52 TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



the shortage of officers prevents the same district from 

 being frequently visited. It is hoped this may be shortly 

 overcome. Small model blocks were recently started. 

 These have been placed in the charge of local men who 

 had received some weeks' training in cocoa cultivation, 

 and, provided it is found possible to give these plots 

 frequent supervision, they should serve as demonstrations 

 to the surrounding farms. 



To provide future officers, the native staff at the 

 various stations is graded as follows: 



Office Salary 



Learner 25 to 40, by 5 



Garden Assistant 40 to 60, by $ 



Second-class Overseer ... .. 60 to So, by $ 



First-class Overseer ^80 to ^100, by S 



Native Travelling Instructor ... ^100 to 150, by 10 



After the trial of various schemes to obtain suitable 

 learners, it was found necessary to adopt this : That 

 candidates should have passed Standard VI, have a 

 good knowledge of English reading, writing, and 

 arithmetic. Selected candidates are appointed on six 

 months' probation; yet there are so many inducements 

 for educated lads that good material is not readily 

 obtainable. The training covers a period of three years, 

 during which time the pupils are given free quarters. 

 After one year's training they are frequently sent as 

 interpreters with European officers on tour, from which 

 they derive much benefit. The training is essentially 

 practical, and but little time is given to the theoretical 

 side, as these men are expected to be farm workers. 



Many garden labourers, after learning improved 

 methods, eventually become cocoa farmers, and their 

 knowledge is thus passed on to their neighbours. 



Classes in agriculture for school teachers were started 

 in 1904, and may now be regarded as quite successful, 

 for in 1910 sixty-seven received tuition, and the number 

 of applicants is yearly increasing. The course is divided 

 into two sections : the January and July courses, each 

 occupying three weeks. The students attend at the 

 stations daily for seven hours, and, in addition to a lecture 

 of about one to one and a half hours' duration, they 



