CO885-(19-20) — Page 355

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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With regard to the first point, the principle of extending our operations to Colonies other than those in Tropical Africa whenever such might appear feasible and desirable, has already been accepted by the Committee when dealing with a proposal to that effect brought forward by Sir Daniel Morris at our last meeting. Nor does there appear to be any real practical difficulty with reference to the second point. For there seems to be no reason why the Committee should not act as a central intermediary between field-workers and specialists in the case of fungi, just As regards both the number of species and as it does in the case of insects or ticks. the amount of material to be dealt with, the work would be small as compared with that in the entomological section.

The memorandum which has been submitted by Mr. Rogers and Mr. Maxwell- Lefroy has been framed with a definite and limited object in view, namely, to obtain precise information as to the occurrence and distribution of all the more serious crop-pests throughout the British Empire, which information will enable the various Governments concerned to check the importation of these pests into their respective countries by such legislation as they may think proper. Further, it has been con- sidered that the central body would be put to merely nominal expense in carrying out the suggested organisation, provided that the investigation is strictly confined to what are known as major pests.

It is fully recognised that the proposers of the scheme have only suggested this limitation because they do not feel justified in making proposals involving expendi- ture either on the part of their own or other Governments. But from the more independent standpoint of the Committee it would seem that the desirability, or even the practicability, of such a rigid restriction is perhaps open to question. Experience suggests that there will inevitably be an automatic widening of the scope of the enquiry, unless it be prevented by an arbitrary refusal to identify or record any injurious insects unless they are certified by the senders as being major pests.

It is hardly necessary to say that such a course would be open to several serious objections; but only one point need be mentioned here. The most notable advance made by economic entomologists in recent years has been in the direction of control- ling insect pests by means of their natural parasites. In this connection-if there is a serious pest in any country-it is of the highest importance to ascertain whether the same species occurs in any other locality in such limited numbers as to be merely a minor pest or even innocuous. The inference would be that in the latter country the pest was kept in check by natural enemies, the importation of which into infested areas might be of great service. From this point of view the collection and identifi- cation of minor, or even potential, pests may yield results of even higher practical value than would the scheduling of all the major pests.

It seems, therefore, permissible to suggest that the Committee should deal with the subject from a broader standpoint, and consider whether it might not be possible, with the co-operation of the Colonies, to extend their general organisation to all the British possessions, and thus constitute the nucleus of an Imperial Bureau of Economic Biology.

It would be premature at this stage to make any suggestions as to the detailed working of such an enlarged scheme, but it is to be hoped that one of the features would be the regular monthly publication of a bulletin which should contain a concise summary of all the current literature bearing on the subject of economic biology. Even if nothing else were achieved this alone would be an immense boon to every man who is engaged upon work of this nature.

The activities of such an organisation would necessarily be regulated by the funds placed at its disposal, and there is every reason to suppose that the arrange- ments could be placed on a thoroughly efficient basis if the Committee could secure an additional grant of about £2,000 per annum.

Owing to the congestion which already exists in the Entomological Department of the British Museum, it is highly improbable that the authorities of that institution would be able to offer any additional accommodation for an increase in the Com- mittee's staff, and it would, therefore, probably be necessary to provide for the rental and fitting up of an office in close proximity to the Museum.

Should it be found impossible to secure such an extension of our organisation as is here suggested, the Committee might still be in a position to carry out the more limited scheme dealt with in the memorandum under consideration.

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No. 81.

IMPERIAL COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES

(No. 1416.)

to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 29 May, 1911.)

[Answered by No. 105.]

Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, SIR,

Barbados, 6th May, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 2643, of March 22, 1911, having reference to the African Entomological Research Committee.

2. Co-operation between this Committee and the Imperial Department of Agri- culture, which is suggested, would, I believe, be of considerable value, and I shall be glad to do what I can to further this.

3. While it is difficult to lay down any precise lines of co-operation, it would appear that this Department may usefully act as a centre for the distribution of information, and may also, when required, receive and transmit specimens that may be collected in various Colonies.

4. The services of the entomologist on the staff of this Department are fully occupied with work bearing upon agriculture, and it is unlikely that he will be able to devote time to work having reference to medical research. It will, however, be possible to render some assistance, and I take it that in the first instance this may best be done by arranging that on his visits to the various islands he may meet those who are prepared to assist the work of the Entomological Research Committee, and advise them as to the manner of collecting and transmitting specimens: at the same time he may indicate lines of work that may be profitably followed locally, and generally afford the advice and direction that his knowledge and experience enable him to give. This may form a means of collecting and organising work in the smaller Colonies where otherwise there may be a lack of definite purpose.

5. I venture to express the opinion that much useful work may be done if it is found possible to send trained men on visits to the West Indies. These visits might serve the double purpose of affording training and experience of tropical conditions to young men, and at the same time lead to an increased knowledge of the position of affairs in these islands.

6. Should such expeditions be organised, this Department would form a useful base from which to work; it would be able to provide something in the way of laboratory accommodation, and be in a position to suggest the lines of work and travel to the best advantage.

7. I believe that very good results would follow, in more than one direction, if it were found possible to use this Department as a place to which scientific officers, such as entomologists, mycologists, and the like could be temporarily attached for the purposes of studying tropical conditions, and of obtaining experience in working under these conditions. The value of this Department as a base for work of this kind should prove very considerable, while at the same time it would be economical.

I have, &c.,

FRANCIS WATTS, Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies.

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No. 82.

BRITISH GUIANA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 30 May, 1911.)

[Answered by No. 111.]

Government House, Georgetown, Demerara, 10th May, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch," Miscel

(No. 156.)

SIR,

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• See No. 78.

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