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(2) That in the case of pieces to be ratooned, 



(a) The pieces should without exception be thoroughly burnt off 

 within H days at the utmost after cutting, (b) Immediately 

 after the burning all unburnt canes, tops, bush, rubbish, or 

 other vegetable matter should be most carefully collected, 

 placed in heaps, and burnt ; and (c) After the stools have 

 sprouted and subsequent to measures (a) and (b) young canes 

 showing the slightest weakness or indication of disease be 

 without fail cut out from the base of the sprouts and burnt. 



(3) That in the case of plant canes, 



(a) That the plants be taken from fields unaffected by any dis- 

 ease, and the greatest care be observed to most scrupulously 

 examine the plants themselves and to throw out all but the 

 strongest and healthiest-looking ; (b) The plants selected for 

 planting be stripped and soaked in a strong solution of tem- 

 per lime and water, or other mixture known to be fatal to 

 the fungus or borer ; and (c) After the plants have sprouted, 

 every sprout or young cane showing the slightest weakness 

 or indication of disease be without fail pulled up and burnt. 



(4) That in the case of all supplies, whether for plants or ratoons, 



the same course be pursued as recommended in resolution (3). 

 All dead plants taken out when supplying, be burnt outside 

 the piece. 



(5) That immediately after burning the banks should be broken and 



manure or green dressing be put on them. 

 2. As regards resolution (2) (a) the maximum limit of 14 days has 

 been recommended in order to leave it to the discretion of planters to 

 burn within a day or two after the cutting of the piece, or to delay 

 the operation until after the stools have sprouted, not later than H days 

 after cutting to suit the nature of the soil and the opinion of the in- 

 dividual planter. 



3". The members of the Committee, whilst hitherto more or less fully 

 convinced of the absolute necessity of some such course, have now be- 

 come positive as to the dire necessity for carrying out immediately the 

 measures recommended, or others, as experience may hereafter prove 

 as more enicacious, with intelligence, energy, perseverance, and above 

 all, unity of purpose, as they find that precisely the same measures 

 were enforced by legislative enactment by the Grovernment of Mauri- 

 tius some 20 years ago, as the only possible means of freeing their 

 agriculture, within a few years, of an insect (the borer) which threa- 

 tened it with certain ruin, and also from the terms of the letter from 

 Mr. W. Thistleton Dyer so recently as March, this year, forwarded to 

 the Grovernment of the "Windward Islands by the Secretary of State in 

 a despatch dated 24th ultimo., on the subject of the fungus in Bar- 

 bados. 



4. The Committee, therefore, as the only means of securing universal 

 and combined action throughout the Colony, urge in the most pressing 

 manner on all proprietors of estates, and on all and any persons having 

 or growing canes, the necessity for carrying out the measures above 

 referred to, and, in the event of their not being carried out, suggest 

 that the Government be asked to legislate so as to render these measures 

 obligatory later on. 



