Report of Society's Meetings, 219 
several experiments made with it, and they certainly gave 
very good results. Pra6tical men knew very well that 
results may be obtained from model machines, which 
cannot be procured in practice on a large scale. What 
was wanted was, to change the small experiment to a 
practical one. It was rather curious that at this time, 
when diffusion is being so much discussed, such a 
strong interest is felt in the Cane Mill. Diffusion had 
been tried in Java, but at present it does not pay as well 
as the ordinary crushing. A vote of thanks had been 
passed to Mr. Skekel at the last meeting, and whether 
the members present agreed with that gentleman or not, 
they must all feel that he had been the means of intro- 
ducing a very healthy discussion. 
Mr. Davis said that the discussion had been very 
interesting, and he only wished the professional members 
would read more papers to the Society. 
Mr. Jones said that he had brought before the Society 
on several occasions, the desirability of their fostering 
the Export Fruit Trade. They had now something 
practical before them, in the shape of a petition to the 
Combined Court, for a subsidy to a line of steamers to 
run here once a week from New Orleans. The Com- 
pany would be prepared to supply a large number of 
banana suckers, gratis, to such persons as were willing to 
grow them. He knew several planters who were pre- 
pared to commence planting as soon as they were assured 
that the matter was settled. Such a trade would be of 
enormous benefit to the colony, and he thought the 
Society should do everything in their power to support 
Captain White in his petition for a subsidy to enable the 
Company to do what they proposed. 
EE 2 
