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APPENDIX. 
SCHEME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPART- 
MENT OF ECONOMIC BOTANY AND FOR AGRI- 
CULTURAL INSTRUCTION IN THE WEST INDIES. 
ublic 
the Commission for developing the resources 0 the ward and 
Windward Islands and Tobago, and for affording ip od to the 
experimental cane cultivation to be carried on, in continuance of 
present efforts, in British Guiana, Barbados, and Antigua. 
It is understood that concurrently with the eem of this 
scheme steps would be taken by the Government in each island to 
open roads, to settle the people on the land, and vide facilities 
for delivering produce at the nearest shipping po por 
It is further understood that a subsidy would s ranted by the 
Imperial Government—(1) to establish direct steam communica- 
tion (weekly or fortnightly as required) between "Dandies and 
St. Vincent and New York, and (2) for cheap and regular steam 
communication by means of two or more small steamers between 
the several members of the Leeward and Windward groups con- 
necting with each other, and with the ing York steamers at a 
central point such as Barbados or St. Luc 
It would be desirable to ange ae dal tariffs by these 
steamers as would afford facilities for the T ae of produce 
at specially low rates of payment, and supply a ready and con- 
venient means of moving from one island to iait to all classes 
of the community.” 
The probable amount of the subsidies required wea be 5,0907. 
for the service to New York, and 1,8007. to 2,5007. each 
for the local steamers; 10, 000/, should be sufficient for both 
services, 
It may be pointed out that the islands under oman aga 
form an extended chain, the component parts of which 
divided by intervals of sea varying from 20 to 100 miles ne 
orm the rn boun z 
extreme points are distant seven days by the route taken 
at aie by the Royal Mail Company’s steamers which require 
a detention of two en and nights at Barbados 
The duties to be entrusted to the proposed Department have 
been described in the report as follows: (1) to supervise and 
extend the work of the present Botanic Stations ; ; (2) to start 
* The Royal Mail Company anae also be asked to afford special facilities for 
the par of bulletins, —, economic plants between a the 
West Indies. Such akici shoul i 
tween the Best pial for the purpose of improving the general 
welfare of these erien 
