486 TRINIDAD. 



colonial agriculture : and whilst our eyes have been widely open 

 to the dereliction of the mother-country, they have been closed, 

 and are still blind, to our own faults and short-comings. 



I readily admit that the reproaches urged by her Majesty's 

 ministers and our adversaries are, to a certain extent, justly 

 grounded ; but, however presumptuous I may appear in offering 

 an opinion in a matter so grave, I dare contend that much credit 

 is not due to our opponents at home for ascribing the sum total 

 of our misfortunes to our ignorance, our want of industry and 

 energy. Wrong we may be in deducing our distresses from a 

 single source ; but still more faulty are those who trace the same 

 to far less powerful causes; viz., lack of information and 

 despondency the latter of these being but a very natural conse- 

 quence of our present position. 



But, should it be for once admitted that ignorance and supine- 

 ness are the real causes of our present miserable position, her 

 Majesty's minister for the colonies could not offer any reasonable 

 objection to the adoption of a plan, which, in all probability, 

 would effectually and widely contribute as much to a diffusion of 

 knowledge as to the general improvement of agriculture, and 

 which must eventually advance the prosperity of the colony and 

 the welfare of its inhabitants. 



As to the probable success of the undertaking, I may refer to 

 the beneficial results already secured by individual efforts, and 

 from the encouragements so generously afforded by your Excellency. 

 It is true that, on a candid examination of the practical advantages 

 hitherto obtained, we are led to confess that little has, as yet, been 

 realised ; but, when we take into consideration that the stronghold 

 of prejudice has been shaken, and that the minds of many have 

 been opened to better doctrines, we have reason to rejoice at the 

 result, and to hope for further improvement. 



The formation of a school connected with the model farm, is, 

 in my opinion, the surest and speediest plan for sweeping away the 

 accumulated rubbish of errors that has, for years, obstructed the 

 path of progress, for creating a new era in our agricultural economy, 

 and for facilitating the onward march of a steady reform. 



In fact, there is no systematic or rational instruction or train- 

 ing, under our present routine, for those who look forward to 

 agricultural pursuits. A youth is, for a few years, engaged as an 

 overseer by a manager or proprietor, who takes but little or no 



