Vol. VIII. No. 180. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



91 



The following is quoted from the report of the 

 examiners at Antigua : — 



' (a) The general character of the knowledge displayed 

 emphasizes the necessity for personal guidance and instruc- 

 tion for the candidates, and it would be advantageous, in our 

 opinion, if it could be found possible to extend the amount 

 of guidance now given, at any rate in the case of Preliminary 

 candidates. 



' (b) We are of opinion that in dealing with candidates 

 of this class the oral examination is very necessary in order 

 to arrive at a true idea of their attainments, since in a written 

 paper candidates often do not possess sufficient general 

 .education to give due and full expression to the facts with 

 which they are acijuainted.' 



The results of the examinations may be taken as 

 very encouraging. A good proportion of the candidates 

 have passed, and they are well distributed in the first, 

 second, and third classes. All who have in any way 

 -assisted in carrying out the Reading Courses and 

 the Examinations have a much better knowledge of 

 the gener;il points concerning which candidates are 

 liable to be weak or strong, and the candidates them- 

 selves are much better fitted for the next examinations, 

 whether it be Preliriiinary for those who failed this 

 time, or Intermediate for those who have bef n successful. 



It is expected that Preliminary and Intermediate 

 examinations will be held throughout the West Indies 

 some six or seven months from now, and of these due 

 notice will be given 



AGRICULTURAL TRAINING FOR BRITISH 



GUIANA BOYS. 



A circular lately issued by the Education Depart- 

 ment of British Guiana contains particulars of a scheme 

 for training a limited number of boys in the theory 

 and practice of agriculture under the supervision of the 

 Director of Science and Agriculture. 



In accordance with the terms of this scheme, three 

 candidates will be .selected for apprenticeship at the Botanic 

 Gardens in .January 1910. The.se candidates must be over 

 fourteen and under sixteen years of age, of good character, 

 he able to give evidence of a fair general education, and must 

 Tiave received practical instruction in Nature Study in a School 

 ■Garden for at least the last two years of their school career. 



A probation period of three months is required before 

 the boys are finally apprenticed ; if this is satisfactorily 

 passed they are to be indentured for three years to the 

 Director of Science and Agriculture. 



One of the main provisions of the scheme specifies that 

 during the apprenticeship period, the boys will be employed 

 for half the time in the expeiimental fields and for the other 

 half in the Botanic Gardens, in alternate periods at the two 

 places. They will also attend at least one cour.se of lectures 

 to Student Teachers at Queen's College during the .second i)r 

 third year of a[)prenticeship. 



Further opportunities for the acquirement of agri- 

 cultural knowledge by these apprentices will also be provided, 

 and they will be i)aid for the work done by them at the 

 following rates : — 



Not less than 16c. per day during the first year ; not 

 less than HOc. per day dtu'ing the second year ; and not less 

 than 2-lc. per day during the thii-d year. 



SUGAR-CANE IMPORTATION AND INTRO- 

 DUCTION OF PLANT DISEASES. 



KE<J( IMMEND.\TI0N.S IN BRITI.SH GUIAX.i. 



The suggested importation by a firm in British 

 Guiana of sugar-canes from Java has drawn the atten- 

 tion of the Board of Agriculture of the colony to the 

 desirability of taking steps to ensure that no plant 

 diseases shall be introduced by such means. This 

 matter was discussed at a recent meeting of the Board 

 of Agriculture, when Professor Harrison pointed out 

 the advisability of imposing restrictions on the importa- 

 tion of sugar-canes and cuttings from Java, Australia, 

 Fiji, Brazil, and the West Indian islands, on account, 

 of the prevalence of certain insect pests and fungoid 

 diseases in the countries specified, which up to the 

 present did not exist in British Guiana. The follow- 

 ing resolution in reference to the subject was carried 

 unanimously : — 



The Board of Agriculture recommend, under section 2 

 of the ' Impciitation of Plant Di.seases Prevention Ordi- 

 nance, 1903,' to the Governor-in-Oouncil that the importation 

 of all sugar-canes, and cuttings thereof, from .Java, Australia, 

 Fiji, Brazil, and the West Indian islands, shall not be 

 allowed to be imported into British Guiana in any description 

 of earth or soil. 



(2) All sugar-canes, or cuttings thereof, from the above- 

 mentioned })laces to be inspected by the Government Botanist 

 before being removed from the wharf or stelling at which 

 they are landed, and not to be i-enioved from that place unless 

 permitted by the Government Botanist in writing. 



(3) If, on such inspection, the sugar-canes, or cuttings 

 thereof, be found to be not free frf)m pests or diseases of any 

 sort already known to occur in the colon}-, the sugar-canes or 

 cuttings to be treated as the Government Botanist may 

 direct, before removal from the wharf. If they are found to 

 be infected with any pe.st or disease not commonly known in 

 this colony, the sugar-canes or cuttings to be destroyed under 

 the supervision of the Government Botani.st, or an officer of 

 the Department of Science and Agriculture delegated for the 

 purpose. 



(4) If their removal is authorized by the Government 

 Botanist, the sugar-canes, or cuttings thereof, to be planted in 

 a nursery apart from the general cultivation, and separate 

 from iither varieties of canes, a?iil to be subject from time to 

 time, during twelve months fioni the date of importation, to 

 inspection by an officer of the Department of Science and 

 Agricultui-e. If the canes are fijund, on any inspection, to be 

 suffering from any pests or diseases already known in the 

 colony, they shall be treated as directed by the < Government 

 Botanist, and if suffering from any pests or diseases not 

 commonly known in the colony, they shall be rooted out and 

 destroyed under the inunediate snpervi.sion of the inspecting 

 ( ifticer. 



The wisdom of precautions such as are indicated 

 in the above resolution must be apparent to all who 

 have in any way considered the matter Neglect to 

 take steps such as those recommended has not infre- 

 quently restdted in severe and long-continued loss t» 

 agriculturists in different countries. 



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