Vol. X. No. 228. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



29 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONS. 



On another page of this issue of tlie Agricultural News, 

 the results are presented of the Intermediate and Final 

 Examinations held in connexion with the Courses of Heading 

 of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, on November 7, 

 last. It is the purpose of the present article to deal with the 

 questions and answers in the former of these examinations, 

 with the ol)ject of giving candidates assistance in their future 

 work. 



Dealing firstly with the paper in general agricultural 

 science in the Intermediate Examination, it may be said that 

 fairly good answers were obtained, generally, to the first two 

 questions, which had reference to the addition of nitrogen to 

 the soil, and the relation of plants and animals to the 

 atmosphere. In regard to the former, the work in practice 

 was usually made to refer to the employment of green dress- 

 ings, but it was rare that any account was given of the ways 

 in which the best conditions may be lirought about for 

 nitrogen fixation l)y soil organisms. Most of the candidates 

 understood that the question had no reference to nitrifying 

 bacteria. Question 3 should have been approached in a broad 

 manner, starting with the consideration of the kinds of tillage 

 that are given with the fork, and with the hoe and rake, and 

 passing from these to the mechanical implements that are 

 employed to do the work. Questions -t and 5 required 

 descriptive answers, and these often showed too much of the 

 direct influence of the text-book; the latter part of question 5, 

 referring to the ensuring of pollination in the ca.se of some 

 given agricultural product, was answered badly. The replies to 

 question 6 were disappointing, except in one case — the only 

 one in which an adequate working out was given of the 

 problem to decide which was the cheaper manure; the latter 

 part of the question, which had to do with the other con.sider- 

 ations than price that would have to be taken into account, 

 in deciding which of the manures to use in any given instance, 

 was an.swered incompletely, in most cases, as there was very 

 little reference to the needs of plants, and the possible effects 

 of the manures on the soil. 



Questions 7, 8 and 9 received fair answers, generally: as 

 regards the first, however, no candidate showed that he had 

 a proper knowledge of what is meant by the albuminoid 

 (or nutritive) ratio of foods. The descriptions of fungi given 

 in answer to question 10 were mostly good; there was neglect, 

 however, to make the descriptions illustrate the general life- 

 history of fungi. Fair knowledge was .shown in connexion 

 with the two last questions: but it was a matter for some 

 surprise, in view of the attention that has been given recently 

 to the subject, that very few candidates mentioned the control 

 of insects by means of fungus and insect parasites. 



In considering the pajier on special crop subjects, it is 

 not possible to go into much detail, because of the large 

 number of questions that had to be set in order to cover the 

 ground. The answers given in the sugar industry section 

 generally showed fair practical knowledge: this was particu- 

 larly the case with questions 1, 2, 5, 8, in the general 

 part, 2, in muscovado sugar, and I and 2 in vacuum pan 

 method. In regard to the first question of all, it was notice- 

 able that candidates generally understood that it was necessary 

 to consider the previous history of the land, in devising means 

 for preparing it for sugarcane planting. The first half of 

 question .3, in the general part of sugar industry, produced 

 some good answers; the second half, where examples were 

 required, was dealt with weakly in nearly all ca.ses. Question 



4, asking for an account of the moth borer of sugar- cane, 

 needed more detail than was generally given; this remark is 

 also generally applicable to the descriptive answers given in 

 connexion with the other special subjects. The question 

 on drainage (No. 7) was usually dealt with adequately, 

 though a lack of knowledge was shown in regard to the signs 

 that are exhibited when land requires draining. 



The questions on cacao obtained fair answers, generally, 

 from those who took the subject. As has been indicated, 

 however, the descriptions in questions 2 and 4 were often 

 weak, (jood accounts of the usual methods for drying cacao 

 were obtained, but little was known, on the part of several 

 candidates, as to any improvements on these. The descrip- 

 tions of arrangements for carrying out pruning on a cacao 

 estate often did not include a reference to the way in 

 which labour would be obtained and organized for the 

 purpose. With reference to question .5, it should lie remem- 

 liered that, among the advantages of the grafting of cacao, 

 are the production of plants which bear early and the obtain- 

 ing, where grafting is carried out according to a consistent 

 plan, and for a sufficient time, of a uniform product from the 

 estate; so that fermenting and curing are simplified, and the 

 estate obtains a good name for its cacao. The remaining 

 three questions were dealt with well, in several instances; 

 though it was expected that more would be known about 

 possible improved methods of cacao cultivation. 



The part of the paper dealing with limes was only taken 

 by one candidate; so that there was not much evidence 

 obtained as to sources of weakness in connexion with the 

 subject. A few remarks of a general nature . may be made, 

 however. Question 2 refers to actual observations on the 

 part of the candidate: so that in the absence of these, it should 

 not be attempted. In answering question 3, the best plan 

 would be to suggest a lime nursery of definite dimensions, 

 and to make the facts of the answer apply to this. The 

 manufacture of citrate of lime was hinted at in question 4. 

 Question 8 should serve as a subject for thought on the part 

 of those who are engaged practically in lime cultivation. 



In regard to cotton, it should be noted that reference is 

 made, in question 1, to the manurial requirements of this 

 plant in the West Indie.s, and not in any definite part of 

 these islands. What has been said about weakness in 

 description applies equally to questions 2 and 4 of this paper. 

 In regard to question 3, only a few of the candidates includ- 

 ed the consideration of the manuring and preparation of the 

 land, after the removal of the cotton crop. Only one or two 

 good answers were evoked by question .3; candidates should 

 understand that it is an easy matter for the examiner to 

 detect any lack of adequate practical work in connexion with 

 the subject; there was a notable want of actual figures in the 

 answers that were given. It is necessary, in answering ques- 

 tion 6, to rememlier that the best kind of cotton seed selec- 

 tion commences with selection of the plants. Fair answers 

 were obtained to questions 7 and 8, though there was 

 a great deal of uncertainty, in regard to the former, as to the 

 real reasons for concluding that the type of cotton descrilied 

 was the best one for the West Indies. 



Two candidates took the provision crop section, about 

 which little need be said except that, in this stage of the 

 examinations, descriptions must be strong in detail, and that 

 a knowledge of the subsidiary products and by-products of 

 the various crops is essential. 



It may be remarked, in conclusion, that a practical knowl- 

 edge of the subjects was generally exhiliited by candidates 

 in all parts of the examination, and that le.ss reliance was 

 shown on mere work with text-books than was the case in the 

 Intermediate Examination of the previous year. 



