200 TiMEHRI, 



Most valuable information has been gathered from the numerous ex- 

 periments carried on in this Colony ; especially from those undertaken 

 at the Botanical Gardens under the able supervision of Mr. Jenman, 

 Government Botanist, and Professor Harrison, Government Analyst, 

 and whilst, up to date, the experiments have not definitely disclosed any 

 cane of more practical value than the familiar " Bourbon," the experi« 

 ments have not been wasted, as they have conclusively shewn that canes 

 can be produced from seed, canes far exceeding in saccharine strength 

 any yet cultivated. 



Steps are now being taken to test the agricultural value of these 

 canes. In addition, the experiments have thrown most valuable side- 

 lights on important matters connefted with praftical agriculture, such 

 as the relative values of different manures, the effefts of lime on the 

 soil, &c., &c. 



Nor has the method alluded to by Mr. ThiseltonDyer as, in his 

 opinion, promising to result in canes of increased richness, been ignored 

 by planters. The matter when first mooted, was freely discussed by 

 this Committee, and as the experiment of planting land here with canes 

 imported from Barbados, the saccharine strength of which is well known 

 to be from one and a half to two per cent, higher than the average of 

 the same kind raised locally, had been repeatedly carried out, and the 

 results carefully watched, and in no instance was the saccharine strength 

 of canes raised from those thus introduced, greater than that from canes 

 raised locally ; it was not considered to be a method of any marked 

 promise. 



Again Mr. Thiselton Dyer asserts : — " It is not the genius of the 

 " English people to apply the resources of science to industrial pursuits 

 " in the way it is done by other nations." This may or may not be 

 true, but it has no bearing on the question, for after the word " nations," 

 Mr. Thiselton- Dyer should have added "and Colonies." 



In the first place, the Colonies that cultivate the sugar cane are far 

 .from being exclusively English, yet the application of the resources of 

 science in British Guiana is certainly not less than in Cuba, Martinique, 

 or any other Colony not under British rule, and it is worthy of note 

 that constant applications are received in this British Colony, from 

 foreign Countries and Colonies, for improved varieties of canes obtained 

 by the application of the resources of science to industrial pursuits. 



The majority of the planters in this Colony are quite capable of ap- 

 preciating the value of soil analyses. In faft a great many have been 



