— 230 — 
of which is very rapid. It could become an article of com- 
merce in the hands of small proprietors. 
The following Resident Members were admitted during the 
year : — 
PORT LOUIS : 
1. Mr. Charles Rustichelli, 
2. — Constant Vankeirsbilk, 
3. — E. C. Bewsher, 
3. — Henry Magny, 
4. Dr. Edwards, General Sanitary Inspector. 
Honorary Member : — Mr. P. Van Shendel, at Brussels. 
Several books, periodical papers, &c., have been received 
from the correspondents of the Society or from foreign So- 
cieties. The Cotton Association of Manchester has forwarded, 
through our Agent in London, live different varieties of Cot- 
ton seeds, which have been distributed amongst those of our 
members who have expressed a wish to cultivate them, name- 
ly : Mr. James Currie and Mr. Ch. Pitot. 
The Society has been informed of the death of Mr. Diard, 
one of its honorary members. He has long been known to 
the inhabitants of the Mascarenhas Islands. They will remem - 
qer his essential assistance in facilitating the introduction of 
certain species of sugar cane, the richness of which has in 
some measure compensated for the loss of the white cane. 
One of these canes bears the name of Mr. Diard. The life of 
that eminent man has been devoted to the progress of Natural 
Sciences. At first in conjunction with Mr. Duvaucel, they 
had both been sent out as collectors by the Museum of Paris. 
Mr. Diard subsequently entered the service of the King of 
Holland and the Netherlands, and was employed in Java as 
Superintendant of Agriculture. It was in that capacity that 
he was enabled to forward to Mauritius a -whole cargo of 
the Batavian canes, to replace the kind that had been destroy- 
ed by the malady in 1848 and 1849. They arrived here in 
1850, in the Reliance, a ship that had been freighted by a 
certain number of Planters for the purpose. 
Such are, Your Excellency and Gentlemen, the results 
of our labours during the past year. We may have omitted 
to mention the name of a few members whose contribu- 
tions were of minor importance, and beg that they will accept 
our apology. 
There now remains the grateful task of thanking Your 
Excellency, not only for honoring this meeting with your 
presence, but above all, for unceasing marks of interest and 
the kindness which the Society has met with at your hands.” 
