1920.'\ . ^^ 



AGFvICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



CANS FARMERS' PRIZ3 COMPHTinON, 1919. 

 Report of ths Juig-as. 



The number of corapetit:)rs selected by the Agricultural Adviser 

 for examination were thirty-eighb (3S)— eigh een in Disbricb A (Tacarigui- 

 Caroni) and tweiiby in Disfcricfc B (Gouva-Chagaanas). Of thig number 

 one in Distrisfc \, and two in District B, failed to m33t the judges as 

 advised and ware accordingly disqaalitiel. All of the others were 

 present with the judges, each on his own farm. 



The work and condition of every farm w^re very carefully inspected 

 and all the peculiar circumstances of soil and locality considered. All the 

 farmers ware closely catachised to tsst the soundness of their practice 

 and their grasp of the principles underlying the various opjrations 

 incidental to sugar caae cultivation. 



The answers and explanations givei by the majority of the com- 

 petitors warrant our daclaring the comp3tition a thorough suj^ess and 

 productive of much benefit to the cane farmers and the sugar industry. 



Among the items of interesting information gleined during the 

 course of the judging prominence mast hi given to the deserved popu- 

 larity of the cane B. .347 (Burk). This seedling, it will be remembered, 

 came into similar prominence in the 1918 competition in the Naparimas 

 where soil and other conditions are very much different from those of 

 this 3-ear's districts. 



The high esteem in which many of the farmers on the heavy and 

 the moderately fresh soils of the Wyaby, Charlieville and Cacandu Eoad 

 sectors hold the old " Bourbon " is also worthy of remark, particularly 

 when the fine showing of even ratoon crops seem to amply justify the 

 confidence placed in the cane. 



The D. 103 (Sweet Bee) is very popular in the Couva-Carapichaima 



sector. 



THE DISTRICT. 



The keen spirit of rivalry with which most of the competitors 

 evidently worked is shown in both districts, by the first-prize winner 

 in each case being attended by a prize-winning neighbour. 



The work of District B (Couva-Chaguanas) on the whole has been 

 somewhat better than that of District A (Tacarigua-Caroni), the average 

 number of points g lined by the first 13 competitors in each being 

 respectively 82-1 and 81-6. When the standard of work of the prize- 

 winners is considered and a comparison made between the districts the 

 superiority of District B is very marked. 



Tillage. Cultivation. General. 



District A ... 93 percent. 100 percent. 63 percent. 



District B ...100 „ 100 „ 78 



The prize-winners' totals for the two districts average respectively 

 SO per cent, and 96 per cent. 



