34 TBINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XVIIL 1. 



AGEICULTUEAL EDTTCATION. 



CANE FARMERS' PRIZE COMPETITION, 1918- 

 Report of the Judges. 



The President, Board of Agriculture. 



Your Excellency, 



We have the honour to report that, commencing on the morning 

 December 17, 1918 we completed our judging of the above-named Competi- 

 tion on the afternoon of the 21st. 



Forty-five Competitors were presented for examination ; nineteen in 

 the Northern or No. 1 District, and twenty-six in the Southern or No. 2 

 District. <" 



The work of every farm was carefully inspected and its advantages 

 of soil and situation noted. All the farmers were present during the 

 inspection of their respective farms, and each was rigidly examined to 

 test the soundness of his practice and also his grasp of the broad 

 principles that underlie the various operations incidental to Cane 

 cultivation. 



On the whole the answers and demonstrations were very satisfactory ; 

 it is quite evident that the majority of competitors have received a 

 considerable measure of true education during their six-months course of 

 preparation for the contest. 



As compared with neighbouring farms of non-competitors the farms 

 of the competitors everywhere evinced decided superiority ; and, as 

 evidence of the benefit of good cultivation, must tend to general improve- 

 ment in the methods of the surrounding districts. 



Some interesting "points" have been gleaned during the course of the 

 judging. The most worthy of note is the distinct popularity of the 

 strain of sugar cane known commonly as " Burks " (B. 347). This cane 

 has been given universally tlie reputation of a prolific " ratooner " ; 

 and, as farmers depend on their ratoon crops to make their profits, 

 B. 347 is their idol. The next in popularity is B. 156, which has a string 

 of local names, P.<7. "Seedlings" "White or Little Roseau," " Esperanza." 

 This is one of the few strains of prickle-less canes. 



Of the forty-five competitors, the work of thirteen — eight in No. 1 

 district and five in No. 2 district — was "^>r»«a/acie" below a three- 

 fifths standard. 



In making the awards the judges have aimed throughout at gauging 

 as accurately as possible the amount of effort and industry correctly 

 applied by each competitor to his work. We have not been unduly 

 influenced, therefore, by the " crop" appearance which largely depends 

 on natural soil-condition not to be appreciably modified in the space of 

 six months. 



(1) For the rules of the Competition and the boundaries of the disttict Sec 

 Bulletin XVII 1918 page 49 (Ed.). 



