Atril, 1912.] 



857 



Miscellaneous. 



would also like to point out that Kew is 

 not merely an isolated institution in a 

 London suburb; it is in communication 

 with a network of similar institutions 

 all over the Empire, and it has the 

 advantage of being able to command the 

 assistance and co-operation of all of them. 

 It may interest you to know that owing 

 to advice that nothing of the kind would 

 grow in the plains of Bengal, we re- 

 frained from sending these precious 

 Hevea plants to Calcutta, but with the 

 consent of the India Office, which was 

 generous enough under the circum- 

 stances, we sent them to the Ceylon 

 Botanic Gardens. From Ceylon we were 

 able to supply the Straits Settlements, 

 and so we planted the Hevea in a climate 

 and under physical conditions which 

 were most suited to them. But, as you 

 know, at that time the East was not 

 ready for them ; it required imagination 

 to see their .future, but we had scien- 

 tific colleagues who watched over their 

 growth and helped the enterprise in the 

 best possible way. I need not enumerate 

 their names, they are perpetuated on 

 this salver, which will pass into the 

 custody of my successors at Kew. But I 

 might say a word about my friend, Mr. 

 Ridley, who has assiduously nurtured 

 the rubber industry and fostered its ex- 

 pansion in the Native State. There is 

 nothing more to add except that the 

 thing has been a great success. Kew has 

 attempted many things ; some have 

 failed and some have succeeded ; and, as 

 far as the officials at Kew are concerned, 

 they feel that it is generous of you to 

 make this presentation. I am sorry my 

 successor is not present to-night, or he 

 would have endorsed what I have said. 

 We have but done our duty. Such a 

 gift is no doubt highly irregular ; but 

 what I put to my conscience is, that it is 

 not a present to any individual— it is a 

 present to Kew and to the nation, and it 

 will be preserved at Kew as a public 

 memorial. Kew has received many gifts 

 from persons who are anxious to 

 develop its usefulness, This, perhaps, 

 will also answer that purpose, as it will 

 give an encouragement for the future. 

 (Applause.) 



The salver, which is engraved with 

 the Royal Arms, bears the following 

 inscription : — 



Presented 

 By a number of those interested in 

 the Eastern rubber industry, 

 to 



THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, 



to Commemorate the Introduction of 

 Hevea Brasiliensis, the Para rubber 

 into the Eastern Hemisphere, 

 An achievement which laid the found- 

 ation of a most important industry. 

 India Office Clements Markham. 

 Kew Hooker, Trimen. 



Ceylon Thwaites, Trimen. 



Malay Peninsula Cantley, Murton, Low, 

 Ridley, 



Collectors Wickham, Cross. 



1st July, 1911. 

 The salver has been placed on exhibition 

 in Museum No. 1, 



AGRICULTURE IN TRINIDAD, 

 1909-1910. 



(Prom the Agricultural News, Vol. X., 

 No. 238, p. 181. Barbados, June 10th, 1911.) 



(Bulletin of the Bureau of Agricultural 

 Intelligence and of Plant-Diseases, 



2nd Year— Numbers 8, 9, 10. 

 August-September -October, 1911.) 

 Gacao,— The exports of cacao continue 

 to increase in quantity 51,575,000 lb., 

 having been exported during the year 

 endiug December 31st, 1909. 



A large number of manurial experi- 

 ments were started at River Estate by 

 the Department of Agriculture. Spray- 

 ing experiments have been carried out 

 by the Board of Agriculture, and the 

 results are reported to be satisfactory. 



The Mycologist and the Entomologist 

 have also been engaged in studying the 

 diseases of cacao and recommending 

 remedies. 



Sugar. -The exports during 1909 

 amounted to 45,330 tons; 11,401 cane 

 farmers produced 154,000 tons of canes, 



