AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE. 483 



plough, and to attain a ready skill, manual or directory, in the 

 usage of other implements. 



2nd year. The pupil would superintend the field-work, the 

 drainage and preparation of land, planting, weeding, cutting 

 canes, and other operations under the immediate control of one 

 of the senior, or third year's pupils. 



3rd year. During the three months immediately following 

 the end of the crop, say, during June, July, and August, the 

 senior pupils will superintend the field-labours, together with the 

 second year's pupils ; they will then take under their charge all 

 the preparations for the ensuing crop-season such as the re- 

 pairing and putting in order the mill and the boiling-house, 

 preparing specifications for mason, cooper, and carpenter's work, 

 including the necessary materials. During the crop it will be 

 their duty to superintend the boiling-house, and to conduct all 

 operations connected with the manufacture of sugar. 



A public examination to take place at the end of the year, 

 and a prize to be awarded to each class unless, however, the 

 pupils should not be found sufficiently improved. 



Each pupil to pay a premium of 200 dollars for the first year, 

 100 dollars for the second, and to receive 100 dollars as overseer's 

 salary for the third year. The money received to be placed to 

 the account or credit of the farm. The pupils to be boarded at 

 the expense of government for the two first years, and by the 

 farm during the third year the latter as part of overseer's 

 salary. 



Although I attach great importance to chemical analyses, 

 yet I am of opinion that superior and more economical results 

 would be gained, without material difference to the colonists, by 

 obtaining analyses of soils and plants from chemists in Europe, 

 rather than by forming a laboratory and having a chemist attached 

 to the establishment in the island. 



" CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE." Events have fully 

 proved that voluntary societies do not and cannot beneficially 

 operate, and the reasons are obvious. It then becomes the duty 

 of the government to take the matter into their own hands. A 

 " Central Agricultural Board, or Committee," should be established 

 by law, to consist of six or more members the director or directors 

 of the model farms, and the government botanist, being ex-officio 

 members ; the others to be appointed by the governor. All 



