154 
Men who have hitherto perfor.ned only the rough work of hoeing 
ot be 
lants, and in preparing the produce in a careful and attractive 
manner. It is admitted that the f training agriculturists 
of this character must be begun, theoretically, at le the 
is cae y ae ston ady Sas in pne efforts Aas sheen that the 
character of practical agriculture can be improved in the island, 
and that the people can be rendered capable of responding to the 
requirements of the markets of the world 
433. Assistance by grants, varying from 1/. to 10/. per annum, 
is offered by the Education Department to elementary schools 
for the sme of agriculture as a special subject. In addition, 
all country schools are expected to teach the elementary principles 
of agriculture as a part of the general course. Recently the Board 
of Education has brought out, through Messrs. Blackie and Son, 
two Jamaica Readers, the use of which will be compulsory in all 
hes 
them to benefit later by instruction in the proper modes of culti- 
vation of any phios r crop; or, eventually, in special cases, 
to take up the systematic study of agriculture as a science. 
A supplementary oaia in Tropical Agriculture is also in 
contemplation 
434. The ESER to qualify for grants given to elementary 
schools in the first stage (Class A) are that the elements of 
scientific agriculture are satisfactorily taught and illustrated by 
OX! 
conduct the illustrations heen Ei in this ‘snes, sm the pee 
stage (Class B) the elements of scientific agriculture must be 
aiai taught and illustrated by practical work in the field 
; d he teacher. I i 
done by the children and directed by the n this case 
(1) a piot of land of at least a quarter of an acre in extent must 
be provided ; (2) s plot must be surroun good and 
sufficient fence, and the possession of it legally defined ; (3) the 
kind of plants to be cultivated, and the exact Satih r and kind 
e 
l the cultivation must be conducted on improved scientific 
methods, and not on the lines of the ordinary unscientific 
cultivation usually practised in the islan 
435. In training colleges for teachers the principles | pa botany 
and serice are required to be paver up i. ADE Fo ond year 
se, including the supply of plant food, manure as z supple- 
mental source of plant food, the principles aing the growth 
of crops, and the variation in their yield and quality. 
