294 



mit others wlio would pay for diet, clothing, etc., and so not cause any- 

 extra expense to the Institution. It seems to me that the only way 

 to start the plan would be to take some few of the best of those who 

 pass the Pupil Teachers' Examination, admit them to the school, and 

 charge them nothing for their board and education. When a begin- 

 ning was once made in this way, and the standing of the School 

 thereby raised, parents would probably be fouad willing to pay a cer- 

 tain sum for their boys at the School. But the free apprenticeship 

 system should precede that of payment. If necessary the Gardens 

 Department would refund the Treasury the amount of these appren- 

 ticeships, as the labour of picked boys would be of equal value to the 

 Gardens. It may be said that money is not voted by the Legislature 

 for the purpose of providing such apprenticeships, but if part of the 

 sum voted for labour were spent in this way, and the value for that re- 

 ceived in labour by the Gardens, neither the Government nor the De- 

 partment would suffer any loss, and the country would gain in the 

 training given to a few boys. The Eeport of Mr. Hopwood, the Master 

 in charge, is published separately. 



Apprentices. 



Boys from West Coast. — The Colonies of the West Coast of Africa 

 have adopted a general scheme whereby picked boys shall be sent for 

 training in horticulture and economic agriculture, first to Jamaica and 

 afterwards to Kew Gardens. 



This scheme is due to the success that has attended the experiment 

 initiated by the then Governor Sir A. Moloney, of sending in 1890 

 two native lads from Lagos to be trained as Gardeners at the Jamaica 

 and Kew Gardens. After spending two years and a half in Jamaica, 

 they were attached to Kew Gardens for some months, and now are in 

 charge of branch Botanic Stations in Lagos, growing and preparing 

 agricultural products, and giving instruction. 



The following are the Regulations under which boys are apprenticed 

 .at the Gold Coast : — 



1. " Two apprenticeships are ofiered by the Government for the 



purpose of teaching to natives of the Gold Coast Colony the 

 details of horticulture and economic botany in tropical coun- 

 tries. 



2. " Candidates must fulfil the following conditions as to age, pa- 



rentage, residence, scholarship and physical fitness : — 

 Conditions. 



(a.) ''Age. — A candidate's age must be not less than 16 and 

 and not more than 20 years on the first day of the year in 

 which the apprenticeship is offered. 



(b.) "Parentage. — The parents of the candidates must be, or if 

 dead, must have been, natives of the Gold Coast Colony, 

 or resident in the Colony for not less than five years be- 

 fore the first day of the year in which the apprenticeship 

 is offered. 



(c.) " Residence. — The candidate himself must be a resident in 

 the Gold Coast Colony. 



(d.) " Qualiflcations — A candidate wiU be required to pass 

 an examination in English equal to that required for Stan- 

 dard VI. in the following subjects, Reading, Writing, 



