Vol. IV. No. 87 



THE AGEICULTUEAL NEWS. 



261 



EDUCATIONAL 



I 



Agricultural Schools. 



Leaflets have been distributed in St. Lucia and 

 St. ^'incent embodying the following infonnatum 

 respecting the Agricultural Schools in those islands. 

 A similar school is in existence in Dominica : — 



The Agricultural Soliool was established in 1901 by the 

 Imperial Depai'tment of Agriculture for tlie West Indies, for 

 the purpose of affording a sound practical training in 

 ai'riculture to a selected number of boys of about fifteeu 

 jears of age, who have passed the fourth standard, or who 

 otherwise aflbrd evidence that they have reached a similar 

 sta'J-e of attainments in school subjects. 



SELECTION OF CAX1>IDATES FOR ADMISSION. 



In the selection of candidates, preference is given to 

 boys whose parents own agricultural land, or w-ho are 

 especially interested in agricultural pursuits. Candidates for 

 admission must be respectable and of good conduct, and are 

 required to pass a written examination ; also to obtain 

 a medical certificate showing that they are strong and healthy 

 and capable of undergoing the necessary training in field. 



AGEEEMEXT TO BE SIGNED BY TAEEXTS. 



After a probation period of three months, boy.s who 

 have satisfied the necessary conditions are formally admitted 

 into the school on an agreement being signed by the 

 parents or guardians undertaking that the boys should 

 remain undisturbed at the school for a period of three or 

 four years, until they have attained the age of nineteen 

 years. 



ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHOOL. 



In addition to the educational advantages they receive, 

 the pupils of the school are lo'dged and boarded as well as 

 k clothed, free of exiiense to their parents. Their health is 

 [well cared for by a medical officer appointed for the purpose ; 

 I many forms of recreation are provided, and they are allowed 

 [periodical holidays for the pnriwse of visiting their homes. 

 I Arrangements are made whereby puiiils may regularly 



.attend a place of worship on Sundays. 



Admission to this school should, therefore, be regarded 

 [as a prize worthy of competition by the best boys from the 

 [elementary and other schools in the colony. 



VACANCIKS PEOBABLE SHOETLV. 



Some of the students now in the school will shortly 

 1 complete their course of training and when they leave there 

 [will be several vacancies which will be filled by the first 

 I suitable applicants. Planters and agriculturists, who have 

 I boys who intend to follow an agricultural life and who would 

 like to receive the benefit of a practical training at the Agri- 

 cultural School, should write at once to the Agricultural 

 Superintendent for auy further information or send in an 

 application for admission. 



to obtain specimens of the local tiora as illustrations in 

 botanical instruction, various municipal gardens have been 

 laid out for this imrpose, and the schools are now supplied 

 from time to time with the specimens they require. In some 

 towns there exists one garden .supplying all schools ; in other 

 cases such gardens have been added to the schools beyond 

 their ordinary playing grounds. Amongst the sixty schools of 

 Frankfort-:>n-Main there are thirty-one school gardens of an 

 average size of 1.50 square metres, which are used for 

 practical demonstration of various botanical developments 

 and incidents. Besides these there exists for the time being 

 a garden measuring about 1 hectare, in which botanical 

 specimens are cultivated for use in the schools. But a better 

 garden is in course of construction, provided also with 

 special ponds for water jilants and rougher parts for 

 specimens of the Alpine flora. The most perfect school 

 garden in Germany exists in Miuiich, where in all 16,990 

 square metres are given up for this purpose, from which not 

 only the schools but also the academies of piainting are 

 supplied. Besides these gardens some towns also supply 

 sufficient ground in which the school cliildreu are taught by 

 a qualified master the rudiments of gardening during their 

 spare time. 



School Gardens in Germany. 



The Consular Report on the trade of Germany for 

 1904 contains the following reference to the establish- 

 ment of school gardens : — 



Another scheme concerning gardens is at_ present 

 attracting some attention in Germany, and is said to be 

 entirely .successful. As it has been found that the extended 

 size of modern towns makes it difficult for the various schools 



Trinidad. 



The Annual Repoit of the Principal of Queen's 

 Royal College, Trinidad, for 1904-5 contains the 

 following i-eference to the teaching of agricultural 

 science : — 



Acting on the report of a committee consisting of the 

 Principals of the Queen's lloyal College and affiliated schools 

 and the Professor of Chemistry, appointed by the Collega 

 Council to consider the teaching of science at the Queen's 

 Royal and St. Clary's Colleges, a new scheme was introduced 

 in .January 1905. The number of classes receiving 

 instruction was increased from two to four, and the subjects 

 of instruction were changed. The only subject taught 

 previously was chemistry. The new scheme provides for the 

 instruction of classes I, III, and IV in agricultural science, 

 and of classes II and III in chemistry. 



The report of the committee referred to, dated 

 September 21, 1904, was contained in Professor 

 Carmody's paper at the last Agricultural Conference 

 and is as follows : — ■ 



The committee nominated by the College Council on 

 .July 7 last, to discuss and formulate a scheme in respect to 

 the proposed teaching of agricultural science at the colleges, 

 have the honour to report that they have unanimously agreed 

 to make the following recommendations etlecting a change in 

 the curricidum so far as the subject of chemistry is con- 

 cerned : — 



((() That elementary agricultural science should be 

 taught at the Laboratory one hour a week during term time 

 to boys of class IV. 



(i) That the boys of class III should receive one 

 lesson a week for one hour in agricultural science, and one 

 lesson a week for one hour in theoretical chemistry. 



(c) That theoretical and practical chemistry should 

 form the subjects of two lessons of one hour and a half per 

 week for boys of class IT. 



(d) That two lessons in agricultural science of two 

 hours' per week should bo given to boys of class I. 



Hitherto, classes I and II only have attended at the 

 Laboratory, and the instruction given has been confined to 

 theoretical and practical chemistry. 



