2O6 COCOA 



period of low rainfall; but the returns are made up to 

 March 31 to correspond with the official financial year. 

 The crop year in this district is from September to 

 August. 



Agricultural Education. 



Cacao being our principal industry, the Government 

 is endeavouring to improve the methods of cultivation, 

 especially among the small peasant proprietors, of whom 

 there is a very large number. These methods are being- 

 tried in many directions. The elementary principles of 

 agriculture have been taught in all the primary schools 

 since 1900, and school gardens are encouraged, in which 

 the children take part in the cultivation. School shows are 

 held annually, and prizes awarded for the best products. 

 The teachers have received short courses of training, and 

 have rendered enthusiastic assistance in the teaching of 

 agriculture. 



Higher agricultural education was introduced into the 

 colleges in 1906 for senior students, and annual local 

 examinations are conducted by the University of 

 Cambridge. 



The officers of the Department of Agriculture conduct 

 experiments in agriculture, and disseminate agricultural 

 information in various ways. 



Two agricultural instructors are solely occupied in 

 making daily visits to peasant proprietors and demon- 

 strating to them practical methods of improving their 

 cultivations. 



Annual prizes are awarded to the best cultivations 

 owned and worked by peasant proprietors under the 

 supervision and guidance of the agricultural instructors. 



Practical instruction in cacao cultivation is given at the 

 Government estate to a limited number of students. 



Home reading courses have been established, in which 

 instruction is given by correspondence, and for which 

 examinations are held annually. There are three stages 

 in these courses junior, intermediate, and senior and 

 corresponding certificates are awarded for proficiency. 



Experiments in cacao* cultivation are in progress in 

 different districts and the results published. The field 



