386 



THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



December 15, 1917. 



If one cannot look to the schools for relief in this 

 •connexion, there is good reason for thinking that 

 recourse may be had to the several Agricultural 

 Departments for assistance, particularly as regards 

 training of youths leaving the secondary schools. 



The Botanic Gardens and Experiment Stations, 

 which are now part of the regular equipment of every 

 West Indian colony, afford good training grounds for 

 a limited number of pupils, who can there gain sound 

 knowledge concerning matters of agricultural practice, 

 and usefully bridge the time between leaving school 

 and entering upon wage-earning employment. 



A definite system is in vogue in this connexion, 

 which has been described at length in the article in 

 the West Indian Bulletin (Vol. XIV, p. 171), to which 

 reference has already been made, and from which the 

 following is reproduced: — 



'In some colonies it is possible to afford much 

 useful training by using the Botanic and Agricultural 

 Experiment Stations as training grounds for youths 

 from the secondary schools, just as it is possible to 

 use them for training pupils from the elementary- 

 schools. In some West Indian colonies where this 

 scheme is in operation the term cadet is employed to 

 indicate the student from the secondary school, the 

 term agricultural pupil being reserved for the boy 

 from the elementary school; it will be found in prac- 

 tice that distinctions such as this have their value. 



'During the first year of a cadet's training he 

 should remain closely associated with the secondary 

 school, and should continue to attend such science 

 classes as may be considered most likely to be useful to 

 him; the remainder of each working day should be 

 occupied in connexion with the practical work of the 

 Botanic and Experiment Station. The situation of 

 the Botanic and Experiment Stations near popular 

 centres usually minimises the ditficulties attendant 

 upon this divided course. For the first year of his 

 training, at least, a cadet should be regarded as within 

 the jurisdiction of the school for purposes of discipline. 



'The kind of training a cadet may receive will 

 depend upon the nature of the work of the Botanic 

 and Agricultural Experiment Station of any given 

 district, and this in turn will be determined by the 

 nature of the agriculture of the surrounding district. 

 This has its advantages, for the cadet will best find 

 his work and training appro.ximating closely to the 

 recjuircments of the district in which he is placed, and 

 in which he may prob.ibly have to seek employment; 



and further, this amount of specialization permits of 

 a cadet being able to spend some time in more than 

 one institution, and so acquire, if necessary, a wide 

 range of agricultural experience. The chain of Botanic 

 and Experiment .Stations established throughout the 

 West Indies offers unusually good facilities for study 

 and training, of which advantage is being taken. 



'The training of a cadet embraces the acquiring 

 of some acquaintance with the manner in which the 

 routine office work of the institution in which he is 

 placed is conducted. He learns how correspondence 

 is conducted and records are kept, and participates in 

 this work. He acquires a knowledge of the various 

 agricultural and horticultural operations carried on at 

 the institution, and attains some skill in the practical 

 carrying out of them. As his experience increases he is 

 placed in charge of minor operations, and gradually 

 advances to the supervision of labourers, and to respon- 

 sibilities of a higher order. He also takes part in the 

 experiments and investigations which are undertaken 

 by the institution, and learns to appreciate their 

 bearing on the agricultural problems of the district, at 

 the same time learning the value of that accuracy and 

 honesty of purpose which is vital to proper work of 

 investigation. 



'Such training is calculated to produce in the 

 cadet that right attitude of mind which is the aim and 

 end of training, and which, when ingrafted, results in 

 the cadet having acquired such habits of thinking, 

 reading, and observing that his education is life-long, 

 and he becomes a progressive and useful member of 

 the agricultural community. The nature of his train- 

 ing affords him opportunities for remaining closely in 

 touch with the workers of the Botanic and Experiment 

 Stations, and with the work and publications of these 

 and kindred institutions, whereby a lifelong form of 

 education may, and does result. 



'The length of time a cadet should remain under 

 training is often determined by personal considerations, 

 but, if possible, it should extend to two years. 



'It is desirable that the cadet should receive some 

 small sum of money weekly: while this should be 

 regarded rather as a subsistence allowance than wages, 

 it has a useful effect in more than one direction; it is 

 extremely useful in that it familiarises the youth with 

 the handling of small sums of money for his persona) 

 use, whereby he learns something of the value and 

 limitations of money, and it also adds to his self-respect 

 for there is no doubt that every right-minded lad feel 

 justifiable pride in his first earnincfs. T!. -.^iil.w ■];,'. 



