84 
agriculture to the students actually enrolled, the Mayaguez insti- 
tution has from the outset undertaken the important task of aiding 
the ordinary teachers of Porto Rico in their effort to relate school 
training to the daily avocations of the people. It is not clear to 
me how far the Porto Rico College can or does devote itself to 
work other than the teaching of agriculture to its students and 
the training of ordinary school teachers in the subject. I am 
aware that the College was located at Mayaguez so as to be near 
the Agricultural Experimental Station which was established 
to my notice 
The Sugar School in Louisiana is, however, known to undertake 
the tasks both of imparting and of advancing knowledge. The 
tution does for the people of the United States. The College 
would certainly be intended to give due attention to every one of 
the agricultural industries and interests of the Colonies, not only 
as regards instruction but also as regards investigation. In this 
respect it should come to deserve comparison with the singularly 
well equipped Tropical Research Institute created by the Nether- 
lands Government at Buitenzorg in Java, and with the similar 
Institute at Pusa in Behar on behalf of the Indian Empire. 
frica, Australia or New Zealand. Sound and extensive though 
this training undoubtedly is, the fact remains that it does not 
really amount to a complete introduction to the specialised pro- 
blems which confront the agricultural officer in tropical countries. 
The training imparted in a temperate climate affords the neces- 
sary groundwork on which to build up tropical experience. But 
much time and labour are required before the newcomer can, 
unaided, adapt himself to conditions that are strange and pecu- 
ar, and is in a position to make use of his gradually acquired 
experience for the good of the community whose Government he 
