ToL. XVII. No, 413. 



THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



(51 



AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS. 



The three candidates in Antigua, who obtained certifi- 

 cates in the Intermediate Examination in Practical Agricul- 

 ture keld in November 1917, are; — 



Name. Result. 



H. E. McDonald 3rd class 



C. T. Michael 3rd class 



V. G. Pariera 3rd class 



Tlie following were the questions set: — 

 I 

 GENERAL AGRIUrLTlRAL SCIENCE. 

 A. 



I. )Tow may .insects be classified in relation to the 

 •ways in which they feed; and how does such classification 

 "ive indications as to the methods to be used for tlieir control? 



■2. Give an account eitlwr (a) of the motli borer of 

 the sugar-cane, nr (b) of the cotton stainer, and of methods 

 of control in either case. 



3. Describe any two of the following: a fungus disease 

 (a) of the sugar cane, (b) of cotton, (c) of lime trees, (d) of 

 Indian corn State in each case methods of control advised. 



4. What characters should be shown in a good variety 

 (a) of cotton, (b) of maize? 



B. 

 What do you understand by rotation of crops? What 

 useful purpo.ses are served by .such rotation? Give your idea 

 of a suitable rotation of crops on any estate you are acquainted 

 ■with. 



6. What is the usual method on any estate you know 

 of making pen manure? Point out its advantages or defects. 



7. What artificial manures are more suitable (a) for 

 sugar-cane, (b) for cotton, (c) for Indian corn, in your island; 

 and why are they suitable? 



8. Discuss in relation to drainage the nature of the 

 soil in the neighbourhood in which you live; if drainage is 

 required, how is it best done? 



C. 



9. Give a description of two of the best fodder plants 

 in your island. 



10. Briefiy describe an ordinary form of plough, giving 

 diagrams to illustrate your description. 



II. What kind of food, and in what quantity, should 

 be given to a working ox or to a working horse? 



12 Discuss in connexion with some one crop, such as 

 cotton or sugar-cane, the general question of rainfall, 

 indicating what may be beneficial and what injurious, giving 

 reasons. 



II. 



SPECIAL CROPS. 



A. SuG.Vn-OANE. ■ 



1 . Describe how you would select and prepare cane tops 

 for planting. 



2. l>iscuss the ((uestion from a practical standpoint 

 whether, with a definite area of cane land, it is better (a) to 

 cultivate half in plant canes and half in ratoons, or (b) to 

 cultivate one- third in plants, leaving one-third in ratoons and 

 one-third in bare fallow. 



3. How is the soil of cane land best maintained in 

 good tilth? 



4. What varieties of sugar-cane do you consider most 

 suitable for the district you reside in' Describe the charac- 

 teristics of tiuo of them, and give reasons for Jour preference. 



5. Describe briefly any insect peat of sugar-cane, state 

 the damage it occasions, and any methods of control. 



6. What methods do you consider the best in dealing 

 with (a) cane tops, (b) cane trash? 



7. Describe briefly the damage occasioned by any fungus 

 diseases of the sugar-cane you have personally met with, and 

 state any measures of control. 



8. Outline briefly the system of cultivation best suited 

 for ratoon canes. 



B. Cotton. 



1. Give an account of how you would prepare land 

 for planting cotton. What precautions would you take (a) if 

 the field were flat, (b) if the field were .sloping? 



2. AVhat methods and precautions must; be taken in 

 picking cotton and preparing the lint for ginning? 



3. What are the characteristics of a desirable type of 

 cotton for your district? How can those characteristics be 

 maintained? 



4. Why is the destruction of old cotton plants necessary? 

 ■3. Describe 'ini;ernal boll rot,' its cause and its control, 

 (i. How is cotton seed utilized in your district? Can 



any other uses be made of it; and if so, what are they? 



7. Describe one of the following pests, stating any 

 methods of control: (a) Leaf-blister mite, (b) Cotton stainer. 



8*. Examine the sample of seed-cotton supplied to 

 you, and report on its character and quality. 



*This qtu'sti'M must he atieuipted, if CdUoii is n subject taken. 



C. Provision Crops. 



1. What advantages are there in a crop of Guinea corn? 



2. In planting yams, does the size of the .set affect the 

 development of the plant? How do you explain your answer 

 to this? 



3. In the cultivation of Indian corn, what production 

 per acre ought to be aimed at? What measures would you 

 take to obtain such a yield? 



4. What benefits are to be derived from planting root 

 crops such as yams, sweet potatoes, or eddoes as a rotatic.n 

 crop? What other crops would you u.se in rotation with such 

 roots? 



5 Describe any insect pest wliich attacks any root 

 crop in your .listrict. State its eti'ects upon the crop, and 

 what may be done to control it 



6. Describe methods of storing maize for use (a) as 

 seed-corn, (b) for food 



7. State approximately what ought to be the yield per 

 acre of a sweet potato cwp. Give any methods of storing or 

 preserving sweet potatoes f'jr any length of time. 



8. State the methods employed in growing and harvest- 

 ing a crop of onions. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The iQiperial ('oimnis^ioner of Agriculture is 

 leaving PSarbados at the invitation of the (iovernor of 

 .Jamaica, with the approval of the Secretary of State 

 for the Colonies, for a visit to that island. Sir Francis 

 Watts i^^ e.xpecte<l to be abseut from Barbados for about 

 three months. 



Mr. A. E. CoHcns, Acting (.Joverniuent Cheuiist 

 and Superintendent of Agriculture for the Leeward 

 Islafids, has been admitted to the Fellowship of the 

 Institute of Chemistry, of (iteat Britain and Ir.'land. 



