Introduction. v. 



about one seventh of its weight. The price of aluminium before the war 

 averaged about 16 cts. per lb., and after some fluctuation has been fixed 

 for war purposes by the United States Government at 32 cts. The 

 margin of profit is not likely to be one to attract purely speculative 

 enterprise. At the same time owing to the extended use of the mineral for 

 aeroplane building and many other purposes, (especially since welding 

 and spinning have superseded the unsatisfactory attempts at rivetting), 

 and owing to progressive discoveries of economical processes for the 

 reduction of the ore it should be possible to ship bauxite in increasing 

 quantities even after the conclusion of the war. In case mineral oil from 

 Trinidad can be had at reasonable rates we may even look to a local 

 manufacture of aluminium. It is to be regretted that since bauxite was 

 discovered in 1910 and even since the war British capital has neglected 

 the opportunities offered by these accessible deposits to overtake the 

 lead of Germany which before the war had virtually monopolized the 

 French and Indian output. Outside of France there are no considerable 

 European deposits although Scottish waterfalls like Foyers have for some 

 time been used and Ben Nevis is even being tunnelled as I write to 

 create water-power for the production of aluminium from kindred 

 clays. In Demerara the Industry at present employs over a thousand 

 men under admirably organised sanitary conditions.* 



The Society. 

 In regard to the Society the most important event of the year was 

 the assumption of the Presidency by Professor Harrison, C.M.G., Director 

 of Science and Agriculture after an interval of twenty-one years from 

 his last term of office. In that period, the Society has had on many 

 occasions his valuable assistance but by its present choice it desired to 

 identify itself more fully with the cause of scientific agricalture in 

 a colony whose fortunes must always mainly depend upon agricultural 

 produce. It aimed also at contributing towards complete co-operation 

 between the scientific and executive branches of the industry. 



TlMEHEI. 

 Notwithstanding the greatly increased cost of production the eagerness 

 with which the last issue was bought up within a few days has seemed 

 to the Directors and Editors to justify the continuance of the Society's 

 magazine in spite of the conditions which have left it almost the sole sur- 

 vivor of such enterprises of unendowed societies in the colonies. We arc 

 fortunate in securing from the President his valuable lecture on the Society 

 and its work in 1897-1918. Agricultural articles are unfortunately not as 

 easily obtainable in the colonies as those on other subjects, for a practical 

 agriculturalist has seldom the pen of a ready writer and it is natural to ex- 

 pect that those in the scientific branch, (who must necessarily be mainly 

 officials) will prefer to devote any writing talent to articles for their 



* Note. — Since the above was written difficulties of transport have led to the decision to 

 restrict the output and general operations until shipping can be obtained. 



