153 
January 17.—-I arrived at Barbados at 6 a.m., go > accordance 
with an arrangement previously made with Mr. J.R vell, Super- 
onde of the Botanical Station at Dodd, I visited War institution, 
The’ station is attached to the boys’ reformatory school, and the Jabour 
of the boys is utilised to cultivate about 90 acres of land chiefly i in sugar- 
canes. The idea of establishing a Botanical Station here is due to Sir 
Dom Robinson when he was Governor of the Windward Islands in 
umerous varieties of canes were obtained from Jamaica and 
d viu. and in conjunction with Professor Harrison, Mr. Bovell, the 
Superintendent, undertook and carried out a v ery valuable series о 
cultural experiments to Үт: cun the best varieties of canes suitable 
for the circumstances of Barbados. After this the scope of the experi- 
ments was enlarged, and the effect of artificial and other manures on the 
growth and yield of canes was carefully followed. The results of these 
investigations were et = annual e prepared by Professor 
Harrison and Mr. Bovell. 887- 88 t here were. noticed in the cane 
sugar-canes, The first information respecting this discovery (or rather 
rediscovery, for similar growths had been noticed before at Barbados) 
was published in the Kew Bulletin for December 1888. Both botanists 
and sugar planters had hitherto sought in vain for seeds of the cultivated 
varieties of sugar-cane. The subject was closely followed in subsequent 
years, and the fact was ultimately established that under certain condi- 
tions some varieties of sugar-canes still retain the power of producing 
fertile seed. A de escription of the flower and fruit of the en ager 
t 
a эске and drawings of the seed, were published by Dr. Ben e at 
ан 
value to the se industry of the island. The facts so far o 
show sug a good - more is posi to be done to improve the yicid 
of canes; and in spite of the great importance of the su in 
hitherto been made to establish snper stations “properly equipped 
for the special purpose of doing for the sugar-can hat has bee 
successfully accomplished in European countries in gud. to the beet. 
pi Nel gres station devoted ie scientific gory е tural con- 
trolled by bae ire men, and acting as the training school for the ` 
planters of the futu 
Besides the e experimen n sugar-cane an effort has been made at the 
Dodd Botanical PEOR © ы other plants, especially species of. 
Agave, Furcrea, Sansevieria, Boehmeria for fibre purposes. The 
, 
n 
seasons of the year сеч is little or no water available for purposes 
of cultivation. It would be of considerable advantage in the meret 
of bbw sugar ay 1 as well us of others, to possess an experi- 
f the island. А petition oh the 
tal station r part o 
Barbados 3 ынша [ж and Reid School of Practical Chemistry 
U 66855. E 
