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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



April 27, 1912. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



PRIZE-HOLDINGS COMPETITION, 



DOMINICA, 1912. 



The following information regarding the Prize- 

 holdings Competition held recently in the Grand Bay 

 District, Dominica, is taken from a leport made by 

 Mr. G. A. Jones, Assistant Curator: — 



Owing to one cr two unavoidable causes it was found 

 impossible to commence this year's competition before 

 August; four months were in consequence lost. It is hoped 

 that this year a start may be made much earlier. 



As in previous years, there were two classes of holdings: 

 one class of 1 acre and over, not exceeding -t acres: and one 

 class of 1 acre of bearing cacao, and not le.ss than 100 trees, 

 calculated at proper distances apart In 1908-9 there were 

 sixteen competitors, ten being in Class I and six in Class II 

 This year there were twenty four, eleven in Class I and 

 thirteen in Class II. This district is particularly well suited 

 for such a competition, there being a very large number of 

 small proprietors. 



In a year or two we would probably be successful in 

 obtaining a still larger number of entries. 



Mr. J. O. Henderson acted as local instructor. He pos- 

 sesses the confidence of the people of the district, and is him- 

 self a sitccessful cacao grower. During August Mr. Henderson 

 visited all the holdings, and made suggestions for improve- 

 ment. During October 16 to 21 Mr. Henderson, accompanied 

 by myself, again visited all the plots, giving all the assistance 

 we could. We were very well received, and gave demonstra- 

 ti;'ns in pruning, etc., together with advice as to draining and 

 wind-breaks when nece.ssary. From March 10 to 15 we again 

 visited the plots, chiefly for the purpose of judging; but in 

 anticipation of a continuance of the competition, we spent 

 consideral lie time in further instruction. 



During the eight months that we have been working in 

 this district, I am pleased to report that very good work has 

 been accomplished. Much of course remains to be done, even 

 in the best holdings, but the people are willing, and many 

 anxious, to receive instruction. 



After dwelling on the importance of, and the ne- 

 cessity for, the removal of side branches and suckers, 

 the report goes on to say, in regard to this matter: — • 



Most of the persons entered for the competition realize 

 this in so far that they are willing to remove any tree which 

 v.-e indicate to them. But they teem quite incapable of their 

 own accord to decide which tree should be allowed to remain 

 and which should be removed. The result is that those 

 without instruction do nothing. This point seems more 

 important than methods of removing the pods, forking, and 

 even manuring. If competitors can only be made to realize 

 that the trees must have room to develop, the scheme will 

 have more than justified its existence. 



Tlie prospects are promising; the prize winners are 

 peo)ile who have responded best to the advice of the instruc- 

 tors. But the work of thinning is of necessity slow work, 

 and must extend over a period of two or three years; in that 

 time, "ith three visits per annum by the instructor, I feel 

 confident that most of the plots will again be in excellent 

 condition, producing heavy crops, which the soil of this dis- 

 trict, almost unaided, is capable of doing 



Due notice has been paid to the necessity for drainage, 

 wind-belts, manuring and proper pruning. All the plots are 

 remarkably healthy and free from disease. 



I would strongly recommend the continuation of the 

 competition in this district during 1912-13, and the best 

 thanks of the Department are due to .Mr. Henderson for his 

 valuable assistance in carrying this competition to a success- 

 ful issue. I append a list of prize winners. The total cost 

 of the competition was £21 .5s. 



The prize winners were as follows: — 



Class I. 



