42 The Journal of the Royal 
The Hon Secretary reported that they had lately lost 
three prominent members by death. The first was Mr. 
F. A. R. Winter, who was the last of the original members 
who founded the Society in 1844. He had held the office 
of President in 1863, Vice-President in 1856, and was a 
Dire6lor for 43 years from 1849 to 1892. The second 
was Mr. E. C. Luard, who had been a member since 1885, 
held office of President in 1895 and afted during the 
absence of the President for a great part of the following 
year. The last was Sir John Bennet Lawes, the famous 
agriculturalist, who had been an honorary member since 
1893. ^'s name was well-known to most planters from 
his experiments at Rothamstead and his interest in cane 
manuring. 
The President said he was sure they would all agree to 
suspend the rules so far as to allow it to be recorded on 
the minutes that the Society mourned the loss of these 
valued members. 
This was seconded by Hon, B. H. Jones and carried, 
and the Secretary was requested to communicate the 
expression of the Society's regret to the surviving rela- 
tives. 
The President invited discussion on the Government 
communication covering Messrs. Frame, Alston & Go's, 
proposition for a Banana trade with the United States, 
which had been left over from the previous meeting. 
It v/as agreed to thank His Excellency the Governor, 
and to reply that, while they cannot, under present 
circumstances, recommend a Government guarantee, 
they will be glad to welcome capital to establisli a 
Banana trade. 
The President said he thought the Society might do 
