396 TlMEHRI. 



other such seasons, these lahds were to a considerable extent under 

 water, the sluices being qutie insufficient to discharge the water in the 

 few hours they could be made use of." 



Extract from letter No. 2 

 (Mr. Joseph Martin, Littleport, Isle of Ely.) 

 "Very little Steam cultivating or Ploughing has been done in the 

 Fen Country, because 2 horse land is ploughed more cheaply by horses 

 than steam. The ditches are no impediment where steam has been 

 used, as the ropes can be worked over the drains or ditches. Ko imple- 

 ment has done more harm than the Steam Plough on the heavy land by 

 bringing to the top the alluvial clay ; and I should advise everyone to 

 be careful in ploughing very deep on such a soil. If Steam is used, 

 I would recommend ploughing by horses, and afterwards Steam Culti- 

 vation. I presume the surface in British Guiana is alluvial clay. In 

 the Fen distrift (.Cambridgeshire) the top soil is peat or moor, under 

 which is a blue clay, about four feet from the surface. This is thrown 

 out by manual labour, and very much improves the soil ; but I do not 

 imagine this can in any part of the world be done by Steam Ploughing : 

 if it is at all practicable, it must be done by a sort of Steam Dredger." 

 Trusting that the above information may be of service to you, 

 I am. Sir, &c., 



ERNEST CLARKE. 



On the paper read before the previous meeting being 

 declared open for discussion, the Secretary stated that 

 Mr. Thorpe was unable to be present, and it was agreed 

 to let the matter stand over. 



Dr. H. B. Ford read a paper entitled, " What the 

 Banana Trade has done for Jamaica."* 



The Chairman in moving a vote of thanks said he 

 hoped the discussion at the next meeting would promote 

 the serious consideration of the matter in reference 

 to this colony. 



The Hon. Mr. Davis in seconding said that a great 

 impulse had been given to the industry in Jamaica by 

 dire6l steam navigation. He remembered reading in a 



* See page 2i8- 



