128 TiMEHRI. 
The President stated that he was in hopes of getting a 
Government grant for an Agricultural Show this year. 
The following Government comi^unication in refer- 
ence to the Imperial Department of Agriculture, was 
read :~^ 
Government Secretary's Office, Dec. 20th, i8g8. 
Sir, — 1 have the honour, by dire6lion of the Governor, 
to state, for the information of the Royal Agricultural 
and Commercial Society, that an Agricultural Conference, 
comprised of the chief Chemical and Botanical Officers 
in the West Indies, will be held at Barbados, on Saturday 
7th and Monday the 9th of January next. 
2. Dr. Morris states that, " proceedings at the Con- 
ference will consist of the reading of brief and well- 
digested papers, followed by discussion on subje6ls of 
immediate interest. It is proposed to secure common 
a6\ion in ripening questions of great importance to the 
West Indies at the present time. For instance, it is 
desirable to arrange for a rapid and economic inter- 
change of seeds and plants between the various Botanic 
centres, to discuss the cultural and chemical experiments 
to be undertaken during the next few years, to improve 
the saccharine contents of the sugar cane, and to sketch 
the lines on which it may be possible to establish the 
scientific teaching of Agriculture in Colleges and Schools. 
Other subje6ls that might be discussed are, the means to 
be adopted for securing a more skilful treatment of the 
soil, and the use of manures, a sele6lion of the most 
suitable economic plants for cultivation in the various 
parts of the West Indies, the establishment of School 
Gardens, securing the effective means for training boys 
in Agricultural pursuits, and the desirability of concerted 
a6lion to prevent the too rapid spread of fungoid and 
inse6l pests." 
3. I enclose for the further information of the Royal 
Agricultural and Commercial Society a copy of a des- 
patch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 
the 6th September 1898, dealing with the question of the 
Conference. 
HENRY A. BOVELL. 
