25 
l rider the heading of agriculture, Professor Harrison points out that the extension of practical 
knowledge with regard to the sugar cane, its selection and cultivation, and especially the mechanical 
drainage and tillage of sugar cane lands, is now being well provided for by a scheme of research 
supported jointly by the Government and the planters. He thinks that when this scheme is in active 
operation the Colony will have an organisation for practical sugar research which will be unexcelled 
by any other of the smaller colonies. 
Professor Harrison considers that enquiries into the improvement of the yields of rice by the 
production of new strains and by modifications of cultural methods call for extension, and that the 
methods of cultivation of coffee and especially of cleaning and curing the berries require improvement. 
Central co-operative curing houses for coffee are urgently required in some districts. 
In Professor Harrison’s view this Colony is so extensive in its lines of possible development and 
so different from the British West Indian Islands that it must depend mainly on its own scientific 
staff for the continuance and extension of agricultural research. 
With reference to forestry, Professor Harrison remarks to the effect that the Forestry Officer has 
been so fully occupied with matters of routine administration that he lias had little time for special 
scientific or economic work. The question of the utilisation of lighter timbers has been almost 
entirely neglected. 
As regards fisheries, Professor Harrison thinks that the question of the extension of the local 
fishing industry is worthy of attention. A good deal of scientific knowledge has been obtained relating 
to the fishes of the Colony, but no energetic attempts have been made for their utilisation. 
I nder the heading of mineral resources, Professor Harrison remarks that the Colony is known 
to possess gold, diamonds, bauxite, kaolin, and iron and manganese ores. He regards its geological 
structure as unfavourable for the occurrence of copper ore, phosphate rock, potash, or mineral oil. 
5 ofe. Very important deposits of bauxite have been found. They are now being worked by one 
company, and it is probable that another will shortly enter the field. The deposits were discovered 
by Professor Harrison himself, and this valuable discovery affords a good example of commercial 
results achieved through the scientific work of officers of high training and ability. 
1 he quantity of bauxite in sight is so large in proportion to the world's demand that there appears 
to be no occasion to search for further deposits. 
1 rivato enteiprise has lately been engaged in prospecting for mineral oil No oil has been found, 
and from the report of the geologists employed it appears unlikely that any exists. 
The Governor is inclined to think that there is a good prospect of pavable mica being found in 
the Colony. 
Labour is insufficient for existing industries, and the scope for new industries is limited to such as 
promise exceptionally good returns. The Colony is as large as Great Britain, but its population is 
only 300,000. The population is nearly all located in the coastal strip, and the interior is prueticallv 
undeveloped. 
BRITISH HONDURAS. 
Note. — British Honduras did not reply to the despatch, but sent independent despatches upon 
several research matters. The questions of forestry and mineral investigations are dealt with in the 
body of the report. It may be added that the Colonial Government "engaged at its own expense Mr. 
V. R, Dunlop, of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, Barbados, to make a full enquiry into the 
agricultural position of the Colony and to report upon the agricultural policy which he would recom¬ 
mend for adoption. Mr. Dunlop’s reports will shortly be published by the Imperial Department. 
It seems probable that, as a result of Mr. Dunlop’s visit, a permanent agricultural department will 
be established in the Colony. 
JAMAICA. 
The Governor gave the following particulars of matters which he regarded as requiring immediate 
attention from tbe research point of view. 
(<i) the banana industry is threatened by Panama disease of bananas, the causative agent of 
which has been shown to be a species of Fumrium which infects the soil and invades healthy banana 
plants 
The local Department of Agriculture devised in 1912 a system of quarantine which subsequent 
experience has shown to be an effective means of controlling an outbreak of this disease. Under this 
method, which is enforced by law, all healthy plants within a radius of a chain from any infected plant 
an* cut down and treated with caustic lime, the diseased plants are burnt with fire,* and the whole 
area is fenced round and placed in quarantine. 
Research work is needed in order to solve the following problems:— 
(1) Is the Fusarhun commonly found in most of the banana soils of the Island identical with 
the causative agent of Panama disease ? 
(2) Are there conditions of soil in which a non-vindent form of Fusarium in the soil may become 
active and capable of infecting healthy banana plants ? 
(3) What period of time must elapse before infected land can again grow healthy bananas ? 
(b) Jamaica has started a promising industry in the production of dried bananas, the latter being 
known as *' evaporated bananas,” or as ” banana figs.” 
Immediate research work is needed with respect to the several causes which bring about decay, 
deterioration and discoloration of these products. 
Local observations have made some progress in this direction: it has been verified that various 
flies and moths, if given access to the dried bananas before they are picked, serve to infect the material 
and to engender larval maggots therein. Inadequate packing when exposed to infection by weevils 
on coastal boats or at wharves, where these insects are prevalent, also results in damage.’ Moulds 
also have proved troublesome in some cases. 
61 -Wfe 
