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' ing, by the grape gatherer or the reaper in Europe, and 

 the day when the cane is cut and manufactured into 

 sugar, by the Mauritius Planter. But, after the joyful 

 gathering of the fruits which Providence offers to those 

 who have moistened the soil with the sweat of their 

 brow, comes the period of trouble, persevering labour 

 and cares, the period most difficult to pass through, and 

 which is, by the planter, called the " tween crop." 



Now, for the Society, the "tween crop" is about to 

 commence, a period of transition always accompanied 

 with difficulty and hardship. At this period, the mind 

 of the Planter is on the stretch to determine what im- 

 provements are required for the soil, what manures are 

 wanted to recruit its exhausted strength, and in short 

 to prepare all that is necessary to render the ensuing- 

 crop equal if not superior to the last. 



The ''tween crop" which often requires a large out- 

 lay from the planter, is also a stepping stone for the 

 Society, and as the Planter then puts out his bills, so 

 the Society also have to put out theirs. Our bills arc 

 the papers read at our meetings, once publislied, they 

 become as many appeals to the intelligent who, when 

 penetrated with their spirit, afterwards shew how they . 

 have derived profit therefrom. 



This is not all : as the planter renders himself an ac- 

 count of what he has done, so the Society, or at least 

 the Committee appointed by Your Excellency, must 

 render itself an exact account of the Exhibition which 

 has just been held. It must therefore, in accordance 

 with the practise of the great Exhibition of London 

 and Paris, prepare a Report, studying the nature and 

 qualities of the produce of every description exhibited 

 at Government Plouse, comparing those of the neigh- 

 bouring island Avith those of our own, shewing on 

 which side the superiority lies, and endeavouring that 

 our artisans, gardeners, artists and manufacturers of 

 every class, should improve certain articles of their 

 produce to the same standard as ihose of our neigh- 

 bours in the same manner as the latter will no doubt 

 comprehend in what branches and how we enjoy a su- 

 periority over them. This labour of intellect has been 

 entrusted to the care and the skilful pen of our Vice- 



