Vol. V. No. 103. 



THE AGRICULTtTKAL NEWS. 



133 



FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN JAMAICA. 



The Bulletin of the Jamaica Department uf 

 Agricultare tor March 1906, contains an interesting 

 article by Mr. William Harris, F.L.S., Superintendent of 

 Hope Gardens, entitled ' Seasons and Prices for Fruits, 

 Vegetables, and other Economic Products in Kingston, 

 Jamaica.' The following is quoted from the introduc- 

 tion : — 



As there is a good deal of misapprehension with regard 

 to the seasons for the various crops grown in Jamaica, and 

 the duration of the season for each crop, the compiler visited 

 the principal market in Kingston once a week for twelve 

 months for the purpose of noting the various products 

 otfered for sale, and the prices charged to consumers. These 

 prices are at least one third, and frequently three or four 

 times higher than the prices paid by the retail dealers to the 

 growers of the commodities enumerated. The prices noted 

 for economic prodircts such as ginger, anaatto, etc., were 

 those paid by a large exporting firm to the producers. 



It will be readily understood that the seasons vary 

 somewhat according to prevailing conditions, and the prices 

 also vary according to supjjly and demand. 



Then follows, in a table, a list of fruits, vegetables, 

 and economic products with the common name given 

 in the first column, the technical name in the second, 

 while the third or right hand column gives the 

 seasons for the crops as well as the prices paid to the 

 growers. Such a list should be of great assistance 

 to both grower and buyer, indicating as it does the 

 approximate prices for the year, and the seasons when 

 each 'of the products mentioned may be expected to be 

 available in greatest quantity. 



EDUCATIONAL 



Lectures to Teachers in Antigua and Mont- 

 serrat, 1905-6. 



The following is from the report of Mr. A. H. 

 Kirby, B.A., Science Master of the Grammar School, 

 Antigua : — 



'In dealing with the elementary science subjects 

 prescribed in the Code of 1903 of the Leeward Islands 

 Educational Department, the teachers in elementary 

 schools have met with difficulties in that part of the 

 syllabus which relates to the Middle Division, Part 1. 

 These difticidties have arisen from the fact that 

 information of a concise nature, and suitable to the 

 natural conditions under which the teachers found 

 themselves, was not obtainable by them, as well as from 

 the fact that the}' did not possess the special knowledge 

 which would enable them to compile it themselves. 

 It was, therefore, decided to supply the deficiency by 

 means of a course of lectures which should not only 

 give the information, but should also place those who, 

 attended them in a position to add to it on their account. 



With these objects in view, a lecture was given in each 

 of the months September to December of 1905, and in January 

 audFebruary of 1906, in the science class-room at theGrammar 



School. These dealt with (a) the differSTiices which plants 

 exhibit as regards their outward appearance and habits, 

 and the chief reasons for them ; (6) a simple outline of 

 the life-history of the less well known types of plants, 

 including bacteria, yeasts, green algae, fungi, lichens, ferns, 

 and mosses; (c) diti'erent forms (if fruits; {d) plants and their 

 habitat ; (e) the teaching of facts relating to plant life from 

 specimens rai.sed in boxes and pots. Twenty-eight teachers 

 and pupil teachers were notified as to the times and scope of 

 the lectures of the intended course by means of a circular, 

 through Mr. J. E. James, the Education Officer. The average 

 attendance throughout was 18'5, a number which may be 

 regarded as fairly satisfactory when the difficulty in getting 

 to St. John's which is experienced by those teachers living 

 at a distance, is considered. 



The lectures were illustrated by specimens, and by 

 simple experiments where these were rec[uired. The taking 

 of notes was encouraged and aided by the laying of special 

 stress on the more important points, as well as by concise 

 tabulation of the subject-matter on the blackboard after its 

 general nature had been dealt with orally. The notes thus 

 taken were subsequently corrected, and supplemented, if 

 necessary, by the lecturer. In the treatment of the subjects, 

 it was constantly kept in mind that the result of the course 

 should not be merely the acquirement of a certain amount 

 of useful knowledge by those who attended it, but that these 

 should also be able on its termination to add to that 

 knowledge themselves, and to impart it to others in 

 a simple and systematic way. With these objects in 

 view, the importance of making careful observations and 

 recording them, whenever opportunity is atibrded, was 

 insisted upon, and hints were given as to the methods of 

 teaching and demonstration which are specially applicable in 

 the case of the subjects dealt with. By questions from the 

 lecturer during the lecture, and from the teachers after its 

 conclusion, its scope was usefully increased, and points 

 upon which any doubt existed or may have arisen, were 

 successfully elucidated One illustration of the usefulness 

 of such a procedure is atibrdetl by the fact that part of 

 the last lecture was devoted to the consideration of the 

 cultivation of plants in boxes and pots, as a simple and 

 easily controlled means of investigating their behaviour v/hen 

 placed under differing conditions, a subject which it was not 

 intended to include in the course at first. 



A short outline of the course has been prepared by 

 the lecturer with the object of aiding teachers in the future. 

 This is now in the hands of the Inspector of Schools. 



MONTSEEEAT. 



An amplified course of eight lectures dealing with the 

 same subjects was given in January of this year. It was 

 considered advisable to increase its scope in this case because 

 no lectures have recently been given to teachers in that 

 island. In these, the same objects were kept in view as in 

 Antigua. The standard of the notes and the attendance 

 were good. Twenty-two head teachers and assistants, and 

 twenty-nine pupil teachers and monitors attended, the 

 average attendances being 18 J and 'li'S respectively. 



In both cases, the reasonable attitude taken up by the 

 teachers with regard to the subjects under treatment and 

 their right appreciation of what was told them about these 

 was evidenced by the notes taken by them. In most cases, 

 these notes were very good, and lead to the hope that the eflfect 

 of the course may extend, not only to the special object in. 

 view, but through the whole of the work connected with the 

 teaching of the general principles of agriculture. 



