Vol. XIV. So. 331. 



THE AGKICULTUBAL NEWS. 



13 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS. 



The examinations in inexion with the Courses "t 



ng iii Practical Agriculture of the [mperial Depart 

 ol Agriculture, were held on November 23, 191 I. 

 The following were the questions in thi Intermediate Exam- 

 ination, tn the paper on General Agricultural Science not 

 more than eighl were to be attempted, in which Nos. 1 or -*5 

 1 .„ t had to be included, [n the Special Crop Subjects 

 only six of the eighl questions on each subject were to be 

 attempted: 



GENEB \l. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



1. Give an account of the characteristics of, the injury 

 by, and the methods of control For, either (a) the brown 



hard bark, or (b) the coco-nui weevil. 



2. Which one of the following pests of cotton causes 

 most damage in the island you are connected with: (a) the 

 cotton worm, (b) the cotton stainer, (c) the cotton leaf blister 

 mite? Describe fully the damage done, and the means of 

 control adopted in the case of the pests you select. Explain, 

 as well as you can, why the others are less harmful. 



.'i. Give as many characteristics as you canto show 

 how you would distinguish a large fly from a I"-'', and the 

 larva of a cotton stainer from that ol a beetle. 



4. Write an account of the root diseases of anyone 

 of the following plants: (a) cacao, (b) limes, (c) sugar-cane. 

 Si '><■ fully the measures adopted in their control. 



5. What do you understand 1>\ the term saprophyte? 

 By means of examples indicate the benefit and the harm that 

 Baprophytes are capable of doing under certain conditions. 



fi. Why is urine of great manurial value' What 

 measures should be taken to prevent loss of this substance 



on the estate? 



7. Write an account of the operation of budding cacao 

 or oranges. State the economic value of this operation in 

 estate practice. 



8. Draw up a score card or scale of points for the field 

 selection of any one of the following: (a) cotton, (b) sugar- 

 cane, (c) corn (maize). Indicate the value of the laboratory 

 in the ease of the crop that is dealt with. 



9. Of what use to plants are compounds of the follow- 

 ing elements in the soil: (a) iron, (b) manganese, (c) magne- 

 sium, ('li calcium, (e) sodium, (li potassium? 



10. Give a full account of up-to-date methods of pre- 

 paring the following for market: (a) oranges, or green or 

 fresh limes; (b) onions or arrowroot. 



11. Give details of the methods ami cost of harvesting 

 either (a) a 10-acre field of sugar-cane, or (b) a 10-acre field 

 of cotton. [Harvesting should be taken to mean tin- cutting 

 or picking and conveyance of material to the factory or 

 ginnery as the ca3e maj be. | 



DJ. Describe in outline the experimental work carried 

 out ilming the past three year- at the Botanic or Experiment 



Station in your island. Indicate along what lines the most 

 useful results have SO far been obtained, stating your reasons. 



SPECIAL CROP SUBJECTS. 



SUGAB IM'i STRY. 



1. Describe the characteristics of some of the newer 

 seedling varieties of sugar-cane raised in the West Indies and 

 introduce. 1 into cultivation during the past three years. 



2. Give a i use account ol 



if the ugar-ca the vari i\ ion in the li a 



Indicate any economic aspects that occur to you in connexion 

 •a ith these. 



;i. | lescribe a ystem of iri ring followed in your 

 district for ratoon canes, a,iia indicate to wh it i ten! this is 

 ixlhered to: also to v hat extent followed in the 



plant cane-. 



I. I describe the implements used in the culti\ 

 sugar-cane and the value ol the work eai li performs. 



5. State the measures adopted in cultivating sugai 



for the prevention of disease and attack of insects. What is 

 the most important disease or pest in your district? Briefly 

 describe this. 



6. In what ways do you dispose ol thi follow ing 

 island: (a) megass, (b) molasses, (c) i a* I >ps, (d) stumps 



of cane' 



7. state, in the form of a monthly diary, tl ! 



to be done from the planting of the cane in November ■< 

 I (ecembei to the time of reaping. 



s. How many labourers would be required to plant 

 a field of 20 acres of sugar-cane? Describe tuyw you obtain 



the cuttings and distribute them to the men for plan" 

 LIMES. 



1. Give a detailed account of the process of concentrat- 

 ing lime juice both by open tayche and steam-heated 



or vats. 



2. Discuss the value of wind-breaks in lime cultivation. 



3. Write an accounl of the methods of gathering lime 

 fruit. 



4. Describe the manufacture of citrate of lime. How 

 is it prepared for export? 



5. Show exactly what area of land would be needed 

 for a 1 tine nursery to establish 50 acres ill limes. Describe 

 the soil and surroundings required for a nursery. 



6. What measures should be employed in caring for an 

 old lime estate with a view to maintaining its productivity! 



7. Describe the most important insect pests of limes in 

 your district. What measures are adopted for their trol? 



8. What may be done to improve or maintain the 

 health and activity of the root system of a lime tree' 



COTTON. 



1. Make an examination of the sample of seed-cotton 

 provided, and express the results of the examination in the 

 form of a table. 



2. What are the natural soil and climatic conditions 

 most favourable for the cultivation of Sea Island cotton! 

 How may these be secured, or partially secured, by artificial 

 means' 



3. How do you prepare a field for cotton in your 

 district? From what source do you obtain the seed for plant- 

 ing, and how much per acre do you sow? 



4. State in detail the measures and precautions you 

 would take to prevent outbreaks of leaf-blister mite, ttd 

 cotton worm. 



5. What are the characteristic- of the best type & 

 cotton grown in your district? 



6. Dow is cotton graded, cleaned, dried, and prepared 

 for ginning! 



7. What crops can be conveniently grown in rotation 

 with cotton! Describe this cultivation, indicating the time 

 the crops occupy the land. 



s. Describe a system of manuring cotton applicable 



your district, having regard to continuous cropping with 



cotton. What have been tic general results of the manuring 



.I Sea Island cotton! 



