Preface xxxvii. 



producing centres coming to the help of the 

 planters by carrying out experiments, of test- 

 ing new machines, supplying cultures, &c., that 

 will, if successful, benefit all, and which until 

 proved to be satisfactory or not it is hardly 

 fair to an individual planter or maker to force 

 him, as at present, to risk losing his capital 

 so that all may benefit at the one man's 

 expense. It certainly is not fair to any planter 

 to do so, and even with engineers the risk of 

 placincr the rio-ht machines on the market before 



L O O 



putting them to the test in the Tropics is so 

 great that the introduction of labour-saving 

 appliances is being seriously discouraged 

 thereby discouraged, too, when they are 

 badly needed. Personally, I consider all such 

 matters, once a number of reliable and prac- 

 tical men speak well of any new system or 

 machine, as well as the establishment and 

 financing of an institution to scientifically train 

 planters, experts, plant-doctors, &c., must be 

 undertaken by the Home Government, since it 

 is mainly, if not entirely, for the benefit of the 

 folks at home, by insuring the output -of the 

 raw material, food supplies, &c., that they re- 

 quire not only being maintained, but increased, 

 so as to keep pace with the rapidly increasing 

 requirements of the tax-collector and the wage- 

 earner, to say nothing of the mouths to be 

 fed on all sides. We are to-day at an epoch 

 of gigantic concerns and huge figures, as 

 exemplified by our 1913 Budget, in a time 



