19S0.\ CACAO PRIZE COMPETITION. 43-. 



PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.— RIO CLARO. 



The regulationa for this competition were given in the Bulletin.. 

 XVIII. 1919, 38. 



The prizes were distributed by His Excellency the Acting Governor,, 

 the Hon. T. A. V. Best, C.M.G,, CB.E., at Rio Claro on June 19, 1920. 



RETORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. W. G. Freeman said :— Cacao Prize Competitions were started 

 in 1911 as a method of practical agricultural education, the instruction 

 taking place on the actual land of the jieasant proprietor or contractor- 

 They proved ussful and since 1911 other competitions had also been 

 held. Cane Farming, Vegetables, Rice and Tobacco growing and in 

 addition to pro\^iding cost of the salaries of the Agricultural Advisers, 

 their travelling, etc., the Board of Agriculture had given over $5,090 in 

 cash prizes. The eximple of the Board had been followed bys^me 

 estate owners, notal^ly the Ste. Madeleine Sugar Company, whose prize 

 distribution would take place during the following week. 



Objects of the Competition. 

 The object of the Competitions was to encourage the good cultiva- 

 tion of cacao by peasant proprietors aiid contractors to help them to get 

 better crops and so more money, to keep their trees in more healthy condi- 

 tion. The Agricultural Advisers — Mr. L. Mota in their district — came 

 to them as friends ready to show practically to each on his own holdings 

 what could be done. For example if draining is necessary, where the 

 drains should be put, and how they should be dug, if canker were 

 reducing the crop, how to recognize the disease, how to get rid of it, how 

 to prune trees, how to fork the land, how to make the best of materials 

 for manuring, mulching, etc. In order that the juduing might be 

 impartial and practical, the Board always tried to get a local planter to 

 help, together with two of the Agricultural Advisers. In this competi- 

 tion Mr. Rostant had kindly asssisted and the Board of Agriculture was 

 gliid to learn from the report of the judges that good work had been 

 done. The following prize winners are specially mentioned : — Two of 

 the Contractors, Bartholomew Williams and Samuel Carrington are 

 described as the champions of the Competition, and of the holdings of 

 these two and of Jh )re3 Singh as well they say " We cannot speak too 

 highly, each holding is in itself a demonstration plot." Bheeman 

 Sedarnee is specially commanded for good work in seed selection, and 

 Neetoo for forking and weeding. 



Improvements recommended. 

 The Judges also note your shortcomings. They_report a prejudice 

 against forking and draining. Well, some of you have visited River 

 Estate and seen that the Department of Agriculture at any rate, 

 practices what it preaches, I hope others of you will come also, and in 

 any case that you will give a trial to suggested alterations in your 

 methods. Try them on a part of your property and watch the results. 

 Some of the most successful large planters in the colony, fork and drain. 

 and possibly you will find that what is good for them is good for yoa. 



