THE  TROPICAL  AGRICUl/l'URIST. 
31 
July  i,  1896.] 
THE  CLOWN  COLONIES  OE  THE  EMPIRE. 
A CHAT  WITH  DR.  D.  MORRIS,  C.M.G. 
BY  OUR  SPLCIAL  COJIMISSIONKU. 
Hiiving  iiiterviewei.I  most  of  the  official  represen- 
tatives of  the  self-governing  Colonies,  I have  been 
on  the  look-out  for  some  ono  who  could  give  mo 
authoritative  information  with  regard  to  tlie  Crown 
Colonies  of  the  Empire.  I met  my  man  at  the 
anniversary  banquet  of  the  Loyal  Colonial  Institute 
on  Eriday  evening.  After  an  introduction  to  the 
Marquis  of  Lome,  who  presided  over  the  brilliant 
gathering,  and  a brief  chat  with  Sir  Frederick 
Young,  another  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  whoso  name 
will  ever  be  associated  with  this  reniukibly  suc- 
cessful institution,  I found  myself  rubbing  shoulnors 
with  Uc.  Morris,  tho  Sui)-Direetor  of  Kew  Gardens, 
Congratulating  him  upon  his  heaitliy  appearance  on 
his  return  from  the  ii-aliamas,  I remarked,  “ You 
are  just  tho  man  I have  been  looking  for.  I know 
of  no  one  who  has  a more  intimate  acquaintanc-c 
with  the  Crown  Colonies  of  the  Empire  tluitr  yourself, 
and  I sliouM  like  to  have  a chat  with  yon  for  publica- 
tion in  “riie  Citizen.”  Tho  doctor  smiled  at  tho 
compliment,  said  ho  would  bo  delighted  to  do  any- 
thing ill  his  power  to  liriug  tlio  Crown  Colonics,  m 
whoso  material  welfare  ho  had  ever  taken  the  deepest 
interest,  to  tho  front,  and  fixed  Monday  evening,  at 
the  Savile  Club  in  Piccadilly,  •^or  the  interview. 
The  Savile — delightlully  situated,  overlooking  the 
Green  Park — is  a sociid  club  patronised  by  leading 
men  in  the  literary  and  sciciititic  world.  Wo  chatted 
over  the  soup,  the  lisii,  the  entrees,  and  the  joint, 
and  continued  the  conversation  in  the  smoking  room, 
for  Dr.  Morris  is  a veritable  enoyclopiedia,  upon  all 
that  concerns  the  Crown  Colonies,  and  he  gave  mo 
snfficienc  inlormatiou  about  their  industries,  their 
progress  and  development  to  till  a sraail  volume. 
But  I faucy  I hear  some  of  your  City 
readers  say,  “And  who  is  Dr.  Morris?”  And  as  one 
of  the  main  objects  of  these  interviews  is  to  in,- 
liuence  the  introduction  of  capital  into  tho  Queen’s 
possessions  beyond  the  seas  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Empire  at  large,  it  will  bo  of  interest  and  import- 
ance to  brieiiy  sketch  tho  career  oi  this  gonial  Govern- 
ment otuoial,  who  has  done  so  much  to  promote  the 
prosperity  and  foster  the  best  interests  of  our  tro- 
pical colonies. 
A native  of  the  Principality,  Dr.  Morris  graduated 
in  lionoiu's  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  where  ha  took 
his  B. A.  in  ld7ii,  and  subsequently  M. A.  and  D.Sc.  A 
pupil  of*  the  late  Professor  Huxley,  he  m-ado  botany 
his  special  study,  and  was  successful  in  obtaining 
early  in  life  tiro  Assistant  Directorship  of  the 
Botanic  Gardens  in  Geylon.  During  his  two  years’ 
residence  at  Colombo  he  made  investigations 
into  the  coffee  leaf  disease,  and  in  1870,  when  it 
was  decided  to  establish  a botanical  department 
in  Jamaica,  he  w'as  offered  and  accepted,  tho 
post  of  director,  During  ins  seven  .years’ 
residence  in  that  island  iio  did  much  to- 
wards making  known  the  resources  and  capabilities 
of  tho  West  Indies.  At  that  time  sugar  vvas  tho 
great  staple  of  Jamaica,  the  crop  amounting  to  o.),000, 
and  even  33,000,  hogsheads  a year  of  tho  value  of 
something  like  T-100,000;  but  ho  foresaw  the  effect 
of  the  Continental  bounties  on  the  same  industry, 
and  warned  the  planters  not  to  continue  “ to  put 
all  their  eggs  in  one  basket.,’  He  recommended  the 
cultivation  of  fruit  and  other  “ minor  industries,”  as 
they  were  theu  called,  with  tho  p'esult  that  of  late 
years  fruit  has  really  been  the  salvation  of  tho 
colony  in  which  he  spent  some  of  the  happiest  years  of 
his  life.  In  the  famous  year  of  the  “ Colindories  ” 
Dr.  Mortis  was  appoiiucd  AssisLaut-Direclor  of 
the  Loyal  Gardens,  Hew.  Since  lie  has  occupied  his 
present  position  lie  has  ever  taken  tho  warmest  in- 
terest in  the  fortunes  of  our  tropical  colonies,  aud 
in  1891,  at  the  request  of  the  several  local  Govern- 
ments, he  revisited  tho  West  Indies  with  tlic  object 
of  reporting  upon  tho  botanic  federation  wiiicli  he 
was  successful  iu  bringing  into  existonco.  Tiast  De- 
cember he  paid  a visit  to  Uie  Bahamas  to  report  upon 
the  sisal  industry.  For  scieutilic  services  rendered 
to  Her  Majesty's  possessions  Dr.  Morris  in  1803  re- 
ceived the  distinction  of  C.M.G.  In  addition  to  being 
a fellow  of  tho  Loyal  Colonial  Institute,  he  is  a Fel- 
low of  the  Liiinean  Society,  aud  a Fellow  aud  late 
Treasurer  of  tho  Loyal  Horticultural  Society.  He 
is  married  to  a daiigliter  of  the  late  Captain  Aitken, 
J.  P.,  President  of  tho  Manchester  Geological  Society, 
and  lives  in  Cumberland  Load,  Kew. 
Said  Mr.  Morris : “ I quite  agree  with  yon  that 
the  resources  and  capabilities  of  the  Crown  Colo- 
nies ought  to  bo  more  widely  known  and  appreciated 
than  they  arc.  These  Colonies  constitute  a most  im- 
portant part  of  the  British  Empire,  Look  at  their 
vast  area.” 
“ V/hat  is  it  ? ” 
“ Oh,  only  about  four  million  square  miles,  equal 
to  the  total  area  of  tho  continent  of  Europe — half- 
a-million  square  miles  more  than  the  whole  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  more  than  the  whole 
of  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Tasmania,  Fiji,  and  New 
Guinea  put  together.  They  are  scattered  all  over 
tho  world’s  surface.  Of  course,  they  are  chiefly  tropi- 
cal, and  that  accounts  for  the  large  native  element. 
The  total  population  is  about  ten  millions.” 
“ xVnd  wliicii  is  the  largest  of  tiie  Crown  Colonies  ?” 
.“British  Guiana,  which  is  half  the  size  of  France. 
Tho  smallest  is  Hong  Kong — onc-lifth  of  the  Isle  of 
Wight.  Size  alone,  however,  docs  not  give  tho 
relative  value  of  those  colonies,  for  tho  trade  of 
Hong  Kong  is  of  the  annual  value  of  about  £3,000,000, 
while  that  of  British  Guiana  is  only  about  £4,000,000. 
By  the  way,  the  present  Governor  of  Hong  Kong, 
Sir  William  Kobinson,  was  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising governors  the  West  Indies  ever  had.  He  was 
at  Barbados,  the  Windward  Islands,  aud  Trinidad, 
and  was  deservedly  popular.” 
“ And  what  about  tho  trade  of  these  Crown 
Colonies  ?” 
“ Well,  according  to  Sir  Montagu  Ommanney, 
who  as  you  know  is  chief  of  the  Crown  Agents  here, 
the  trade  is  gradrrally  but  steadily  improving.  The 
total  trade  in  1894  was  over  £112,000,000,  as  compared 
with  £104,000,000  in  1884,  showing  an  increase  of  ever 
£8,000,000  in  ten  years.  The  trade  of  the  self-govern- 
ing colonies  in  1891  w'as  £190,000,000,  so  that  it  is 
evident  that  tho  trade  of  the  Crown  Colonies  is  not 
unimportant.” 
“ An  increase  of  £8,000,000  in  ten  years  is  very 
good,  I should  say.’’ 
“ Ties ; but  at  the  same  time  the  great  competition 
in  regard  to  the  staple  industries  renders  the  fimhcr 
development  of  the  Grown  Colonies  a matter  of  tho 
most  serious  concern.  Take  sugar,  for  instance.  See 
how  the  cauc-growing  industry  is  handicapped  by 
beet.  The  Crown  Colonies  produce  over  7,000,000  tons 
of  sugar  a year,  of  which  only  2,000,000  tons 
come  into  the  United  Kingdom.” 
“ Why  ?” 
“ Because  of  the  iucrePxsed  production  of  beet  sugar. 
Owing  to  the  over-production  of  wheat  in  America 
and  Australia  it  does  not  pay  to  grow  wheat  either 
in  this  country  or  on  the  Continent  of  Europe.  Both 
Germany  and  Franco  have  gone  more  extensively  iu 
for  the  cultivation  of  beet  because  it  gives  a better 
return  than  wheat,  and  tlio  consequence  is  that  tho 
market  is  over-stocked  with  sugar.  About  1,800,000 
tons  were  produced  last  year  in  Germany.  Of  this 
only  600,000  tons  were  required  for  home  consump- 
tion, leaving  1,200,000  tons  for  export.  The  result 
is  tliat  there  is  little  room  for  om-  cane  sugar  in  the 
English  market ; in  point  of  fact,  the  failure  of  wheat 
in  Europe  is  causing  indirectly  the  failure  of  sugar 
in  the  Crown  Colonics.  Then  again,  in  addition  to 
sugar,  France  aud  Germany  are  extending  their 
colonial  industries.  Look  at  Madagascar.  The  French 
.will  develop  that  country  and  its  various  products 
will,  of  course,  come  into  competition  with  those  of 
our  own  colonies.  Coco.a  is  already  apparently  going 
like  sug-vr.  Tlie  consumiition,  it  is  true,  is  increasing, 
but  so  also  is  tho  production,  and  at  a far  greater 
ratio.  Tlie  stocks  iu  hand  arc  enormous,  with  the 
I'OBult  tliat  prices  continue  to  lie  depressed.  At  tho 
end  of  1893  tlio  amount  in  bond  was  roughly 
12,000,090  lb.,  in  1894  21,000,000  lb.,  while  at  the  end 
of  last  year  it  was  no  less  than  23,000,000  Ibj 
