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L L L k L

ORT ON AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

IN

BEYONETITS

1 In October 1921 i was seconded from the Department of Agriculture of Ceylon, and ordered to proceed to Seychelles to investigate agricultural methods and to suggest improve - ments. I was instructed specially to investigate the causes of the depression in the output of coconuts and vanilla in the Colony, to ascertain whether the depression was the consequence of diseases or of wrong methods of cultivation, and to make suggestions regarding the most effective methods to be employed in order to increase the yields of these two crops.

2. I arrived in Seychelles on October 26th., 1921, and since that date have visited the following islands of the group:- Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette, Curieuse, Félicité St.Ann, Marianne, Ile du Ford, Ils aux Cerfs, and Ile Longue, in the Mahé group: and Alphonse, Remire, Denis and Marie Louise in the Amirantes and other groups. I take this opportunity of acknowledging gratefully the support and help, both in official and private matters, given to me throughout my visit by His Honour the Administrator, Mr.Petrides, to whose interest and support must be in large measure attribu- ted the ready welcome I received from the planting community and others, and the information which has willingly been placed at my disposal.

3. A very short survey of the agricultural industries of the Colony suffices to show that the present depression of production cannot be attributed to any one factor, such for instance as disease. I therefore find it necessary in this report to deal with the whole subject under the following heads:-

A. The Coconut Industry.

B. The Vanilla Industry.

C. General Agricultural Conditions in the

Colany.

D. The Department of Agriculture.

X. Proposals and Recommendations.

I preface later remarks by stating that the condition

of agricultural industries in this Colony appears to be ser-

2.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO