Vol. IV. No. 89. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



283 



EDUCATIONAL 



School Gardens in Porto Rico. 



The annual report on the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station in Porto Rico has the following note on school 

 gardens : — 



The station is co-operating with the public schools of 

 ^Niaj-aguez in carrying out a system of school gardens, with 

 the hope of interesting the coming generation in agricultural 

 pursuits. It is important that in the scheme of education 

 in the island attention be paid to certain practical affairs, of 

 which agriculture is destined to remain chief. A school 

 garden would be especially important because of the fact that 

 while many of the people are extremely poor they fail to 

 have gardens growing about their little houses, depending 

 wholly upon nature to provide some of the necessaries of life 

 that might be easily procured with a little labour. The 

 station is endeavouring to encourage the planting of gardens 

 by the men working in the various departments. Seeds and 

 manures are furnished and every encouragement given them 

 to plant gardens about their houses for their own good and 

 as an examiile to their neighbours. 



St. Vincent Agricultural School. 



The St. Vincent Sentry of September 1 has the 

 following article on the Agricultural School established 

 in that island by the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture: — 



Every visitor to this i.sland, who has the opportunity 

 «f seeing the Agricultural School and its beautiful grounds, 

 is most favourably impressed and recognizes the great 

 advantage the institution affords the rising generation. The 

 school is one of the best efforts of the Imperial Department 

 of Agriculture for the West Indies, and the attention being 

 paid to it by the efficient officers, to whose immediate care 

 it is entrusted, renders the institution a credit to the colony 

 in every respect. Up to the present, several boys who have 

 completed their course of training in the school have left 

 well equipped for agricultural employment. Some of them 

 have already obtained positions affording them an opportunity 

 of putting their scientific training into practice, and their 

 advancement is almost certain. 



It is the desire of the Imperial Commissioner that as 

 many parents as possible should make use of the facility 

 offered for giving a proper agricultural education to boys of 

 this colony who are likely to follow an agricultural life. In 

 view of the growing interest in scientific agriculture and the 

 great difference there is in results attained by the old 

 methods and the new, it is a matter of the greatest 

 importance that agriculturists and planters, who are 

 solicitous for the welfare of their boys who may have to 

 succeed them in the management of their estates or 

 lilantations, should take hold of the opportunities the local 

 Agricultural School is offering for the requirements of 

 scientific instruction. In connexion with this subject we 

 recommend to the careful attention of our readers the 

 following remarks of Mr. Horace Deighton, ex-Head Master 

 of Harrison College, Barbados. 



' For my part, I consider the action taken by Sir Daniel 

 Morris in promoting the study of science is one of the 

 greatest boons he has conferred on the West Indies. No 

 thinking man can doubt that an agriculturist unequipped 

 with a scientific training labours under serious disadvantages 

 compared with his trained rival. It is not so much the mere 



knowledge of chemistry, botany, etc., which he has acijuircd 

 in the laboratory — great as the value of this is — whicji will 

 be of use to him ; but the habit of mind and resourcefulness 

 induced by his scientific training, the alertne.ss and quickness 

 of observation to which he may attain, will be found of the 

 greatest possible service in the work of his life.' 



We cannot say more than this, in order to imiiro«s 

 parents as to the utility of the Agricultural School which 

 iiffers the benefit of agricultural training of a high standard 

 together with an efficient general education which is the 

 foundation for effective technical instruction. The latest 

 issue of the Afjucultural Xeirs (Vol. I^^ p. 261) gives 

 interesting information respecting the Agricultural School 

 here, and parents are invited to particiiiate in its benefits. 



IMPORTED POULTRY AT ANTIGUA. 



The following note indicating the success that has 

 attended the efforts of the Department to improve the 

 poultry at Antigua by introducing imported birds is 

 extracted from the annual report on the Botanic 

 Station for general information : — 



In 1903 five varieties of poultry were obtained and 

 placed at the Government Farm at Skerrett's, and Buff 

 Orpingtons were presented by Sir Gerald Strickland. They 

 have recently been transferred to the Scott's Hill Experiment 

 Station. 



As the data gathered while the bii'ds were at Skerrett's 

 has not been published, it is thought that the following may 

 prove interesting to poultry keepers. 



The names of the varieties imported are Buff Orpington, 

 Buff Plymouth Rock, Barred Plymouth Rock, Buff Wyandotte, 

 Black Minorca, and Brown Leghorn. A description of these 

 varieties will bo found in Pamphlet No. 23, published by 

 the Imperial Department of Agriculture entitled ' Notes on 

 Poultry ' which can be obtained at the local agents of the 

 Department. 



The heavier or ' table ' breeds have found most favour, 

 owing, largely, to the fact that the conunon fowls are small 

 and active and that the improvement by the cross between 

 them and the Minorca or Leghorn is not so apparent as in 

 the case of the cross with the heavier varieties. 



In this respect the Barred Plymouth Rock has been 

 found to give the best results, especially when three-quarter 

 tired, the young birds being hardy and active, while retaining 

 the appearance and rapid fattening properties of the pure- 

 bred stock. 



The original birds were imported from Canada, and the 

 following table will give the results of the first year's work : — 



At first, as the demand was large, the price charged for 

 the eggs was 4c?. each, but the price has been gradually 

 reduced, and the eggs are now sold at Is. 6t7. per dozen. 



