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Barbados this point received particular attention. 
reat deal of careful work is being done in the attempt to 
produce better and more stable varieties, and the work of Mr. 
Thornton of Tobago is deserving of very high praise. It seems 
possible that in course of time it may be found that West Indian 
Cotton is amenable to treatment on Mendelian principles as the 
work of Leake and Balls tends to prove is the case for the Indian 
and Egyptian varieties. Here again there is the need for ascertain- 
ing the exact botanical characters of the numerous varieties and o 
establishing as soon as may be a definite collection of types for 
purposes of reference. At present though much useful work has 
fostered in St. Vincent, by Mr. Tempany on the Cotton industry 
in the Leeward Islands, and by Mr. Robson on Cotton selection in 
Montserrat. . 
Rubber. Rubber formed the subject of an early morning demon- 
stration at St. Clair, and also occupied the attention of the Conference 
during a morning’s sitting. The delegates had the opportunity of 
hearing the views of Mr. Pearson, Editor of the “ Rubber World,” 
on the subject, and also of Dr. Cramer, whose evening lecture on 
Rubber Cultivation, illustrated by a magnificent series of slides, 
was very highly appreciated. Para, Ceara, Castilloa and Funtumia 
rubbers have been planted in the Islands and in British Guiana, but 
according to the general consensus of opinion Para rubber is 
the only one likely to prove of commercial importance. The 
Central American Castilloa, though it grows vigorously, offers 
very serious difficulties in tapping, and there is great uncertainty 
