NovEMBER 10, 1899.] 
knowledge of the sun have recently been made 
here, and when the instrumental equipment 
now in process of construction has been com- 
pleted, this observatory will be able to under- 
take more solar work than any other institution. 
It is, therefore, of special importance that a 
party should be sent from here to observe the 
eclipse of May 28, 1900 (probably to Georgia), 
particularly as the next total eclipse visible in 
the United States will not occur until 1918. As 
the work which has been planned for this party 
will require special instruments constructed for 
the occasion, the expense of the expedition will 
amount to about $3,000. It is proposed to 
undertake three special lines of work. 
THE IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL- 
TURE IN THE WEST INDIES. 
WE have already given some account of the 
Imperial Department of Agriculture in the 
West Indies, established by the British Govern- 
ment, with Dr. Daniel Morris as Commissioner. 
The Experiment Station Record, quoting from the 
first number of the West Indian Bulletin, the 
official organ of the Department, gives an account 
of its work. In accordance with the recommen- 
dations of the West Indian Royal Commission, 
appointed in December, 1896, the British Gov- 
ernment has appropriated £4,500 for the new 
department for the first year, and it is estimated 
that in future an annual grant of £17,500 will 
be required to carry out the recommendations 
of the Commission as adopted. 
The headquarters of the department are at 
Barbadoes. Its duties are twofold: ‘‘(1) To en- 
deayvor to restore the sugar industry to a condi- 
tion in which it can be profitably carried on, 
and (2) to encourage the establishment of other 
industries in such colonies as afford suitable 
conditions to supplement the staple industry.’’ 
Four ‘principal’ or ‘central’ experiment 
stations and eight ‘local’ stations for the im- 
provement of the sugar cane will be established 
on the island of Barbadoes. The object of the 
central stations will be the growing of seed- 
lings and improvement of varieties, and the 
carrying on of fertilizer experiments. The 
more promising varieties will be given a practi- 
cal trial at the local stations to test their adapt- 
ability and value in different soils and localities, 
SCIENCE. 
699° 
and also as a demonstration to the planters in 
each parish. Experiments on similar lines have 
been arranged for at Antigua and St. Kitts, 
while the work previously inaugurated at Trin- 
idad will be largely extended and the necessary 
chemical assistance provided. The botanic 
stations placed under the control of the depart- 
ment are those at Tobago, Grenada, St. Vin- 
cent, Barbadoes, St. Lucia, Dominica, Montser- 
rat, Antigua, and St. Kitts-Nevis. The object 
of these stations is to test and distribute prom- 
ising economic plants for the region, introduce- 
new or little-known plants for experimental 
cultivation, and conduct experiments on the- 
improvements of sugar cane. In addition they 
distribute information, and send out lecturers. 
for institute work. 
It is also proposed to establish central sugar - 
factories equipped with the best machinery, and 
it is the expectation of the department to estab- 
lish one or two experimental factories at an. 
early date. The plan of the Royal Commission. 
to establish agricultural schools in connection. 
with the botanic stations has been carried out 
by opening a school at Dominica, and others 
will be started at St. Vincent, St. Lucia and 
St. Kitts-Nevis as soon as the necessary land is. 
obtained. Furthermore, the department is pre- 
pared to offer grants to enable certain institu- 
tions to employ teachers in agricultural science, 
and possibly to provide a number of scholar- 
ships and in codperation with the central edu- 
cational authorities in each colony, the teachers 
in the elementary schools will be given a course 
of instruction in the principles of agriculture, 
to enable them to give simple instruction and 
conduct school gardens. It is proposed to at- 
tach an agricultural instructor to each of the 
botanic stations, who will travel about holding 
meetings and demonstrations, and imparting 
information on improved methods directly to 
the planters; and in addition instructors or ex- 
perts in special lines, will be employed to spend 
a month or two on each island. The publica- 
tions of the department will include handbooks 
on the cultivation of special crops, bulletins and 
leaflets—the latter especially being in very 
simple clear language. The West Indian Bulle- 
tin, mentioned above, will be issued by the de-- 
partment periodically. 
