Report of Society's Meetings. 231 
no very special arrangement, but left it to form such a 
contract as might be most suitable. The amount pro- 
posed as compared with that granted in Jamaica was 
very small ; there the subsidy was £5,000 per annum 
when the industry was started. When people came to 
this colony from far off countries they wanted some 
proof of our good faith and intention to promote the 
industry. A Company was not going to send down 
vessels and distribute plants without some guarantee. 
If a plantain grower knew that he could always find a 
market for his fruit, it would stimulate him to provide a 
crop for that market. He could only hope that the steps 
being taken would prove successful, and that the indus- 
try would be fairly started ; and he would promote it by 
speech whenever he had the opportunity, and support 
the industry by practically growing bananas himself. 
The Rev. J. Foreman asked if the steamers would be 
ready when the crop was ripe, and also under what terms 
the £5,000 had been granted by Jamaica ? 
Mr. Jones in reply to the latter question, said, he did 
not know the exa6l terms of the contract, but he would 
be happy to lend Mr. Foreman a book on the subject by 
Governor Robinson. 
Mr. F. A. R. Winter, in answer to Mr. Foreman's 
first question, said he understood that a regular line of 
steamers could only be established when the bananas 
were ready, which would be in 6 to 9 months, so that 
there would be plenty of time to make the arrangements. 
Mr. D. C. Cameron called attention to what had been 
done by the Agricultural Committee, which had sent out 
circulars to the different farmers to get their views on the 
matter on the recommendation of the late Major Bunker. 
