Report of Society's Meetings. 395 



plant diseases. Fortunately for us, during the year, but 

 fewopportunities have occurred for their study, and, owing 

 to climatic conditions, and in part, doubtless, also to the 

 efforts of the planters in combating these diseases, at pre- 

 sent, on the whole the canefields of the Colony are fairly 

 free from the diseases prevalent in certain years, although 

 these still linger to some extent among us. And in com- 

 bating the diseases, it is a matter of congratulation for 

 us that the planters have not been compelled to abandon 

 the cultivation of the Bourbon cane and to resort to that 

 of the heterogenous mixtures of canes now raised in Bar- 

 bados. 



The Committee of Correspondence have continued 

 their efforts during the year to stimulate the interest 

 of the farmers and labourers of the Colony in the culti- 

 vation of minor agricultural products and that these 

 efforts are bearing fruit to some extent was clearly 

 shown by the excellent exhibits at the annual Horti- 

 cultural Show. This, as you are all aware, was a 

 marked success ; it again showed that the Colony can 

 produce samples of agricultural produce other than sugar 

 equal to those raised elsewhere. The artisans and 

 labourers were well to the fore and this fact alone should 

 act as a reward for and as an incentative to the labours 

 of those in charge of the exhibition. And in speaking 

 of the exhibition I must not omit to mention the untiring 

 efforts of Mr. Bellairs, the Chairman, and of Mr. Har- 

 greaves, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee of Corres- 

 pondence, the valuable services rendered by Mr. L. M. Hill, 

 Mr. Mackay, Mr. Scard and the other members of the 

 Committee, all of which united with the incessant labours 

 of the indefatigable secretary, that best of showmen, Mr. 



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