Steam Husbandry with Open Drainage. 95 



field, which, in their opinion, can be effefted by machinery specially 

 designed for the purpose, and of the difficulties which the face of the 

 country presents by reason of the open drains and canals which inter- 

 sedt the canefields ; aad also a statement of any other operations, such 

 as the carriage of canes from the field to the punts, in which machinery 

 might supersede manual labour. And that the Planter's Committee be 

 further requested to express their opinion as to the amount of premium 

 which should be offered for each description of machinery." 



The resolution of the Combined Court referred to in 

 the foregoing resolution of the Court of Policy is as 

 follows : — 



" That looking at the faft that almost the whole of the Agricultural 

 work in this colony is done by manual labour, and at a very great cost, 

 this Court is of opinion that encouragement ought to be given with a 

 view to the introduftion of labour saving machinery for the cultivation 

 of the soil and other purposes conne6ted with the manufafture of our 

 staple — resolved therefore that His Excellency the Governor be autho- 

 rised, and he is hereby authorised, to offer premiums not exceeding 

 $ioo,oco, to any person or persons who shall introduce into the colony, 

 machinery capable of tilling the soil and other purposes connefted 

 with the manufafture of our staple of this colony, which can be worked 

 at a moderate expense compared with the expense at present attending 

 the cultivation of the soil, and that such premiums be offered on terms 

 and conditions to be fixed by His Excellency the Governor and the 

 Court of Policy." 



From this it will be seen what great interest was taken 

 in the matter, and in connection with the above resolution, 

 the late Mr. Wm. Russell, the " Sugar King," as he was 

 justly called, wrote a very valuable pamphlet entitled 

 " Report on the Agricultural Wants of British Guiana," 

 (printed by VV'aterlOvv & SoNS) and presented it to 

 the Court of Policy through the Planter's Committee of 

 British Guiana. 



In this pamphlet Mr. RusSELL gave a most interesting 

 account of the attempts — (and failures) — to make horse 

 husbandry a success on our sugar estates, and according 



