399 
taken many years ago to found a bureau of information, with fully 
equipped laboratories to investigate the value of our property, but so 
it has been, and it is the work of the Imperial Institute to carry out 
these most valuable researches and to make the results known to all 
the world. Starting with very limited funds Professor DUNSTAN has 
developed in a few years a laboratory in which the most impor- 
tant researches have been carried out. A glance through the report 
shews everywhere the results already attained. Neglected minerals 
such as the Thorianite of Ceylon, overlooked vegetable produce 
such as fibres, oil-seeds, tan-stuffs, etc. have come into the notice 
of manufacturers and trades in them have opened. Planters have 
now an opportunity of having their produce valued, compared with 
other material, defects or merits pointed out, the causes of defects 
investigated, remedies suggested, and their commodities brought to 
the attention of the merchants in a way which was not possible 
before. That this has been appreciated is attested by the great 
increase in the work of the Institute in the past year. Nearly three 
times as many reports and letters were despatched as in the pre- 
vious years, and this includes 222 detailed reports on special 
investigations of various products. The following list will give an 
idea of what has been done in the past year and is still being 
done: — 
Samples examined and 
Samples 
reported on. 
being investigated. 
Minerals ... 
549 
... 353 
Foods and Fodders 
... 45 
... 60 
Volatile oils 
... 4 
1 
Tan stuffs 
... 9 
... 16 
Dyes 
4 

Gums 
1 
3 
Resins 
... 8 
3 
Tobaccos ... 
1 
15 
Fibres 
... 1 66 
... 96 
Rubbers . . . 
... 35 
.. 30 
Drugs 
... 30 
... 46 
Insect pests 
... 16 
... ... 
Timbers ... 
7 
... 21 
Oils and Oil seed 
... 23 
... 15 
Animal products 
... 23 
921 
629 
From the Malay Peninsula have been sent minerals, fibres, 
rubbers and essential oils and perfumes. Of the latter the Director 
reports they are of excellent quality and it is probable that this may 
prove to be an important industry. 
Besides the work of investigation, the collections of Economic 
products have been improved and increased, the library re-arranged 
and kept up as well as funds would permit and has been constantly 
used not only by the staff for reference but also by numerous officers 
from the Colonies at home on leave who were pursuing further 
investigations on various products of their Colony. 
7M- 
