April, 1922. 



SGIEXTIFH" ACiRK TI/nRK. 



the West Indies, the consignments l)eing 

 from three to four months in transit, in- 

 cluding a long sea voyage. The meal al- 

 ways arrived in good condition and appa- 

 rently satisfied the tastes of the natives. 



Tlie demand for corn products is in- 

 creasing due largely to the activities of 

 the American Corn Millers' PVderation. 

 ft is hoped it continues to do so as; corn, 

 in many forms is a valiiahlc linman food. 



West India Agricultural College. 



During tlie months of December, 1921, 

 and January, 1922, the 'Agricultural 

 Xews, pul)lished at Barbadrs ' for the Im- 

 perial Department of Agriculture for the 

 West Indies, featured a series of articles 

 on the proposed agricultural college 

 ■which is to be established at Trinidad. 

 Editorial' reference to the matter is also 

 found in the West India Committee Cir- 

 cular, in the' London Times and in Na- 

 ture, the English scientific journal. An 

 outline of the progress so far made and 

 the purposesi of the new institution may 

 be of interest to Canadian readers. 



The Secretary of State for the Colon- 

 ies (Lord Milner) in August, 1919, ap- 

 pointed a committee to enquire into the 

 advisabilit.v of -establishing an agricul- 

 tural college in the West Indies. The 

 report of this Committee, submitted the 

 following year. Avas highly favourable 

 and, pending application for a Royal 

 Charter, it was suggested that the col- 

 lege be incorporated under the Compa- 

 nies' Act as a Charitable Company "lim- 

 ited by guarantee not to declare divi- 

 dends or profits*'. In this way all the 

 legal machinery for incorporation and 

 management is provided and registra- 

 tion is possible A\ithout the use of the 

 word "limited'*, thus distinguishing it 

 from commercial concerns. This recom- 

 mendation was Subsequently carried into 

 effect. 



The purpose of the college is to give 

 a systematic, practical and scientific 

 training in tropical agriculture which 

 may be comparable to the training now 

 being given in similar institutions in the 

 U. S., Canada and elsewhere in tem- 

 perate climates. While primarily, there- 

 ■fore,the college is for West Indians, it 

 was felt that students would also be at- 

 tracted from other tropical countries, and 

 elsewhere, for special training in such 

 subjects as the manufacture of sugar and 

 sugar technology in general. 



A general course will be providctl for 

 those intending to take up commercial 

 work. Tiiis will l)e the main course and 

 will lead to a Diploma. Shorter courses 

 will also be necessary, e>;pecially for those 

 with agricultural training coming from 

 temperate climates to take up work in 

 the tropics. They will find the new col- 

 lege at Trinidad of immense value, 

 especially in such subjects as entomology, 

 mycology and chemistry. 



The erection of l)uildings is being given 

 immediate consideration, an architect luiv- 

 ing been appointed in September, 1921. 



The Governing Body is composed of 

 some sixteen members. Sir Arthur Ever- 

 ett Shipley is Chairman, Sir David Prain, 

 Vice Chairman and Sir Francis Watt, 

 Principal. 



The decision to build and equip an 

 agricultural college in the West Indies 

 Avill be acclaimed by agriculturists 

 throughout the world, not only because 

 of the value of tropical products but 

 chiefh' because of the opportunities of- 

 fered for the. application of science to 

 production methods. There will also be 

 developed that highly necessary know- 

 ledge of the details involved in the pro- 

 duction of the important raw materials 

 for which the West Indies are so well 

 known. That knoAvledge aWII be of the 

 greatest value to those handling tropic- 

 al products in other countries as well as 

 to the producers themselves. 



The effect of this new institution will 

 not be confined to the West Indies. Agri- 

 culturists in many other countries will 

 follow its development with the greatest 

 interest. Some will undoubtedly take ad- 

 vantage of the training which it offers 

 and it will serve as an incentive to the 

 establishment of similar colleges in other 

 parts of the Empire where their need 

 has long been felt. 



F. H. G. 



