l8o TlMEHRI. 
proposed ; and asking for an expression of opinion from 
the Society in regard to the establishing of an experi- 
mental garden somewhere up the Demerara River out of 
the influence of sea breezes, as recommended in the 
the report of the Government Botanist for 1885. 
The President added that the Directors were of opinion 
that the funds of the Society available for the purpose 
were inadequate to carry out this proposal ; but if the 
meeting thought the matter deserved further considera- 
tion the reply of the Government might be referred back 
to the Agricultural Committee to report upon. 
Mr. Nind thought as the matter had already been 
before the Dire6lors and the Agricultural Committee, it 
would be useless to refer it back again to the latter, and 
that it would be more practical now to take an expres- 
sion of opinion from the general body of members. He 
considered the remarks of the Superintendent were a 
reflection on the Government after the expenditure of 
such a large sum on the Botanic Gardens. At the same 
time he believed that useful information might be ob- 
tained by the cultivation of the hardier economic plants 
at the Gardens, such as were capable of withstanding 
the adverse circumstances alluded to, and advocated the 
establishment of an acclimatisation Society for the 
objects aimed at. 
In reply to a suggestion made by Mr. Winter, the 
President explained that a shelter belt had already been 
planted up to windward of the Botanic Gardens. 
Mr. Hawtayne mentioned that, sometime ago, a pro- 
posal of the Direftors of the Gardens for the encourage- 
ment of the growth of a better class of fruit and vege- 
