, 1891-03-28

OF this statement we can point out many I'M.
provements in the management of both field
and boiling-house. upon a large number of our
estates. BIT by far the most aattering tribute
to the ability Of Mr.. Watts as a teacher, and
the value OF his work may be found on perusal
of the opinions expressed III nearly every coun-
try-American, Spanish, French, and English
when commenting upon the subject matter
of his last course of lectures. We hope. there
fore, that some of the Legislators present at
the lecture on Monday, will take the matter up
and support us in our appeal for suitable pre-
misses for this, one Of the most uscfll Govern
ment Institutions.
The Lecturer. in Introducing the second Sc
ries Of lecture, stated that Ii. did not purpose
opening up much new ground, bat woulI gene.
rally travel over the stme ground is last year.
with the advantage of a'year's extra Information.
He considered it right to go over the same sub
Ject matter again, as but few present had
heard the previous lectures. The increased at.
tendance at this. the first lecture Of the second
series, was symbolical Of an increased interest
in, and a desire for, more precise knowledge in
regard to the work connected with the staple
industry of our island. A desire for informa-
ton is almost invariably followed by new eff
fort, and results in progress. Advising an
audience of Planters, on planting, is surely to
risk criticism, and to run the double risk Of be-
coming tedious when dealing with matter so
familiar and which forms the common round of
daily duty and O. is playing ignorance Of points
detail, and by this means drawingcriticism Of
and trouble. He would risk these things be-
ing certain that he would receive patient at
t%ention and only kindly criticism. his sole
claim being based on the fact that he approach.
ed the subject of sugar-growing and making
from a different side to that in vogue, aud some
things may therefore present a different as
pect to him and by combining the different
views new light may be shed on the work, by
which our living, on perhaps our fortunes may
may be made.
There were certain subjects connected with
sugar, upon Whic h the Chemist could seak
with decision, some knowledge Of which he
would place before them-a knowledge Of the
elements that 90 to make up the sugar-cano
and sugar, he considered necessary; in fact the
first duty Of a Chemist, when called upon 10
deal with any subject, was to pull the matter
to pieces; but before proceeding to do this
with the sugar-oane, he desired to illustrate
the subject with a description OF the elements
that constituted all matter, 81 in number, some
common, some rare; it is with the first we
have to deal, as we meet them daily In the
structure of matter or compound substance.
The chief properties of oxygen: hydrogen,
nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, potassium.
sodium, CALCIUM, iron, &c, &c. The manner
of considering this part of his subject was
skilfully conceived, and the experiments
made to illustrate his words rendered what
might have been dry and uninteresting, high
ly interesting and instructive. After con-
sidering the chief elements that in combi-
nation constituted the soil, and built up
plant structure, the audience were led on to
consider the Importance of the knowledge.
and were reminded that upon a plant being
burned it was resolved roughly speaking into
two parts the combustible and the ash the
ash constituents were of great Importance. az
on a knowledge of these depended proper
manuring.
The organised structure of plants, the cha
r%acter, and different shapes of the cells. the
fbres and sapvessels, the cell walls and
tissues, with their functions were all beauti-
full described, and nothing could cause more
astonishment and pleasure than the graphic
description given of the circulation of air
and sap through the various vessels, cells,
and fbres, more especially that part refer
ring to "Protoplasm," describing the sub
stance as the seat of the inner life of the plant.
whyit is no one could say, but without it no
plant could live. Protoplasm is a ielly-like
substance and circulates round the cell in con
tinuous activity, it is the substance that
requires the manures applied to feed the
plant, and this substance makes the sugar in
the cane juice.