1920.'] 41 



CACAO PRIZE COMPETITION 1919-1920.— 

 POOLE-RIO CLARO. 



Report of the Judges. 



We have the horonr to report that the judghig in the Cacao Prize 

 Competition in the Poole-Kio Claro District commenced on Tuesday, 

 April 20 and ended on Monday, April 26. During this period twenty 

 cnitivations were vipited and judged. Twenty-two competitors were 

 originally presented for judging, but two were absent. 



After a careful comparison of the merits of each competitor's work, 

 we were able to recommend that all the prizes in Class I and six in 

 ■Class II be awarded to the thirteen competitors named on the attached 

 list. 



As a tie has occurred for the first place in Class II we beg to suggest 

 that the first and second prizes in Class II, as also the seventh prize in 

 the same class (which has not been awarded) be added together and 

 divided equally between Bartholomew Williams and Samuel Carrington 

 who have ercli obtained 95 marks. These two men have proved them- 

 selves to be the champions of the competition, having surpassed all the 

 other competitors. 



The average percentage of mavks obtained by the prize-winners 

 among the peasant proprietors is for Tillage 74-28 per cent., for Sanita- 

 tion 59 per cent., and for General 70 per cent. These may be considered 

 fair except in the case of Sanitation which is rather low. In the con- 

 tractors class the following percentages have been obtained by the prize- 

 winners: — Tillage 85 per cent.. Sanitation 88-3 per cent, and General 72'.5 

 per cent.; indicating rhat the contractors have done nmch better work 

 than the proprietors. 



It is wortliy of note that the marks obtained for draining have been 

 fairly high, two of the successful competitors got full marks and five 

 reached as high as 95 per cent. Good drainage seems to be getting 

 pretty general all over the district even on undulating lands. 



In forking and manuring there is si ill much to be desired, as there 

 has been a certain amount of prejudice against these operations 

 nevertheless some of tlie prize-winners did remarkably well in Tillage. 

 Sanitation is backward among the competitors as a whole, but it is 

 gratifying to note that a few of the prize-winners obtained very high 

 marks in this line, Saumel Carrington having reached lUO per cent., 

 while five others reached 95 per cent. 



We have been favrurably impressed with the theoretical knowledge 

 of the successful competitors. It is indeed pleasing to record that out 

 of the thirteen prize-winners, five obtained full marks in theory and 

 five reached 95 per cent. 



We cannot speak too highly of the holdings of Jhooree Sin|;h, 

 Bartholomew Williams and Samael Carrington. Each is in itself a 

 denionstri;tion plot, well worthy of admiration, and serves as an education 

 to the neighbouring inhabitants. Jhooree Singh is deserving of special 

 mention for his heavy manuring and good sanitation ; Williams for good 

 xlraining, manuring, and heavy mulching, also very good sanitation ; 



