Colonial Exhibition, 1886. 23 
this colony is, however, questionable. Mr. JENMAN'S 
favourable report on the social condition of the 
people of the Baracarra distrift, has so impressed Mr. 
BOLAS that he claims it as supporting his view. Be this 
as it may, balata is evidently a product to be prized, and, 
what is more, to be jealously guarded against exhaustion 
by indiscriminate and injudicious treatment of the trees 
which yield it. 
There has been on this subjeft, as on others, a 
certain amount of legislation. I think British Guiana 
may well rank as one of the largest law-pro- 
ducing countries of the world. In it, to the making of 
laws there is no end ; but when one takes up the Statute 
book and sees how few of a certain class of Ordinances, 
are enforced, one is inclined to ask whether less theory 
and more pra6lice is not desirable. 
It may be also a question whether, not only as regards 
the preservation and proper colleftion of our natural pro- 
du6ls, but also the introduction, cultivation and prepara- 
tion of others, it may not be wise to create a department 
of Economic Products, by means of which the Govern- 
ment may employ a portion of the revenue in fostering 
certain industries, which, in all probability, would be the 
means of increasing both private and public prosperity. 
Much of our natural wealth requires to be protected and 
developed. The colony is fit and able to receive and 
adopt other produfts of great value. To depend on the 
spasmodic and short-lived efforts of individuals appears 
fruitless, while valuable results may flow from well 
directed enterprise. 
Mr. BOLAS says that the capabilities of supply of 
" gutta" in British Guiana seem to be enormous, and 
