I 
Gn 
is hoped that as a result further co-operation will be 
secured for a project which is of vital importance. 
A BritisH INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE. 
In dealing with the question of proper provision for 
technical education in tropical agriculture, as well as in 
considering other matters of importance to the subject, 
advance is retarded by the absence of any unofficial society 
or institution in this country which can claim authority 
to speak in the interests of British tropical agriculture, 
and represent the opinions and promote the interests of 
those who are engaged in what ought to be regarded 
as an honourable profession. The matter is outside the 
sphere of any Government institution, and the Inter- 
national Association for Tropical Agriculture, by reason 
of its constitution, obviously cannot assume these 
duties; in fact, British relations with the Association 
are hindered by the absence of any British society of 
the kind. Surely the time has come for the formation 
of a society comprising all interests in a subject which 
is so profoundly connected with the welfare of the 
Empire. 
I desire to submit to the British Section of the Associa- 
tion for its consideration, and for such action as it may 
consider expedient to take, the question as to whether 
it is not desirable to proceed to form a British Institute 
of Tropical Agriculture, whose functions would include 
the holding of meetings for the reading of papers, the 
discussion of all matters concerning tropical agriculture, 
and the consideration of education and qualification for 
the profession, and, in fact, doing whatever it may con- 
sider desirable to promote the interests of the subject of 
tropical agriculture, and of those who are engaged in 
it. Iv own experience in the period of twenty years 
during which I have been closely in touch with the 
subject, and with those who are working for it in all 
parts of the world, has led me to the conclusion that 
action in this direction is much needed, and that the 
establishment in this country of such an institute on 
the lines of those of other professional bodies, such as 
the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical 
Engineers and the Institute of Chemistry, and many 
