TIIE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT 
OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. 
\ 
1. The Executive Council of the Imperial Institute desire to direct attention to the 
character of the work now carried on in an important Department oi the Institute, which 
has been for several years in operation, and has, of late, undergone considerable extension. 
The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has been established to 
acquire information by special enquiries and by experimental research, technical trials and 
commercial valuation regarding new or little known natural or manufactuicd pioducts 
of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British Empire and of foreign countiles, 
and also regarding known products procurable from new sources, and local products 
of manufacture which it is desired to export. I his work is carried out with a view to 
the creation of new openings in trade, or the promotion of industrial developments. 
2. In an extensive and well-equipped series of Research Laboratories, a numerous 
staff of skilled Chemists, under the direction of Professor Wyndham R. Dunstan, 
M.A;, F.R.S., carry out the investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of 
new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and resins, fibres, 
timbers, medicinal plants and products; animal products, minerals and ores, soils, cements, 
and various other products, with a view to their commercial utilization. Whenever 
necessary these materials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom the y are 
made the subjects of particular investigation or practical tests. Reports are also obtained 
from technical or trade-experts in regard to the probable commercial or industrial value 
of any such products, while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy 
sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. 
3. Appended to this Memorandum is a paper giving illustrations of work of the 
above nature, which has been carried out for India and the Colonies in*the Scientific 
and Technical Department of the Institute. It will be seen that this work is quite 
distinct in character from the services rendered respectively by the Commercial 
Information Office of the Board of Trade,-and by the Botanical Establishment of the 
Royal Gardens, Kew. But the work of this Department of the Institute may indeed 
\ be regarded as an important adjunct to that accomplished by those Government 
Establishments, especially in furnishing the results of chemical investigation and 
technical trials which most generally determine the commercial value of natural products. 
4. All materials requiring scientific or technical examination, or commercial 
valuation, should be submitted to the Institute for examination either by, or through, 
the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the India Office, or the Board of Trade, or 
through the Colonial or Indian Government Authorities. Requests for the examination 
of such materials may also be submitted by Public Commercial Bodies and Institutions 
of the respective Colonies and Dependencies, or by the Representatives of H.M. 
• Government in foreign countries. 
F 4-<7 
