74: 



THE AGRICULTURAL XEWP. 



Febeuaey 8, 190>!- 



secondary schools in all these colonies. Reference 

 was also made to the question of the establishment of 

 a University for the West Indies, in which Tropical 

 Agriculture should be a branch of instruction receiving 

 special attention. 



Following Dr. Dalton, an interesting and impor- 

 tant point was raised by tbe Hon. Francis Watts, who 

 brought forward a suggestion that something might be 

 -done, through the Imperial Department of Agricul- 

 ture, to organize a system of reading on subjects 

 connected with their work for overseers and sub-man- 

 agers of estates, to be followed by examination for 

 certificates of proficiency. 



The first step towards the establishment of such 

 a system would be to draw up and arrange courses of 

 reading suitable for young men an.xions to extend 

 1;heir knowledge of matters relating to tropical agri- 

 -culture, including soils and crops, and the management 

 of estates. These courses would have special reference 

 to the methods of cultivation of local crops. 



The e.xaminations, it was suggested, should be held 

 at regular intervals, and in order to get more thorough 

 results and to a\oid cramming, it was proposed that 

 candidates should, at one time, be e.\amined only in 

 a single branch of knowledge, such as the methods 

 of cultivation, etc., of a particular crop. For e.-iample, 

 a man might, in the first place, submit himself for 

 examination in the details of sugar planting and 

 manufacture. Later, ho could take up the details 

 of cotton cultivation. An overseer living in an 

 island like Dominica, St. Lucia, or Trinidad, would 

 probably offer as subjects of examination, the principles 

 and practice of cacao, fruit, and lime growing. The 

 examinations should be broad and general in their 

 scope, but certificates would only be awarded as the 

 result of real proficiency, and not on the basis of mere 

 book work or a smattering of knuwledgo. 



To make the certificates more v.aluable, and in 

 order that the holder might be recognized as a man 

 well qualified, both from a practical and theoretical 

 point of view, it was pointed nut that it would 

 not be advisable to admit .an overseer to examination 

 who had not been engaged in the .-letual practice of 

 his work for at least one year. The object would 

 be, that a man who held a certificate of proficiency in 

 j-egard to sugar, cotton, or cacao cultivation might be 

 relied upon as being thoroughly qualified in connexion 

 with the crops specified,' by th<iso who wished to 

 ■engage him. 



Apart from the subjects included in the reading 

 course, the examination should include practical sub- 

 jects, such as details of cultivation and management, 

 a knowledge of which could only be acquired by work on 

 an estate, and as much importance would be attached 

 to correct methods of handling a plough in the cane 

 or cotton fields as to a knowledge of elementai'y 

 chemistry or botany. Further, in regard to the same 

 idea, ihere should be a practical yjlanter on the 

 Examination Board, who could test by ond examination 

 a candidate's knowledge of field work and estate 

 nmnagement. 



In conclusion Dr. Watts stated his conviction that 

 if such a S3'stem were established, j'oung men holding 

 certificates would be much more likely to obtain 

 remunerative employment than under present condi- 

 tions, while their powers of usf^fulness would bo 

 consider.ibly enhanced. 



It was suggested that the subject should be 

 brought up for discussion at the Agricultural Societies, 

 and that planters and overseers generall}' be made 

 acquainted with the proposals. Although the idea 

 may be new in the West Indies, yet, in Great Britain 

 the Boai'd of Agricidtuie and the Ro\'al Agricultural 

 Society have co-,operated for some years in holding 

 examinations for what is known as the Natioi.al Diploma 

 in Agriculture. Lach examination is held in two parts 

 with an interval of a year between the two, and is of 

 a thoroughly practical nature, suitable for farm manager.--, 

 etc. In the Uhited States, also, the institution of 

 ■ Farmers' Readirig Courses,' with or without following 

 ex.'.minations, has for years been part of the educational 

 work of the Department of Agriculture. 



The proposals in regard to what was suggested 

 should be done were brought before the Barbados 

 Agricultural Society on Friday, Jaruiaiy 24, by Sir 

 Daniel Morris, who went over the points outlined 

 above, and suggested that a special meeting of 

 the Agricultural Society be held for the purpose 

 of considering whether something of the kind could not 

 be started '>n simple lines at Barbados and elsewhere.. 

 The finperial Commissioner pointed out that the agri- 

 cultural industries of the West Indies would reap 

 considerable beni fit from increased scientific knowledge 

 on the part of overseers and managers, and further, that 

 the possession of certificates of competenc}' might also be 

 ,1 means of lieljjing some of the young men of the island 

 to lucrative posts in other colonies. There was need 

 and room for good men, and courses of instruction such 

 as those described would be one means towards produc- 

 ing them and advancing their intei'ests, as well as 

 those of the colonics in which they laboured. 



