tiom of the Department. These publications are the “ Agricultural News,” which is a fortnightly 
popular review with a wide circulation in the tropics, the “ West Indian Bulletin,” which is a quarterly 
scientific journal dealing specially with research, pamphlets dealing with special subjects, and progress 
reports on sugar cane experiments, the work of the botanic stations, and agricultural education. 
The geologist to whom reference has been made is temporarily attached to the Department. 
The greater part of the work of the Department is connected with the Windward and Leeward 
Islands, but the other West Indian Colonies frequently avail themselves of its assistance. The services 
of the Commissioner have lately been utilised in the Bahamas for general advice, and in Jamaica for 
advice in regard to a proposed new central sugar factory, and officers of the Department lately 
visited Trinidad in connection with entomological problems, and British Honduras for the purpose of 
reporting fully upon the local agricultural situation. 
OTHER COLONIES. 
BERMUDA. 
The Governor reported as follows: — 
“ These islands contain no natural source of mechanical power other than wind and tide, and 
their area is so limited that development in agriculture and forestry must necessarily he of a minor 
character. It is highly improbable that any raw material of great economic value can he produced 
here in any appreciable quantity. There are no minerals. Development of marine products and 
fisheries offers certain possibilities. In this direction commercial organization is perhaps required 
rather than scientific research. In these circumstances, the Bermuda Government does not propose 
to make any claim for the assistance of the Colonial Research Committee at present, but should 
further possibilities of development he brought to light the matter may he re-npened at a later date. ” 
FALKLAND ISLANDS. 
The Acting Governor, Colonel St. Johnston, drew attention to the large quantities of peat and 
kelp found in the Colony, and to the possibility that minerals or mineral oils might he found in 
payable deposits. He remarked that in 1916 it was considered that the manufacture of potash from 
kelp would not be profitable, but he thought that, having regard to the change in values and to the 
many by-products of the industry, such as iodine, bromine, sodium carbonate and phosphate of 
lime, the matter was worth re-consideration at the present time. He pointed out that the mineral 
possibilities of the Colony had never yet been thoroughly investigated, but that it seemed probable 
that oil might be found in the sandstone and slate formation, overlaid by peat, which existed in the 
Colony. He added that in both the Colony and the Dependencies there were sufficient traces of 
copper and other minerals to warrant further research. 
Colonel St. Johnston also referred to a separate despatch which he had written with regard to 
afforestation in the Colony. This subject is dealt with in the appended note. 
Note .—Enquiries were made in regard to the utilisation of kelp as suggested by the Acting 
Governor, but the Committee were advised that, under present conditions, it would certainly not 
be remunerative to undertake the extraction of potash or other products from this material. 
Enquiries have also been made respecting the possibility of finding a company which would be 
prepared to work the peat deposits, but so far without success. 
As regards afforestation, the Colony is at present almost treeless, and a large number of some¬ 
what desultory attempts to grow trees have been rewarded only by the growth of a few small shrubby 
specimens, hardly any of which reach twenty feet in height. Colonel St. Johnston took a great 
interest in the problem of afforestation, and discussed the matter with the Director of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, before embarking for the Colony. Colonel St. Johnston later forwarded a report 
indicating that it was reasonably probable, although far from certain, that modern methods of 
afforestation would be successful. In consequence of this report, and after further consultation 
with the Director, an experienced young Scotch forester was selected and proceeded to the Colony 
in November, 1920, in order to make a determined and systematic attempt to establish woodlands. 
He took out with him a supply of young trees. 
There has never been any official geological examination of the Falkland Islands. Although 
the Colony has been visited by several geologists, their published reports are based on investigations 
of very limited scope, and it is possible that valuable minerals remain undiscovered in the Colony. 
For example. Karroo beds exist which are similar to formations in South Africa, Brazil and India, 
which have yielded coal and other hydro-carbons. In these circumstances, it has been thought worth 
while to arrange for a more complete enquiry, and a-geologist, Mr. H. A. Baker, D.Sc., has been 
engaged for a term of three years, and left for the Colony at the same time as the forester. 
The principal industry of the Colony is sheep-farming. There are about 760.000 sheep spread 
over an area of about 7,000 square miles; that is to say, it is found that upon an average six acres 
are required to carry one sheep. It seems likely that in the future some of the lands which are now 
useless could he drained and planted with grass, and that the grasses of the existing pasture land 
could be improved. Some sections have already heen improved sufficiently to enable one sheep to 
be supported on each \\ acres. This matter is for the present being left to private enterprise. 
There is in South Georgia and in the South Shetlands, dependencies of the Falkland Islands, 
the finest whaling area in the world, and its production has of late years exceeded that of all the 
other whaling areas in the world combined. A Committee was appointed in 1918 to consider the 
question of the preservation of the whaling industry by the better regulation of the fishing, and the 
possibility of the development of other industries in the Dependencies. Besides the islands alreadv 
mentioned, these Dependencies include Graham Land, the South Orkney and the South Sandwich 
Islands. The report of the Committee was presented to Parliament in April, 1920 [Cmd. 077], 
The Committee recommended the employment of two vessels in research in the Dependencies during 
