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In other directions, as well, the Imperial Institute is able to render service to British manufacturers. For example, the use of machinery is frequently essential for the preparation of many economic products, and the Imperial Institute is often able to recommend the latest type of machines made by British firms for the following purposes:-
Fibre extraction.
Nut cracking.
Oil extraction.
Rubber preparation. Drying, &c.
II.
PRODUCTS SUBMITTED TO THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE BY BRITISH MANUFACTURERS AND
MERCHANTS.
A considerable number of samples of natural products, received by British manufacturers and merchants in the course of business, are submitted to the Imperial Institute for information regarding their composition and commercial uses.
In many cases this work involves special enquiries, whilst in others the information is already available at the Imperial Institute.
One hundred and fifty-seven products were thus submitted to the Imperial Insti- tute by 34 firms in the United Kingdom during 1910, and 152 products by 52 firms during 1911.
III.
SUPPLY OF INFORMATION REGARDING ECONOMIC PRODUCTS, TROPICAL AGRICULTURE, &C.
This section of the work includes (1) replies to enquiries received by letter and (2) replies to verbal enquiries. In both these divisions the number of enquiries has largely increased, and the Imperial Institute is becoming more and more widely recognised as a source of information on all questions relating to the utilisation of raw materials for manufacturing purposes. In addition, the Imperial Institute is being constantly applied to by British firms engaged in planting operations in the Colonies for infor- mation and advice regarding the commercial possibilities of products, the methods of cultivation, collection, and preparation to be adopted, and other points connected with their exploitation.
Two hundred and fifty-two such enquiries were received by letter from 153 firms or individuals in the United Kingdom during 1910, and 297 enquiries from 169 firms during 1911, whilst the number of special enquiries made personally by visitors to the Imperial Institute was 388 in 1910 and 682 in 1911. These enquiries cover a very wide field and refer to practically every question connected with the production and utilisation of natural products (animal, vegetable, and mineral). They include, for example, requests for information regarding the composition of little-known products and their value for manufacturing purposes; new sources of supply of com mercial products; new products which could be utilised to replace products already in use; the improvement of the quality of Colonial products; the possibility of intro- ducing new industries into suitable countries; the crops suitable for growth in different countries and the methods of cultivation and preparation to be adopted, &c. In order to deal effectively with such enquiries it is necessary to have at disposal authentic information regarding the developments which are taking place throughout the world in the production and utilisation of raw materials, and the Imperial Insti- tute has made a special feature of the systematic collection of such information for use in its work, so far as can be managed with a relatively small staff.
IV.
BULLETIN OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS. Bulletin of the Imperial Institute.
The "Bulletin of the Imperial Institute," which is issued quarterly, contains in each number a selection from the reports issued by the Imperial Institute on the
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results of the examination of Indian and Colonial products, and also special articles and notes respecting recent progress in tropical agriculture and the industrial utili- sation of raw materials. The information thus furnished has proved to be of the greatest importance to British manufacturers and merchants, and many large firms find it to their interest to subscribe regularly to the Bulletin. Important enquiries from manufacturers are often made after the appearance of special articles in the Bulletin, and there is a considerable demand for numbers of the Bulletin con- taining reports and articles dealing with materials in which particular manufacturers are specially interested.
The circulation of the Bulletin has steadily increased and now exceeds 7,000 copics per annum.
The list of the principal contents of the "Bulletin of the Imperial Institute for the years 1907 to 1911 is attached, and it will be seen that nearly all the reports on investigations and the special articles included are of direct interest to British manufacturers and merchants.
The publication of this Bulletin, which is prepared by the Scientific and Techni- cal Staff of the Imperial Institute, has now been undertaken by Mr. John Murray, and its scope and size have been increased.
Selected Reports on Commercial Products,
In addition to the Bulletin, the Imperial Institute is issuing a series of Selected Reports on different groups of natural products, which are being published as Parlia mentary papers (Colonial Reports-Miscellaneous). The sections dealing with fibres, gums and resins, foodstuffs, and rubber and gutta-percha have already appeared, and will be followed by others at intervals. A similar publication giving the results of the examination at the Imperial Institute of British-grown cottons has also been published.
These publications have had a considerable sale amongst merchants, brokers, and manufacturers interested in the particular products dealt with, and the demand for several has been already so great that copies have had to be reprinted by the Stationery Office.
Handbooks to the Commercial Resources of the Tropics.
Of special importance to the British manufacturer and merchant is the Imperial Institute series of Handbooks to the Commercial Resources of the Tropics, edited by the Director of the Imperial Institute, which is being issued by Mr. John Murray. These Handbooks give complete information respecting the raw material derived from the tropics which are of importance to British trade. The first relates to the
Commercial Products of British West Africa," and the second to "Cocoa." third Handbook, on “Rubber,” is in preparation.
Other Publications.
"
A
Reports of the mineral surveys of Ceylon, Northern and Southern Nigeria, and Nyasaland, conducted in conjunction with the Imperial Institute, have also been issued in the Miscellaneous series of Colonial Reports. The information furnished in these reports regarding the minerals found in the different Colonies has been of great value to firms in this country, and has led in a number of instances to important commercial developments.
A list of the principal publications of the Imperial Institute is attached.*
V.
PROVISION OF AUTHENTIC SAMPLES OF COLONIAL AND INDIAN PRODUCTS. The Public Galleries of the Imperial Institute contain collections of representa- tive samples of the principal natural products of each of the British Colonies and Protectorates and of India, which are arranged in separate courts on a geographical basis. In addition there are reference collections of standard samples of the prin- cipal raw materials imported into this country and also of the Colonial and Indian products examined in the Scientific and Technical Department. In the latter case full information regarding the composition and quality of the materials is available.
• Not printed.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
THU .....................C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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