Report of Society's Meetings. 191 



Remarks. — As a rule a good strong black man can earn 50 °/ more 

 at cane-cutting than an ordinary coolie, one of the reasons being that 

 his cutlass is always in better order. 



Improvements in Agriculture and Manufactures. 



The Manufacture of Sugar. — During the year 1888 considerable im- 

 provements in Sugar Machinery were instituted, principally in the 

 direction of evaporating appliances. Two quadruples and two triples 

 of the Yaryan type, the Rillieux system and combined multiple effets 

 and pans, and several multiple effets of the ordinary triple were erected 

 and worked with more or less success. But perhaps the greatest ad- 

 vance of the year consisted in the establishment on a sound basis of the 

 diffusion process for the extraction of sugar from the cane, the many 

 difficulties which had cropped up from time to time in its adoption 

 having been successfully overcome. In connection with the above, 

 general improvements in the direction of arrangement of buildings and 

 economy of fuel and labour were largely carried out. The bulk of the 

 sugar made was for the American market, but where yellow crystals 

 were made, the use of phosphoric acid in clarification was largely and 

 successfully extended. 



GEORGE GARNETT, 



Hon. Secretary. 



It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded bv Mr. 

 Davis, and duly carried, that the Report be forwarded to 

 the Government. 



Mr. Quelch gave a short account of his late trip up 

 the Essequebo and Potaro, to the Kaieteur Falls, reserv- 

 ing fuller details for publication in Timehri. 



Mr. Davis asked the Secretary if he had received any 

 enquiries as to the premium for the corn kiln, to which 

 Mr. Hill replied that he had been asked privately for 

 information by a person who thought of erecling such a 

 kiln up the Demerara River. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Cunningham 

 excusing himself from forwarding the usual report of the 



