270 
TlMEHRI. 
cellently good, while exhibits of Coloured were only of 
average character, and some had an undesirable flavour. 
The Food-products in Section 2 were largely con- 
tributed by all classes. A want of sufficient care in the 
preparation and mode of exhibiting some of the sam- 
ples was apparent, but the large and varied collections 
from all parts of the colony showed that British Guiana 
is to a very great extent, if not entirely, independent of 
external sources of vegetable food, and that her lands 
are capable of raising Maize, Rice, Plantains, Pease, 
Roots, &c, sufficient to supply all her population, indeed, 
with respect; to one of these, namely Rice, for the pro- 
duction of which her level and easily irrigated lands are 
peculiarly fitted, she might, as was aptly said by His 
Excellency, on opening the Exhibition, become the 
granary of the West Indies. 
The Coffee and Cocoa exhibits were good and superior 
to what were shown on former occasions. The specimens 
from this colony were considered inferior to those of 
Surinam and Dominica ; but the successful culture in 
British Guiana of Liberian Coffee, of which a very 
handsome plant and excellent samples of the berry in 
various stages were exhibited by Messrs. Percival and 
FRANCIS, is most encouraging. 
There were only one or two exhibits of Spices of any 
importance. It is to be regretted that more attention is 
not paid to these valuable products in this colony. 
The Fibres exhibited were many and various. Of Cot- 
ton, one of the old staples of the colony, there are but 
two or three specimens, and these contributed by 
labourers who have cultivated a few plants in their 
gardens. 
