21 



estate was 24,000. By the taking over of contracts the 

 number was increased to 58,000 by March. 1911. During 

 1911 more contracts wore taken <>ver and in December 

 1911 the total number of cacao trees amounted to 95,&65. At 

 the present time (Jan. 1912) there are 200 acres containing 

 approximately (>0,()()0 trees in the hands of contractors. 



The crop returns have been as follows : 



1904-5 . ... 30,000 Ib. (or 182 bags of 165 Ib. each.) 

 1910-11 ... 70,000 (or 424 ) 



The estate is also used for conducting immurial experiments 

 on cac;i<> ,,n a l.-irge scale and under ordinary estate conditions. 

 The additional expenses these experiments entail, about 120 

 p-r annum, are defrayed from .Departmental votes. Amongst 

 features of interest to cieao planters are the new sweat boxes, 

 lim-d with concrete, erected in 1910; these have proved very 

 satisfactory in working. Reinforced concrete has also been 

 used in the construction of the drying house, resulting in con- 

 siderable increase in durability. 



River estate bears witness, as also St. Augustine, to the 

 decay of Trinidad's former premier industry, the old sugar 

 Work* being a conspicuous feature of the estate yard. 



A limited number of bojs aie taken at River estate as 

 Agricultural Students and trained under strictly estate conditions 

 to equip them for posts as drivers and overseers. 



The manager of River Estate is Mr J. C. Augustus. 



THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Board of Agriculture of Trinidad and Tobago was 

 established in 1908, during the Governorship of Sir Henry Moore 

 Jackson. The Board consists of His Excellency the Governor 

 (President) the Director cf Agriculture (Vice-President) and 

 twenty members nominated by the Governor. 



