13 



-with which he received everything which Mr. Morris and myself thought 

 it would be useful to place before him. 



4. I think it only right to add that having had occasion in connection 

 with this conference to pass under review the work of the Jamaica Bo- 

 tanical Department for a long period of years, I am astonished at the 

 magnitude and variety of what has been done. I have no hesitation in 

 saying that whether in general efficiency or organization, the Botanical 

 Department of Jamaica is a long way ahead of any other in the New 

 World. 



5. I am disposed to think that this might be brought with advantage 

 into greater prominence. A great deal of the past work of the Depart- 

 ment is buried in Annual Reports, which, like other Government pub- 

 lications, are practically inaccessible after the year of issue. I feel con- 

 vinced that it would be extremely useful and would put the work of the 

 Department in a new light if Mr. Fawcett were instructed by his Go- 

 vernment to put together from the records a brief history of what has 

 been done by the Botanical Department, for the introduction and de- 

 velopment of the inumerable staples which have been added to the na- 

 tural resources of the Colony, The sketch prepared by Mr. Morris for 

 the Handbook of Jamaica, 1891, pp. 404-409 might be taken as a basis. 



6. It is also evident to me that a popular flora or account of the na- 

 tive plants of the Island with their properties, useful or otherwise, is 

 now much needed. Such a book would not only be interesting and 

 useful to the inhabitants but might be introduced, as is now so general 

 in America, into the higher grade schools. Its preparation, which 

 would be based upon the materials preserved in the Herbarium of the 

 Department, would of course take some time, but Mr. Fawcett is well 

 qualified for the task and would, I am sure, be willing to undertake it, 

 if invited to do so by his Government. 



I am, etc., 



(Signed.) W. T. Thiselton-Dyer. 



Edward Wingfield, Esq., C.B., 

 Colonial Office. 



Jamaica. 



I. Extent to which the Botanical Department can be advan- 

 tageously used for Agricultural Development. 



1. Experimental Culture. 



2. Training at Hope. 



3. Apprentices. 



II. Sugar Industry. 



1. Improved varieties of Canes. 



2. Investigation of Disease. 



3. Rum Ferments. 



III. Encouragement of Peasant Proprietary. 



1. Best means of instructing peasants in cultivation. 



2. Lectures in rural districts on curing produce. 



3. Dissemination of Bulletin and Leaflets. 



4. Technical Education in Elementary Schools. 



5. School Gardens. 



