CAR I B B E A N E X A M I N A T I ON S

C0 UNCIL

SECONDARY

EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
EXAMINA TION
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
(Double-award)

Paper 03 - General Proficiency

2 hours
( 22 MAY 2008 (Porno)

Copyright

2006 Caribbean Examinations

All rights reserved.

Council

(iii)

(b)

Tristeza is a disease which affects citrus trees. Identify the causative organism and
how the disease is spread from tree to tree.

A farmer has two orchards of golden apples (Spondias dulcis). One orchard consists of the
indeterminate trees, which are tall and have large canopies. The other orchard consists of
the miniature determinate trees, which produce bunches of fruits at the end of the apical
buds.
(i)

Compare the determinate (miniature) golden apple to the traditional indeterminate

type. In your comparison, identify FOUR differences, OTHER THAN height,
between the TWO types of golden apple.

(ii)

The shorter determinate plants are beneficial to the farmer in commercial production because harvesting the fruits, and managing pests and diseases are easier.
Discuss THREE OTHER benefits of planting the determinate variety of golden
apple for commercial production.
(10 marks)

List THREE desirable characteristics of grasses a homeowner should consider

when establishing a lawn.
(ii)

Name ONE lawn grass species which is recommended for EACH of the following
conditions in the Caribbean region:

(b)

(b)

Figure 1 illustrates
Caribbean islands.
displeasure with the
standard. Study the

a section of a lawn around a popular tourist resort in one of the

The manager of the property has indicated to the landscaper his
quality of the lawn, and has asked him to bring the lawn up to a high
diagram and answer the questions that follow.

(ii)

For EACH of the problems identified in (b) (i) above, suggest TWO possible causes
of the problem and explain how the problems can be corrected to get the lawn up
to an acceptable standard.
(10 marks)

(ii)

Milk can be preserved by the process of pasteurization.

processes for preserving milk.

Name TWO OTHER

A farmer brings his cows into the barn for milking, and after half an hour he begins to milk
the cows without any prior preparation. He observes drops of milk with streaks of blood
on the floor and milk yield is low. Advise the farmer of FIVE management practices he
should undertake to avoid the problems stated above, and to increase his milk yields.
(10 marks)

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HOLY FAITH CONVENT

PENAL

l.!BRARY

State a recommended
in natural service.
(ii)

(b)

method for impregnating

sows OTHER THAN using a boar

What is the advantage of using the method you named in (a) (i) above.
(2 marks)

Figure 2 is a diagram of a breeding programme showing the breeds used in a three-way

cross, which produces top quality market hogs. The THREE breeds used are a local breed,
duroc and landrace.
Identify EACH of the breeds labelled Breed 1, Breed 2 and Breed 3 from the breeds given
above.
( 3 marks)
Breed 1 ~

~ : female

cJ' :

(c)

male

Farmer Reds has a ten-sow unit. Each year he produces 120 weaners, each weighing
approximately 6 kg. His records show that each sow farrows an average of20 piglets yearly
and that there is a scouring problem on his farm.
Advise Farmer Reds of TWO measures he could adopt to increase the number of piglets,
and TWO measures to increase the weaning weight of the piglets.
( 4 marks)

(d)

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Farmer Reds rears other livestock animals on a large scale. Recently, his gas and electricity
costs have increased tremendously.
Discuss THREE ways by which Farmer Reds can
reduce these costs.
( 6 marks)