BARBADOS-ANTIGUA HXPEDITION 227 
The island is flanked by many stretches of extensive coral 
reefs, particularly on the northern and western coasts, which 
are on the lee side and where there is an excessively broken 
coast-line and many small islands. Indeed it would be hard to 
find a better exhibit of thriving corals of many kinds than is 
shown here. The condition is almost ideal for the study of ma-- 
rine invertebrates, and a permanent laboratory for continuous 
and extensive work would be well worth while. 
The center of scientific enterprise is the Imperial Department 
of Agriculture under the direction of Mr. A. E. Collens, Gov- 
ernment Chemist, and the local department under Mr. Jack- 
son. These two seem to work in perfect harmony and with ex- 
cellent results. As a matter of fact, it is difficult for the 
stranger to differentiate between the two departments, so close 
appears their cooperation. There is an exceedingly interesting 
botanical garden just outside of the city of St. Johns, which is 
laid out with much art and well kept up. Adjoining it is the 
office and the laboratory connected with the local department, 
Where various agriculural experiments are under way. 
The jurisdiction of Mr. Collens extends to the other Leeward 
Islands colonized by Great Britain. His office and laboratory 
are above the postoffice at St. John’s, and here are carried out 
important investigations of practical value regarding the rais- 
ing of sugar-cane, its treatment, and other agricultural enter- 
prises, including soil analysis, various qualitative and quanti- 
tative tests of the cane and products derived from it. Much at- 
tention is now being paid to the onion industry and it is hoped 
that this will soon be profitably engaged in on a large scale. 
For a number of years onions have been grown for export. 
Ten years ago the annual crop was valued at £221. It seems 
that the seed is imported from Teneriffe. 
Of course sugar is the main thing here as at Barbados, but 
there is a relatively much smaller area under cultivation. The 
guide-book says that about 20,000 of the 68,900 acres of land are 
under cultivation, most of it being devoted to sugar. 
The central factory, or ‘‘Gunthorp’s’’ is located not far from 
St. John’s, and from it radiate a number of narrow gauge rail- 
ways that penetrate many of the more important estates. The 
cane is loaded on cars which are hauled to the factory by small 
