COCOA 207 



treatment of diseases is included in these experiments. 

 The results are published in the official Bulletin and in 

 special circulars. 



The monthly official Bulletin is distributed free to local 

 planters. 



Quite recently the Government has approved of a pro- 

 posal to grant two exhibitions of the value of 25 each 

 to agricultural pupils. These are to be increased to 

 four next year (1915), and to six in following years. 



There is now under consideration a proposed extension 

 of the present system of agricultural instruction on the 

 estates owned by the Government. The period of train- 

 ing is to be divided as follows: 



First year at River Estate. 



Second year at St. Augustine Estate and the Govern- 

 ment Farm. 



Third year at an approved outside estate. 



The first year's course includes twenty lectures on 

 plant life, propagation, and cultivation; ten lectures on 

 soils and manures; forty lectures on cacao cultivation and 

 preparation for the market, estate practice and manage- 

 ment, estate book-keeping; ten lectures on fungoid 

 diseases and treatment; ten lectures on insect pests and 

 treatment. 



The second year's course includes fifteen lectures on 

 special crops; thirty on estate management and care of 

 stock; ten on soils and manures; ten on fungoid diseases; 

 ten on insect pests; ten on veterinary subjects; and 

 five on farriery. 



The lectures include practical demonstrations. 



The third year is to be spent on an estate if suitable 

 arrangements can be made. 



The practical education that can be obtained on a large 

 estate is most valuable, and many young men so 

 educated are experts in cacao cultivation. The methods 

 of cultivation practised on the estates may be described 

 by some as empirical; but they have been successful, and 

 they are the product of the experience of many years of 

 patient and careful observation and consideration. They 

 are truly scientific in their own way. Supplemented as 

 they will be in the future by such methods as modern 



