11 



It is scarcely necessary to say anything in Jamaica about the importance 

 generally of botanic gardens for the need for them has been continuously re- 

 cognized there for more than one hundred years. The value of those ex- 

 isting in Jamaica. Trinidad and Demerara, is so evident that lately botanic 

 gardens have been started in Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, and St. Kitts 

 Nevis, among ^the Leeward Islands ; in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vin- 

 cent among the Windward Islands ! and still more recently in British 

 Hondurai. 



The same movement is also going on in other parts of the world ; for 

 instance botanic gardens have lately been established in Lagos and th© 

 Gold Coast on the west coa&t of Africa. 



Botanic gardens in the tropics do the work on the plant side of Agricul- 

 tural deportments in temperate climates. They are in themselves experi- 

 mental stations ; and are much more efficient in introducing new cultural 

 products, and in distributing plants and imparting useful information, than 

 most agricultural departments. 



The whole of the botanic gardens in the British empire are more or less 

 in communication with one another, exchanging seeds, publications, etc.^ 

 and all look up to the Eoyal gardens at Kew. as to their head for advice 

 and assistance. Imperial federation is already in existence as regards the 

 botanic gardens and their work. If any special variety of a plant or any 

 new culture comes into notice information and plants are sought sometimes 

 directly from the local gardens ; sometimes through Kew as the botanic 

 gardens' clearing house. The director of Kew gardens has at his disposal 

 the services of experts in every branch of botanical inquiry, and is always 

 most willing to aid colonial gardens in everyway. Any intricate question 

 that arises in chemistry, in diseases of plants, in insect pests, in the value 

 of products, etc,, can be determined by reference to Kew, Colonial gar- 

 dens are threfore not isolated, but are branches of an agricultural depart- 

 ment as wide as the British Empire itself. 



In 1896 the following paragraphs are found : 



Although the means and the number of men at my disposal are infinitely 

 small as compared with the resourcos at the command of the government 

 of the United States, we try to follow at a very long distance the aims and 

 the methods adopted by them. Dr. A. C. True, the director of the office 

 of experiment stations in the United States, has lately given a lucid expo- 

 sition of the objects and work of these stations, and an extract from his 

 bulletin will very clearly illustrate what we should always be striving 

 after here. 



Then follow extracts showing what the objects of the stations are 

 and details of their work. Chemical analysis and the study of live 

 stock are outside the limits of our sphere at the gardens, but attentioa 

 is paid to nearly all the other points detailed. 



Dr. True continues : 



The service which the stations have rendered in promoting the educa- 

 tion of our farmers is incalculable. Even if th« station bulletins recorded 

 only facts well known to scientists and advanced agriculturists, the influ- 

 ence of such a far reaching system of popular education in agriculture 

 must be very great. So vast a scheme of university extension has never 

 been undertaken in any other line. The stations have also taught the 

 farmer how to help himself- 



