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island has had up to now, thank God, few cocoa diseases to contend 

 with, the ' Brown Eot ' and ' Canker ' being the only two. The 

 measures successfully adopted to combat them, have been the treatment 

 suggested, I believe, by the Imperial Department of Agriculture, and 

 with the advice and assistance of Mr. Hart, the Superintendent of the 

 Botanic Gardens here, thej r are kept under control. The cocoa trees 

 of the plantations situate in the valleys suffer considerably from 

 ' moss ' on account, I presume, of the excessive moisture, and it would 

 be desirable if some other and more efficacious means than the brush 

 or the hand — the ' knapsack ' sprayer having totally failed for the 

 purpose — should be found to deal with it. There are several patent 

 cocoa dryers of different patterns used for the curing of the cocoa bean 

 and I am informed that they give satisfaction, but personally I shall 

 adhere to the opinion that the sun-dried article is preferable. With 

 regard to green dressing I am not aware that it is resorted to to any 

 great extent. I gave it a trial on one of my properties in October 

 last, and so far I have not noticed a very marked change in the look 

 of the tree. 1 -. In conclusion, I regret that, owing to the short time 

 since experiments have been started in the Colony, I have no statistics 

 to offer. 



The President : With the object of assisting the cocoa industry 

 in Grenada, St. Lucia and Dominica, we undertook a series of what 

 we called sample plots of cocoa ; that is to say, we took over plots of 

 land, about one acre in extent, near the public road from proprietors 

 who were willing to allow us the use of the land, and to assist in the 

 cultivation. These plots were labelled 'Imperial Department Plots.' 

 In most cases they consisted of cocoa which was not in good health. 

 The Department paid the expense of cultivation, the Agricultural 

 Instructor visited these jdots, which became central points for giving 

 information to cultivators in the district. The planter who gave the 

 use of the plot became the agent of the Department in his district, so 

 that when the Agricultural Instructor visited the plot he would see 

 the planter and discuss with him the best way of utilizing his time 

 while in the district. Sometimes it was suggested that a meeting 

 would be held at which the cocoa growers in the district should 

 be present. After the Instructor had been introduced to them 

 by a person they knew, they were ultimately willing to receive 

 and hear the Instructor and follow his advice. Some people might 

 regard the establishment of sample plots as giving assistance 

 to the large proprietors by taking a portion of their land and 

 cultivating it for them. However, we are quite satisfied with 

 the results, as the feeling that has been created among small 

 proprietors by our taking an interest in their cultivations has 

 more than repaid us for the trouble and expenses which the 

 establishment of these plots has occasioned. As the result 

 of sample plots in Grenada, a paper in connection with one 

 of these has been circulated among members of the Conference. 

 Peasant proprietors who had scouted the idea are now making 

 drains and pruning their trees, applying manures and fully 

 carrying out the recommendations of the Department. I believe these 

 sample plots have been very beneficial. We have gone through our 

 first series and should now begin another. The plots in Dominica I 



