to be grateful is the Indian Govern- 
ment, which, I am afraid, has reaped very little advantage. You 
owe it that debt and it is a deep debt. I would also like to point 
out that Kew is not merely an isolated institution in a London 
suburb ; it is in communication with a network of similar institu- 
tions all over the Empire, and it has the advantage of being able to 
command the assistance and co-operation of all of them. It may 
interest you to know that owing to advice that nothing of the kind 
would grow inthe plains of Bengal, we refrained from sending these 
precious Hevea plants to Calcutta, but with the consent of the Indian 
Office, which was generous enough under the circumstances, we 
sent them to the Ceylon Botanic Gardens. From Ceylon we were 
able to supply the Straits Settlements, and so we planted the Hevea 
in a climate and under physical conditions which were most suited 
to them. But, as you know, at that time the East was not ready 
for them ; it required imagination to see their future, but we had 
scientific colleagues who watched over their growth and helped the 
enterprise in the best possible way. I need not enumerate their 
names, they are perpetuated on this salver, which will pass into 
the custody of my successors at Kew. But I might say a wor 
about my friend, Mr. Ridley, who has assiduously nurtured the 
rubber industry and fostered its expansion in the Native States. 
There is nothing more to add except that the thing has been a great 
success, Kew has attempted many things; some have failed and 
some have succeeded ; and, as far as the officials at Kew are con- 
cerned, they feel that it is generous of you to make this presentation. 
I am sorry my successor is not present to-night, or he wou e 
endorsed what I have said. e have but done our duty. Such a 
gift is no doubt highly irregular ; but what I put to my conscience 
is that it is not a present to any individual—it is a present to Kew 
and to the nation, and it will be preserved at Kew as a public 
memorial. Kew has received many gifts from persons who are 
anxious to develop its usefulness. This, perhaps, will also answer ~ 
that ae as it will give an encouragement for the future. 
(App ause.) : 
The salver, which is engraved with the Royal Arms, bears the 
following inscription :— 
PRESENTED 
BY A NUMBER OF THOSE INTERESTED IN 
THE EASTERN RUBBER INDUSTRY, 
T 
THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. 
TO COMMEMORATE THE INTRODUCTION OF 
HEVEA BRASILIENSIS, THE PARA RUBBER, 
INTO THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE, 
AN ACHIEVEMENT WHICH LAID THE FOUNDATION OF A MOST 
IMPORTANT INDUSTRY. 
InpIa OFFICE Ciements MarkHam. 
Ww Hooker, THisELTON-DYER. 
CEYLON TAWAITES, TRIMEN. . 
Maay PENINSULA CantLey, Murton, Low, RIDLEY. 
CoLLECTORS _ WickHam, Cross. <page 
3 ee Pa) ee ee 
The salver has been placed on exhibition in Museum No, I, _ 
