Vol. XIV. No. .ill. 



THE A<ii;l('l I.TURAL NEWS 



221 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS. 



Xmv that the cane crop is pra over, students will 



be able to devote a greater proportion of their time to 

 systematic study for tin- forthcoming examinations, to be 

 conducted by the rmperial Department of Agriculture in 



November, h aot alreadj done, copi s should ' btained 



of the revised syllabus of the Reading Courses issued a few 

 months igo from this Office. This contains an up-to-date list 

 of references including a useful collection of refer 

 to matter in the Agricultural News for the benefit of final 

 students. Perusal oi the Leaflet referred to will show thai 

 coco nuts have been introduced as a :rop subject, and in view 

 of the rapid extension of the area under coco-nuts in many 

 of the i>lands.ii is hoped that some of' the candidates will 

 select this crop as a subject for examination. As regards 

 textbooks, the student will remember thai a useful though 

 small library is to be found at most of the Botanic Stations, 

 and it should not be forgotten that many of the public 

 libraries contain works on agricultural science, which may be 

 borrowed in the usual way. In (ireuada, a good move is 

 being made to establish a borrowing library for the agricul- 

 tural cadets at the Botanic Gardens. 



The suci — of the Reading ( lout ■ examinations does nol 

 depend entirely upon the enthusiasm of the candidates. It 

 is essential thai initiative should be shown by the agricultural 

 officers, and also, it may be added, by the planters, on whom 

 the students arc in many cases dependent. The function of 

 the agricultural officers in connexion with these examinations 

 is to arrange meetings and, if possible, to give lectures. In 

 Antigua special facilities exist for this teaching work, but it 

 may be suggested, now that chemical assistants as well as 

 science masters exist in Dominica and St. Kitts, that it maybe 

 found possible to increase the amount of assistance given in 

 connexion with these examinations. The object of any lecture- 

 that may lie given should not be to pSesent information so 

 much as to stimulate and guide. At such meetings candi 

 dates can discuss the difficulties encountered in their work 

 not only with the lecturer but amongst themselves. This 

 makes the study more interesting and live, and it affords 

 a means of guaging individual progress. 



A final consideration concerning these examinations is 

 that which has relation to their utilitarian value. Several 

 cases have occurred where the holding oi the diploma of this 

 Department has led to personal advancement, and for this 

 reason alone, overseers and othei 1 make every effort 



to become registered, and to stud} along the prescribed lines 

 with a view to obtaining a qualification which will stand 

 them in good stead in alter life. 



Questions for Candidates. 



ci:i:i.uii\ \i;y Ql ESTIONS. 



1. Name at least three activi agents which aid in the 

 formation of soils. 



2. Give the reasons for growing leguminous crops other 

 than for food. 



IN II i:vm>l UK IJUESTION8. 



1. Giveoneoi two points to be noted in selecting coco- 

 nuts for .seed. At about what M the seedlings be 

 removed from the nurserj ' 



"2. What are the most comi I error*. in the cultivation 



■of cacao! 



UN N'S. 



1. Explain fully the reasons why the cultivation <•! 



n corn and u ged ill many p irts i 



U I Indies. 



2. Name certain operations on the i tal fhich ire 

 helpful in controlling pests anotdisi i Explain why. 



Training of Agricultural Pupils in Dom 

 inica. — A notice appears in the Dominica Qffi "< for 



June If, 1915, to the effect that this month (July) there will 

 be three vacancies foi pupils, under the pre tem of 



agricultural instruction. 



The course oi training extend- ovei a period of two 

 years, and pupils are required to "engage in the vat nches 



ol field and nursery work with a view of acquiring a 

 knowledge of practical agriculture. 



The course of instruction will be directed toward the 

 acquirement of a practical knowledge of the methods oi plant 

 propagation, nursery work, planting and care of Staph 

 such as limes, orange-, cacao, rubber, vanilla and fruit. The 

 course will include it trui ion and practical work in the 

 various forms of drainage, weeding, sowing, transplanting, 



use and application of ma 1 mulches; the treatment 



of insect and fungoid pests, pruning, grafting, packing, trans- 

 porting and planting OU1 young plants: picking, preparing, 

 and packing crops for market. 



In addition to the practical instruction and carrying < nil 

 of the above outlined work at the Botanic and Experiment 

 Stations, the pupils will receive an appropriate amounl of 

 class instruction in the fundamental principles underlying Un- 

 practical work. They will also be required to undertake 

 a prescribed amount of home reading and study under the 

 direction of the Agricultural Superintendent, 



Candidates must be at least sixteen years of age, physically 

 tit. and have shown aptitude for instruction in agriculture. 

 They must have attained a standard of elementary education 

 corresponding to the sixth standard of the primary schools, or 

 sufficient to satisfy the Agricultural Superintendent that they 

 are capable of taking full advantage of the course of training 

 offered. 



Subject to good behaviour and satisfactory progress in 

 their work, the pupils will be granted a small monetary allow- 

 ance, increasing each year until the conclusion of their course 

 of study. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Mr. H. A. Ballon. M.Se., Entomologist on the staff 

 of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, and 

 .Air. W. Xowoll. D.I.C. Mycologist, left Barbados by 

 the R. M. S. 'Quiliota' for the purpose of paying an 

 official visit to Montserral in connexion with the pests 

 and diseases of cultivated plants in that island. The 

 above officers are expected to return by the 

 i ! i;. M. S. i Jaraquet' on July L4. 



May proved a wet month in the Virgin Island-. LI .1 



revived new hopes in the agricultural community in rd 



to next year's prospects. The greatest fall for one day 



was 2 inches. The total precipitation for the month was 



8-37 inches, which was well distributed. The weather was 

 very favourable for the estabiishmenl of the young cotton 

 crop. 



