AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 393 



already alluded to the necessity of framing stringent laws for the 

 protection of agricultural interests: such laws are particularly 

 needed in Trinidad. Corn and plantains are carried off ere ripe ; 

 yams and potatoes are carefully dug out, during the night, almost 

 within sight of the proprietor's dwelling ; fowls are picked up with 

 an audacity which calls to mind the sleight-of-hand of the Parisian 

 and London pickpockets. As a consequence, the cultivation of 

 provisions is abandoned, and fowls are truly rarce aves, in the 

 poultry-yard at least. This is the case in the Naparimas : the 

 labourers live almost entirely on imported food, and thus depend 

 altogether upon money- wages for their subsistence. It is clear 

 that, under such circumstances, some coercive measure should be 

 adopted : let the law make the stealing of an ear of corn, of a 

 bunch of plantains, of a yam or potato, punishable with imprison- 

 ment and hard labour ; and the severity of the punishment will 

 then, perhaps, place a check on that system of plunder. The 

 matter is at least worth the consideration of our legislators. 



Their attention I would also call to the necessity of imposing 

 a licence fee on shopkeeping. Not only is this a legitimate source 

 of revenue, but I contend that such a measure will act as a pro- 

 tection to the bond fide trader, in whatever situation he may be 

 placed ; and, by increasing the revenue, it would afford an oppor- 

 tunity for relieving landed property from the heavy taxation it 

 now bears. Such a tax has all the advantages of both direct and 

 indirect taxation. 



Agriculture, I reiterate, is the mainstay, the foundation of our 

 social fabric, and therefore calls for the fostering care and pro- 

 tection of the state. Mechanics' Institutions are supported by the 

 public for the instruction and improvement of artisans; appren- 

 ticeship laws are enforced for securing competent masons, carpenters, 

 shoe-makers, or other tradesmen ; and why, in a country strictly 

 agricultural, should not public establishments be formed with a 

 view to teaching the elements of agricultural science, together 

 with the art of husbandry ? The tillage of the soil is, generally, 

 regarded as the province of the ignorant. This is a prejudice, and 

 one which must have an injurious reaction on the success of agri- 

 cultural pursuits. To be well conducted, no operation, perhaps, 

 requires more practical knowledge ; or more information, to be 

 improved. This prejudice probably owes its origin to the following 

 circumstance : the growth of plants is the result of the combined 





