Vol. ly. No. 9.5. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



375 



AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT TOBAGO. 



The Curator of the Botanic Station at Tobago has 

 forwarded the following report on the combined annual 



show, held in that 



schools' and peasant proprietors' 

 island on November 1.5 last: — 



SCHOOL SHOW. 



The third annual school show was held on the 15th. in 

 the spacious market shed, Scarborough, Tobago. The 

 .schools exhibiting numbered twenty-four, and the entries 

 were 111 ; being an increase of eighty over that of the 

 jireeeding show. 



The exhibits of vegetables were, on the whole, of good 

 quality, and there were good exhibits of cucumbers, tomatos, 

 herbs, and native vegetable products. 



A special feature of this show was the large number 

 of extracted oils and also good samples of Sea Island cotton. 



In the section for plants a few good examples were 

 .shown ; also some budded plants. 



The show was a very creditable one, and the increase 

 in the number of exhibits shows that interest is t;iken in 

 school gardens in Tobago. 



PEASANT PEOPEIETOES' SHOW. 



Th3 peasant proprietors' show was the second annual 

 one. This was held in the market enclosure under a bamboo 

 structure, 51 feet by 21 feet. The interest taken in this 

 show is apparent from the increase in the number of 

 exhibitors and of exhibits. 



In the vegetable classes, ground and native provisions 

 were well represented. The following exhibits were worthy 

 of mention : Cacao nibs, cacao pods, chocolate, starches, 

 coffee beans, tomatos, shaddocks, oranges, bananas, golden 

 apples, and herbs ; oils and lime juice also formed a good 

 exhibit. Special mention should be made of the numerous 

 and good exhibits of samples of Sea Island cotton. 



This portion of the show was under the charge of the 

 officers of the Botanic Station. 



From the Botanic Station the following exhibits were 

 sent (not for competition) : Sea Island cotton, grown from 

 .seed in four months and four days ; budded oranges, spine- 

 less limes, grafted mangos ; also plants in pots. 



PRIZE HOLDING SCHEME FOR GRENADA. 



A scheme for prize holdings among the small culti- 

 vators of cacao is in course of being established at 

 Grenada. The objects and provisions of the scheme 

 are fully set forth in the following extract from 

 a letter, dated November 28, 1905, addressed by the 

 Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture to the Colonial 

 Secretary, Grenada : — 



It will be observed that this scheme has been drawn up 

 after consultation with the leading members of the planting 

 community ; it was discussed at the meeting of the Agri- 

 cultural Experiments Committee on the occasion of my recent 

 visit to Grenada, and it was dfscussed and agreed upon at 

 a general meeting of the Agricultural Society held on the 

 24th. instant. In its present form, it may be regarded as 

 the result of careful consideration on the part of the agri- 

 culturists of the colony and of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture. 



The object of the scheme is to stimulate greater 

 attention being devoted to their holdings by peasant cultiva- 

 tors of cacao with the view of increasing the total exports 

 of the colony. A similar scheme has been in successful 

 operation at Jamaica, and the results there have shown that 



the money spent in connexion with it has been well invested 

 in the general interests of the island. 



In the first instance, following the advice of the Agri- 

 cultural and Commercial Society, the scheme will be put in 

 force in the parish of St. John as the one which contains the 

 largest number of peasant proprietors in proportion to its 

 size. A copy of the rules regulating the scheme is attached 

 herewith. 



The aggregate amount of the prizes to be oS"ered in 

 1906 will be £25. 



RULES GOVERNING THE PRIZE HOLDING SCHEME AT GRENADA. 



1. Prizes will be awarded for the improvement of 



cacao cultivation during the year 1906. 



2. Only persons holding not more than 5 acres of land 



cultivated in cacao are to be allowed to compete. 



3. The holdings entered for competition are to be 



situated within the parish of St. John. 



4. The prizes are to be allotted in three classes: — • 

 class — holdings not over 5 acres and not less 

 than 3 acres of cacao. 



class — holdings not over 3 acres and not less 

 than 2 acres of cacao, 

 class — holdings not over 2 acres of cacao. 



5. No person is to compete in more than one class, 

 but may select any class for which he, or she, can 

 qualify. 



G. Prizes are to be given in the parish of St. John as 

 follows : — 



CLASS I. 



1st. prize ... ... ... ... ... £4 



2nd. „ 3 



3rd. „ 2 



1st. 



2nd. 



3rd. 



£9 



CLASS II. 



1st. 

 2nd. 

 3rd. 

 4th. 



1st. 

 2nd. 

 3rd. 

 4 th. 



two of 15s. each 



CLASS III. 



7. 



8. 



10. 



four of 10s. each 



£25 

 In judging, the following points will be con- 

 sidered : — (i.) General condition of the holding as 

 regards cleanliness of cultivation, (ii.) Pruning, 

 (iii.) Forking and draining. (iv ) Manner in 

 which the pods are removed from the tree in 

 reaping. Prizes may be given for cultivation in 

 progress, provided it is, in the opinion of the 

 judges, sufficiently advanced to admit of being 

 judged. 



It shall be competent for the judges to withhold any 

 or all of the prizes if the holdings entered for 

 competition are not considered of sufficient merit. 

 Three months' notice at least is to be given before 

 judging commences, and the decision of the judges, 

 in all cases, is to be final. 



Entry in writing, stating the class in which it is 

 intended to compete, must be given by competitors 

 before ilarch 1, 1906, to the Secretary of the 

 Agricultural Society, or an officer of the Agri- 

 cultural Department. 



