58 
169. The Botanice Gardens in Trinidad at ae are 
amongst the most efficient of any in the Coloni Mr. Hart, 
the Superintendent, is an energetic, capable oticét, who is 
devoted to his work. Between the years 1887 and 1896 there 
were distributed 285,317 economic and other plants, and 123,731 
seeds. A large correspondence—about 2,000 letters annually— 
<- have for years encouraged the development of local industries, 
and if their scope were enlarged in the direction indicated below, 
there is no doubt they would be capable of rendering still greater 
f 
distribution of merely omena plants, and in maintaining 
flower _be ds and border und Gover üment Hoge. In 
in the more important and sa duties of inate "the 
agricultural interests of the Colony. Further, the area of the 
present garden is too small, and the soil generally too poor, for 
experimental cultivation of economic plants is mme ` 
therefore, that land be obtained elsewhere for a purely experi- 
mental station, where economic plants could be cultivated on a 
ic 
larger scale, and where young men could be trained in agricultural 
pursuits At this station also, the trial ales of new varieties of 
ar-cane could be established, and a tematic investigation 
be instituted into their merits, as is dohe in British Guiana and 
Barbados. 
170. It has been suggested that a portion of the land lately 
acquired by Government at Diego Martin for waterworks might be 
devoted to the purposes of an agricultural station. The details of 
a scheme of this kind need not be e given here. Tt is sufficient to 
say that a somewhat analogous plan has been found very successful 
in Jamaica, and there is little doubt, if started on proper lines, it 
would be equally successful in Trinidad. 
171. The cause of failuré in starting dapni industries in 
Trinidad, as in all the West Indian Colonies, is due to a want of 
knowledge of even the simplest maa of ore bnldiral moth ods. 
An experiment is often undertaken by men with no experience 
whatever of the plants they eiea t itn, but who yet under- 
take to produce crops requiring great sane and judgment. Such 
experiments inevitably ser in failure. Again, subsidiary industries 
e only thought of when there is a Droas collapse o 
. ural 
future ventures, ea = = particular industry is regarded, often 
und eservedly, as hop: 
172. Neither in ez jews schools nor in the. aera 
schools in the Colo ony is any special instruction. give 
