507 
ment or State in which it is decided to hold the Show will of course 
undertake the organisation of local Committees and sub-Committees 
for the raising of subscriptions providing necessary buildings and 
all other arrangements in the same way as has hitherto been done. 
The standing Committee should, I think, decide on the order and 
the date on which the shows should be held and supervise the pre- 
paration and issue of prize lists. 
For the first time the determination of the place in which the 
Show is to be held could probably be done by correspondence, but 
at the first meeting, and at all subsequent meetings, arrangements 
should be made for the ensuing year. 
Some alteration as regards the period during which past Shows 
have been kept open is absolutely necessary. Two days is inade- 
quate and as the expenses are very little more for four days than 
two, I suggest four. This will allow of the judging being done in a 
more satisfactory manner and afford opportunities for all classes of 
the community to examine at greater leisure the articles that are 
brought together. It would also afford time for the reading of pa- 
pers, ^and discussions on subjects affecting agriculture somewhat 
on the lines of the Agricultural Conferences in the West Indies, and 
I think no better time could be chosen for this purpose. 
Exhibits might be classed under the following heads which would 
practically cover the ground : — 
I . — Agriculture — Life Stock— Produce &c. 
II : — Horticulture — Fruits— Vegetables— Flowers. 
III : — Manufactures— Native and others. 
IV : — Works of Art — Pottery— Pictures &c. 
With a substantial Government Grant, supplemented by local 
subscriptions and gate-money, there should be no difficulty in raising 
funds and in getting together a good collection, of educational value. 
The cost of transport would in the majority of cases be paid by the 
Committee, but this is not a serious item as the Steam-Ship Com- 
panies and Railways will no doubt undertake the carriage of ex- 
hibits at nominal rates. Trade exhibits such as machinery &c., 
would of course be paid for by the exhibitor. Important points are 
that the date ®f these shows should be fixed at least a year in ad- 
vance, and prize lists issued at least nine months before the date 
of the’ Show. It should also be well advertised and kept before the 
public by means of the Bulletin and local papers. 
This is roughly an outline of the ideas I had in my mind when 
writing the letter to which you refer. 
C. CURTIS. 
RAMIE, RHEA, CHINA 0RASS. 
A short letter appeared over my signature in Bulletin No. ro on 
this subject. Mv experience in the production of Ramie “ribbons*’ 
is well known to the members of the U. P. A. since with the aid of 
H. E. the Governor, we exposed the wiles of a broker who was 
