Science in Public Affairs 



mission of Sir David Barbour to inquire into the 

 state of the finances of Jamaica ; such the visit of 

 the Royal Commission to the West Indies in 1897. 

 The sugar industry, upon which most of the islands 

 depended, was in a state of extreme depression ; 

 and the Government, before deciding upon what 

 should be done, wished to have the fullest infor- 

 mation upon the situation. And, as the problem 

 was economic, they attached to the Commission 

 Mr. (now Sir Daniel) Morris, who had at one time 

 been for twelve years Director of the Botanic 

 Department in Jamaica. Owing to his technical 

 knowledge and to the ability of the Commissioners, 

 the Report 1 is not only a most interesting docu- 

 ment, but it gives a complete analysis of the 

 problem, and a scientific chain of recommenda- 

 tions for its solution. These were accepted by 

 Mr. Chamberlain almost in their entirety, and they 

 met with ready acquiescence on the part of the 

 House of Commons. Space fails for even a brief 

 summary of the recommendations, and it can 

 only be said that the main object was to establish 

 agriculture on a scientific basis. Sir Daniel Morris 

 was asked to take charge of a new Department of 

 Agriculture for the West Indies, which is supported 

 out of Imperial funds. He is consulting officer to 

 the Governments of Jamaica, British Guiana, and 

 Trinidad, and is in charge of the Botanic Gardens, 

 stations for sugar-cane experiments, and agricul- 

 tural schools in all the smaller islands. The charge 

 under these heads in the estimates for 1905-6 is 



1 Cd.8655. 

 166 



