Notes on the Society's Work in 1897-1918. ix. 



In 1897 prominent scientists who were members of the Society were 

 few ; we have lost that eminent botanist, of world-wide reputation, that 

 man who knew and loved both living- plants and animals, G. S. Jenman, 

 then the Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens ; as well as H. H. 

 Cunningham, the biologist and magistrate, and S. Vyle, the electrician, 

 but J. J. Quelch — the inimitable Quelch — and Mr. Rodway are still with 

 us, the former in other lands, the latter at my right hand. 



In 1897 I, as President, had the assistance of those keen and ex- 

 perienced Office-bearers, F. A. Conyers our Treasurer, and Thomas Daly, 

 our Honorary Secretary. Both have joined the great majority. 



The ranks of our Honorary members of 1897 have also been depleted 

 by death. We have lost the first and foremost of Scientific Agriculturists 

 Sir J. B. Lawes, F.E.S. ; our former Governors, Sir Cameron Lees, and 

 Sir A. W. L. Hemming ; as well as Sir Neville Lubbock, Mr. F. Sutton 

 (of the Sugar-Cane), and Mr. F. A. E. Winter. 



Death has also been active among the members of the Society who 

 were less prominent in its work, and we have lost the Right Reverend 

 Bishop Butler, Sir Palmer Ross, W. Blair, Captain Duncan, 1 r. Edmonds, 

 P. P. Fairbairn, E. G. Fonseca, Frank Fowler, W. Greig, Stewart Gardener, 

 W. C. Halligan, J. A. Hill, C. K. Jardine, R. Jeffrey, S. S. Jones, E. E. 

 King (one of the earliest visitors to the Kaieteur Falls), A. Kingdon, J. 

 Manifold, C. G. Parnell, G. W. Rockclifie. that sterling example to every 

 Creole, and W. H. Woodrotie ; whilst the following are still living but are 

 absent from the colony : — Sir Henry Bovell, Sir Charles Cox, Sir Joseph 

 Godfrey, Drs. Fisher, A. D. Williams, and von Winckler. A. G. Bell, S. G. 

 T. Bourke, E. G. H. Dalton, R. Duff, C. P. Caskin, M. Garnett, C. B. 

 Hamilton, P. Hemery, F. J. Morris, H. Rickford. Captain R. V. Shaw, B. 

 Thompson, F. J. Villiers, and T. R. Young ; but we still have with us in the 

 colony, hale and hearty, A. K. Duncan, J. K. D. Hill, H. H.Lawrence, 

 H. W. Sconce, J. F. Waby, and Drs. Ferguson, London, and Matthey. 



These were the members of the Society with whom I was brought in 

 active co-operation during my Presidency in 1897 ; doubtless there were 

 and are others whose names do not occur to me who were then active 

 members of the Society. 



Among these men were the far-sighted, energetic yet prudent colonists 

 who, during the anxious years of the final decade of the last century and 

 the earlier years of the present one, guided the colony through its 

 numerous vicissitudes and laid the foundations of any prosperity it enjoyed 

 prior to August, 1914. Many of them were working in and out of season 

 in pressing on their fellow colonists the need for agricultural and indus- 

 trial expansion and the development of all the resources of the colony 

 whether agricultural, pastoral, forestal, or mineral. Among them were 

 the men who laid the foundation on commercial lines of the present great 

 rice industry ; who gave rise to the increasing exportation of balata, 

 timber, and other forestal resources ; who did their utmost in connection 



