282 



The Commissioners have doubtless put the expenditure which they 

 <}onsidered necessary at the lowest possible figure ; and if we remember 

 that the area of Jamaica is nearly three times that of all these Islands 

 put together, and the population and revenue half as much more, the 

 proportionate expenditure on the Jamaica Grardens should be nearer 

 £16,000 than £5,000. The Department is run very cheaply, but the 

 saving effected in this way, cripples its work, and prevents expansion 

 in many directions. 



The expansion that is more particularly required is in the direction 

 of more agricultural instruction. Mr. Crad wick's whole time could 

 very usefully be employed in travelling throughout the length and 

 breadth of the land, showing the peasantry, and others who desire 

 help, improved agricultural methods. In order to reach children in 

 elementary schools, the students in training colleges should be enabled 

 to have 2 or 3 months of work annually at the Gardens. Agricultural 

 training of higher grade might be commenced in a tentative way. 



Experimental station work comparable in any degree with that in 

 the United States can only be undertaken at a cost which at present 

 appears to be prohibitive. Scientific experts would be required for 

 each branch, laboratories with appliances and instruments, plots of 

 ground, and farm animals for experiment with the labour necessary in 

 each case. 



Hope Gardens and Distribution of Plants. 



Hope Garden is now the head- quarters of the Department. The 

 Director's residence and ofiice, the herbarium and library, are all 

 situated there. 



The area is altogether about 212 acres, and of these about 120 acres 

 are cultivated and kept in order. A part is laid out as a botanic gar- 

 den ; a portion is devoted to growing Sugar Canes, Pine Apples, To- 

 bacco, Citrus Plants, etc., for distribution and experiment ; and part 

 serves as pasture for mules, etc. 



Hope is also now the centre of distribution of plants and seeds. 



The propagation and distribution of plants, generally a quarter of a 

 million in number, during the year, will compare favourably with the 

 work of the largest Nursery Gardens, and if the whole cost of the De- 

 partment, including salaries, were placed against these plants, the cost 

 to the Island would in that case be only about 3d. each. Mistakes are 

 occasionally made, and accidents occur, but I believe the following let- 

 ter expresses the general opinion throughout the Island : — 



" If the Public Gardens did nothing beyond supplying plants to ap- 

 plicants in different parts of the Island, it would have conferred con- 

 siderable benefit on the Island. I have heard on all sides that the va- 

 rious plants supplied by the Gardens have given great satisfaction. 

 My attention has been particularly directed to the beautiful and effec- 

 tual manner in which Urange and Grape Fruit plants are put up for 

 distribution. The excellent Cocoa plants supplied me some little since 

 time are doing exceedingly well, and all the ornamental shrubs sup- 

 plied have proved a success." 



