Preface XXXVIL 
prodiicing centres—coming to the help of the 
planters by carrying out experiments, of test- 
ing new machines, supplying cultures, &c., that 
will, if successful, benefit all, and which——until 
proved to be satisfactory or not-—it is hardly 
fair to an individual planter or maker to force 
him, as at present, to risk losing his capital 
so that all may benefit at the one man’s 
expense. It certainly is not fair to any planter 
to do so, and even with engineers the risk of 
placing the right machines on the market before 
putting them to the test in the Tropics is so 
great that the introduction of labour-saving 
appliances is being seriously discouraged 
thereby—discouraged, too, when they are 
badly needed. Personally, I consider all such 
matters, once a number of reliable and prac- 
tical men speak well of any new system or 
machine, as well*as the establishment and 
financing of an institution to scientifically train 
planters, experts, plant-doctors, &c., must be 
undertaken by the Home Government, since it 
is mainly, if not entirely, for the benefit of the 
folks at home, by insuring the output of the 
raw material, food supplies, &c., that they re- 
quire not only being maintained, but increased, 
so as to keep pace with the rapidly increasing 
requirements of the tax-collector and the wage- 
earner, to say nothing of the mouths to be 
fed on all sides. We are to-day at an epoch 
of gigantic concerns and huge figures, as 
exemplified by our 1913 Budget, in a time 
