282 



Gardens at Hope, Castleton and Cincliona, and a further limited grant 

 was recommended to be made to make goo 1 the damages as these gar- 

 dens were great sources of attraction to tourists. 



Mr Fawcett submitted a memorandum showing that from the cot- 

 t -n grown at Hope they had already a sufficient quantity to start gin- 

 ning. 



On Mr. Cousins' application it was decided that two more apprentices 

 were to be admitted to the Laboratory and that students should receive 

 free third class passes to enable them to visit estates. 



The usual monthly mee'ing of the Board of Agriculture was held at 

 Headquarter House on Tuesday, I'Hh October, at 9 o'clock, present, 

 Hon. 8. Olivier in the Chair, the Director of Public Grardens and Plan- 

 tations, the Q-overnment Chemist, and Messrs. C. E. deMercado, and 

 C. A. T. Fursdon 



The minutes of the previous meeiing were read and confirmed 



The Estimates for Agricultural Services for 1901-05, were dis- 

 cussed and paesed. 



It was agreed to ask the Government to communicate with the steam- 

 ship companies on the subject of having plants from Hops Gardens 

 taken round the island free of freight and of wharfage. 



Correspondence was submitted by the Colonial Secretary in regard 

 to two bull calves, presented by His Majesty the King to the island 

 It was resolved to refer the matter to the Agricultural Society. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held at 

 Headquarter House on 10th November, at which the following mem- 

 bers were present : — Honourable Colonial Secretary (in the chair), the 

 Director ot Public Gardens, Hon. T. H. Sharp, Hon. H. Cork, and 

 Messrs. C. E. deMercado, and C. A. T. Fursdon. 



Sir Daniel Morris spoke on the subject of teaching elementary science 

 and agriculture in elementary schools, and suggested that greater im- 

 portance should be given to these subjects in the Code by allotting to 

 them the same number of marks on inspection as are given for the pri- 

 mary subjects. He stated that in Trinidad there were already 200 

 school gardens established and that probably the reason for the small 

 number in Jamaica was that the regulations were too severe, i.e., that 

 the ground must be half of an acre, and must be fenced. He also sug- 

 gesetd that at all Agricultural Shows there should be a special section 

 for school children, where they might exhibit plants grown by them- 

 selves in pots. The question of inspection was discussed, and it ap- 

 peared to the Board that if the agricultural instructors were increased 

 say by four, the Education Department might invite ticir assistance to 

 supervise and assist the working of school gardens and to inspect them 

 for the Department. 



The Board after discussion of Sir Daniel Morris's criticism, recorded 

 its opinion that the progress made in the development of agricultural 

 elementary education during the five years to which attention has been 

 directed to it it, was not so satisfactory as could be desired. 



It was resolved to recommend to the Governor that the Superintend- 

 ing Inspector of Schools should be placed ou the Board of Agriculture 



