212 



Planter s Opinion of the Value of the Training. 



The following is a letter received from Mr. Robert L. Young, of 

 Tobolski, Browns Town, on the work done for him by a lad from the 

 Gardens : - 



u Now that I have finished with the services of Rupert Lyon, pro 

 tem. 1 write to thank you for your kindness in letting me have the 

 use of him. 



" The saving to me in the monetary line has been great, and it has 

 demoostr i e l my evidence given before the Education (Jommission on 

 the 8th Much, namely the want of skilled labour at such a price as to 

 be within the reach of all classes, and it is only through the Hope School 

 and Gardens, that that want can be supplied. 



' If the Gove-nment want to be of real practical use to the smaller 

 penkeepers and settlers, with the bright outlook for good marketable 

 fruits, now is their time to send about their properly trained apprentices, 

 capable of budding, grafting, pruning, packing fruit, planting 

 them properly, etc. Ninetv-nine out of a hundred of our small 

 settlors an 1 others, think they can plant, &c, till they see it dont 

 by an expert. Especiilly in the case of oranges, it would be an object 

 lesson to both labourers and owners themselves, this practical insight, 

 as to how the work ought to be done, better than all the books ever 

 printed. 



u Take my own case in point, I wanted to put in five acres in best 

 fruit obtainable, Washington Navel, Grape Fruit, etc. On application 

 to the different nurseries 1 found I would have to pay for good budded 

 trees, £5 10-. p"r 100 to say nothing of expense of transit. For fivt 

 acres at 2 ) t't. apart; I would require 550 trees costing me for trees 

 alone £30 5s The land was laid out with sour stock trees, 300 buds 

 procured from the Girdens say at 3s. 6d. per 100, the rest from some 

 tre j s t* my own. Lvon took 15 days at Is. Cd. per day, and did over 

 60') bu ls at Id. for each bud that took, — going over a second time those 

 that failed. Total cost : — 



300 Buds at 3s. 6d. ... £0 10 6 



15 Davs at Is. 6d. ... 12 6 



600 Buds at Id. ... 2 10 



£4 3 



*' Tt iis speaks for itself, and I am gratefal to you for the saving to 

 my pocket. 



Yours faithfully, 



Robt. L. Young." 



Hope Industrial School. 



The Commissioners who were appointed to enquire into the svstem 

 of education in Jamaica, received satisfactory evidence of the 

 value of the training in the school. One planter stated in evidenct 

 that his opinion was that one boy turned out of that institution is worth a 

 doeen other boys in money value. 



