Report of Society^s Meetings. 45 
fhe experiment being condu6led at the instance of the 
Colonial Company, with megass from this Colony. The 
chemical treatment of the megass appeared to offer 
special difficulties, and the manufa6lure did not promise 
to be a pecuniary success. 
(The President here submitted a sample of the paper 
made.) 
Last year I paid a visit to Kew Gardens, and had an 
interview with Mr, Thistleton-Dyer and Dr. Morris, For 
the benefit of those who believe I care for nothing but 
sugar, I may say my obje6l was to obtain, if possible, 
information regarding other industries. A friend of 
mine thought it might be possible to do something in 
this Colony with the castor oil plant, as it grows readily 
in our soils, and there is a good market for the seed at 
home. Dr. Morris stated that the plant grew wild in 
India, and as the only cost incurred was that of picking 
by native labour, our chance of successful competition 
was nil. I found many inquiries being made at home 
as to rubber-yielding trees, and endeavoured to get all 
reliable information possible from Kew Garden authori- 
ties and others. It appears that our soils along the fore- 
shores are not suited for rubber tree cultivation, but the 
Hevea Spruceana^ a rubber-yielding tree, is indigenous to 
the Colony, and if it could be found in abundance in any 
locality, something might be done to clear the forest, and 
encourage its growth. Mr. Jenman in an article on 
rubber-yielding trees, which appeared in Timehri^^ oVW* 
1883, makes special reference to the Hevea Spruceana, 
On the labour question hinges the maintenance of 
existing and the establishment of new industries. The 
greatest want of this Colony is a supply of reliable labour 
