Vol. XIII No. 305. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



13 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



JANUARY. 



Fir.sT Period. 



Seasonal Notes. 



Useful suggestions are made under the heading of 

 Seasonable Hints, in ih^ Journal of th- Jamaica Agricultural 

 Society (November 1913), in regard to the planting of bana- 

 nas. It is observed that a good sucker planted with good 

 trenching (drainage) and forking, will bring the fruit in to 

 two or three months ahead of those from trees simply planted 

 in a hole and not forked, and with the land not trenched. 

 It is noted also, that planting of large selected suckers makes 

 a difference of at least one month's growth. In the same 

 way trenching, especially on heavy lands, will make the crop 

 earlier by at least two months. Thus the combined et^ct 

 of these different operations is to save five months and to 

 obtain better fruit. 



Now that cotton picking is in progress, a good oppor- 

 tunity is afforded for .studying the fruit and seeds of the 

 plants and the lint which is yielded by it. Particular 

 attention should be paid lo the effects of the weather 

 on the opening of the bolls and upon the quality of 

 the lint. Furthermore, the bolls should be carefully watched 

 for insect and fungus attacks. It will be remembered that 

 particularly at the present time. Sea Island cotton for 

 shipment must be carefully graded; that is to say, the 

 produce from various pickings must not be mixed and that 

 all stained cotton and particularly lint which is wasty, must 

 be carefully kept separate from the rest. 



In connexion with the Christmas cacao crop an oppor- 

 tunity will be afforded for careful consideration of the 

 question of the fermentation of cacao. A book has recently 

 been published on the subject and fully reviewed in the 

 Agriciiltunil News. Vol. XII, p. 321. Attention should be 

 given to the possibility of improving cacao by the inocula- 

 tion of the beans with the yeast that causes the change 

 of sugar into alcohol. Closely related to the actual pro- 

 cess of fermentation is the drying of cacao. In parts 

 of Africa and in other continental tropical countries 

 ■where heavy rainfall occurs, the emijloyment of drying 

 machines is absolutely necessary, though as a general rule, 

 cacao experts seem to regard sun drying as the more prefer- 

 able process. The student will remember that at the present 

 time there is some talk of the manufacture on a large scale 

 of vinegar as a by-product of cacao fermentation. The cost 

 of cacao and its by-products and the market values for the 

 vinegar should receive the student s special attention. 



Questions for Candidates. 

 Preliminary Questions. 



(1) Give an account of the characteristics of the leaves 

 of the following varieties of sugarcane: B. 208, B.1753, 

 D.116 and P, 4030. 



(2) How would you set out, in a field, two lines at 

 right angles to each other? ■,,. 



Intermedute Questions. 



(1) What is (a) tuberculosis; (b) Mai de Caderas; (c) 

 erysipelas; (d) contagious abortion? Why have these received 

 so much attention in the West Indies? 



(2) How would you proceed to tneasure the area of 

 a field? 



Final Questions. 



(1) Give your views as to along what lines new markets 

 may be established in Canada for West Indian produce. 



(2) Write an account of the forestry conditions iu the 

 island where you reside, giving special attention to the 

 subject of their relation to agriculture. 



IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT EXAMINATIONS 



IN PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



The following questions were those set for the 

 preliminary examination, which was held on Monday, 

 October 27, 191-S. Of the thirteen questions the 

 candidate was required not to attempt more than nine, 

 among which questions (J and 7 were to be included: — 



1. Explain in detail what use to plants carbon dio.xide 

 is (a) in the air (b) in the soil. 



2. Give an an account of the life history of the Bolder 

 or Love Vine {Cuxruti sp.) and of the vanilla plant. Point 

 out the essential differences in their modes of livin" and 

 reproduction. 



3. Describe, giving practicU details, either (a) the oper- 

 ation of budding limes, nr (b) thit of the grafting of cacao. 



What is the difference laetween cimbium and callus? 



4. Explain five of the following tena'>, aiving examples 

 where this can be done: (a) enzyme, (b) metabolism, 

 (c) osmosis, (d) mutation, (e) carbohydrate, (f) phloem, 

 (g) aorta, (h) tracheae, (i) parthenogenesis. 



■5. Give an account of the physical and cheniieil 

 characteristics of the soil on the estate you are connected 

 with. In what way is this knowledge likely to be of viilue 

 to you in practice.' 



6. Explain carefully what happens to some cotton 

 seed meal in a mouthful of food as it passes through the 

 body of a cow. 



7. Describe, by means of labelled large-scale drawings 

 Old//, the structure of any flower you have examined having 

 an inferior ovary. [Written description is not required. 

 Name the plant to which the flower you select belongs.] 



8. What action on the soil has tillage by means of thj 

 following implements and tools: (a) subsoil plough, (b) harrow, 

 (c) roller, (d) fork, (e) hoe, (f) spade? In what ways is 

 dynamite of value in the cultivation of the soil? 



9. What are the effects of drainage? Describe the 

 spstem adopted on any estate you are acquainted with. 

 What methods have to be adopted in keeping the drains in 

 good working order! 



10. Distinguish between 'nitrogen fixing' and 'nitrid- 

 cation'. In what ways are these processes important in 

 regard to the use of green dressings? 



11. How would you distinguish the following fertilizers 

 by means of their general appearance: (a) nitrate of soda and 

 sulphate of ammonia; (b) basic slag and calcium cyanamide; 

 (c) kainit and nitrate of lime; (d) superphosphate of lime and 

 sulphate of potash? 



What is slaked lime composed oSt Give three of its uses 

 in the soil. 



12. Describe in detail, either (a) the structure of a cacao 

 bean covered with pulp as it is removed from the 'pod'; 'ir 

 (b) the structure of the underground system of the sugar-cane. 



13. Describe the pollination of the flowers of the 

 following plants: (a) Indian corn, (b) vanilla, (c) cotton. 



