October t, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
393 
SESSIONAL PAPERS. 
NEW PRODUCTS COMMISSION: 
PAPERS LAID BEFORE THE COMMISSION. 
Enclosure in No. 1. 
The Earl of Kimberley to the Officer Administering the Government of Ceylon. 
Cei/lon.—^o. 142. Downing-street, 28th April, 1881. 
Sir, — AVitii reference to my despatch No. 32 of the 2nd of February last, forwarding 
a letter from Kew Gardens regarding the planting industries of Ceylon, I have the honor 
to transmit to you a copy of another letter which has been received from Sir Joseph Hooker. 
You will see that Sir J. Hooker wishes to explain what it is in the power of the authori- 
ties of Kew Gardens to do in the way of rendering help to the introduction of neAv plants 
into Ceylon, as he has been obliged to refuse very many applications for assistance. 
Sir J. Hooker further makes a suggestion, which seems worthy of your consideration, 
that the Commission, which was recommended in my despatch of the 2nd of February, 
might perhaps think it worth while to attempt the direct importation of the seed of the 
Para and Ceara rubbers. 
I have, &c, 
KIMBERLEY. 
Mr. Tiiiselton Dyer to the Colonial Office. 
Eoyal Gardens, Kew, 
14th April, 1881. 
Sir,— On January 12th last I addressed to yon, at the desire of Sir Joseph Hooker, 
a letter offering some suggestions made with the object of encouraging new planting 
industries in Ceylon. Sir Joseph Hooker was glad to learn from Mr. Herbert, in a letter 
dated February 3rd, that these suggestions met with the approval of the Secretary of State, 
and had been communicated to the Ceylon Government. 
Since this time, applications have continued to pour in from Ceylon at the rate of two 
or three a week (many coming through private channels in this country), to say nothing 
of personal interviews, for the purpose of obtaining from this establishment seeds and 
plants, in large quantity, of new staples. 
It is impossible not to feel regret at the manifest disappointment caused by the 
unavoidable refusal with which each successive case has been necessarily met. I venture 
to trouble you with the following remarks, for the purpose of defining our position in a 
matter of this kind, and with the hope that they may be transmitted to Ceylon, so as to 
obviate the misconception which seems to exist there as to what it is in our power to do. 
The most pressing demand is for seed of Para and Ceara India rubber, of which 
planters in Ceylon do not hesitate to write to ask us to send them " bushels." Now yon 
are aware that the introduction of these valuable plants into the Island is entirely due to 
the munificence of the Indian Government, which went to immense expense in procuring 
them from the New World. Vide foot-note in appendix, p. 3<;<). There being no tropical 
Udtaiuc Garden suited for their reception in India, it was at Sir Joseph Hooker's suggestion 
that Ceylon was made the depot for the young plants in the East. The Island has th 
participated the beuelit of their introduction, without iu any way sharing the en rmoufi 
expense, 
M 
