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derelict grass land, comparing varieties of slag, &c. Seven of the lectures enumerated in the previous heading were especially explanatory of the results of these experiments.

Dairying. A fixed school is maintained at the county laboratories. Courses of two weeks', four weeks', five weeks', and six weeks' duration are held during the year. The number of pupils attending these courses was 40.

In addition to practical instruction in butter-making and in soft and hard cheese-making, lectures and practical work in dairy bacteriology and chemistry, and lectures in dairy farming, are given to the students by the staff at the county laboratories.

Poultry Keeping.-The two staff lecturers on dairying also give instruction in this subject. Courses of three to four lectures each were given at nine centres to an average attendance of 30.

Bee Keeping.-Instruction is given in this subject by an instructor employed as required. Demonstrations are given at the local Horticultural and Cottage Garden Shows, and lectures given throughout the county, the latter being illustrated by the use of modern hives and appliances and also by lantern slides. Courses of four lectures each were given at eight centres to an average attendance of 24. Much interest was taken in these lectures.

Farm Hygiene.

Farriery.

Manual Processes.-Instruction was given in the process of ploughing. Courses of eight lessons, 1 to 2 hours each, were given at each of nine centres. The total attendance was 119.

Horticulture.-Four short courses of three to four weeks each are given at the county laboratories in the four seasons. In addition local lectures and demonstrations are given throughout the county, assistance is rendered to local gardeners' associations, and visits of advice are paid to private gardens. Courses of one to six lectures each were given at 38 centres to an average attendance of 25. Interest in this subject has been well maintained for a long time, and there is evidence of better methods of gardening-particularly of fruit-growing-being carried out in the county. The services of the biological staff are also being increasingly used by farmers and gardeners desiring information regarding fungoid and insect pests, weeds, &c.

School or other Gardens.-There were gardens attached to 28 Elementary Day schools in the county, eight of which were worked on the collective plot system and 20 on the individual plot system. The total number of pupils who received instruction was 364.

Fruit-growing Stations.-There is a horticultural and fruitgrowing station of 3 acres maintained at Chelmsford by the County Council and worked in connection with the county school

of horticulture at the laboratories. It is devoted to experimental and demonstrational flower, vegetable, and fruit culture.

Training of Elementary School Teachers.-Saturday classes are held from October to March at the county laboratories in chemistry, physics, botany, and nature study-elementary and advanced. The number of students who attended these classes during the season was 66. Field rambles were held during June and July. In addition a two weeks' summer vacation course in gardening was held for teachers. There were 18 students in attendance. The number of teachers who seek instruction in these subjects increases every year.

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Organisation. The agricultural education work of this county is carried out entirely through the above county staff instructors.

School or College.

Agriculture. Instruction is given in this subject by short courses of lectures and by classes for young farmers during the winter. Practical demonstrations are also given from time to time. During last season, a course of lectures, varying from two to six lectures at each place, was given at eight centres to an average attendance of 26. Evening classes for young farmers were held at three centres during the winter. At each class 10 to 24 lessons were given to an average attendance of 12. There is greater interest displayed in this work every year, particularly amongst the younger members of the different classes.

Field Experiments.-These were conducted on ten farms, and consisted of manurial tests on the swede crop, meadow hay, and permanent pasture, together with variety tests on potatoes.. These trials were conducted with the object of giving information as regards the manurial treatment of the most important crops in the "hill" and "vale " portions of the county. The potato trials were carried out in conjunction with the National Potato Society. At three of the lectures enumerated under the previous heading the results of these experiments were discussed, and also at the classes for young farmers.

Experimental Farm.—

Dairying. A fixed school is maintained by the county throughout the year. Short courses are given all the year round and they are arranged to extend over a longer or shorter period according to the number of days the pupils can attend. The number of pupils who attended the butter-making courses was 21 and of those who attended the cheese-making courses 17. There is a healthy demand for instruction in dairy-work in the county and many enquiries for advice from dairies are addressed to the school.

Arrangements can also be made for itinerant classes to be conducted by a teacher from the fixed school. These classes were held last year at four centres for butter making and at four centres for cheese-making. The instructress gave ten lessons at each centre. The total attendance for butter making was 56, and for cheese-making 30. Several visits of advice were also paid. At four dairies in the county at which cheese had not been made for some years the manufacture was resumed as a result of these itinerant classes.

Poultry Keeping.-Instruction is given in this subject by means of lectures during the winter and by demonstrations at local shows during the summer. A course of from two to four lectures was given at 15 centres to an average attendance of 60. The demand for instruction in this subject is well maintained. The results of former lectures are shown by an improvement in several districts in the class of birds and the conditions under which they are kept.

Bee Keeping.-A course of two lectures and demonstrations was given at four centres, and a course of four lectures and demonstrations at one other centre, to an average attendance of 30. Practical demonstrations were also given at the County Agricultural Show and also at five local flower shows during the summer. There is a good demand for advice at these lectures, &c., on numerous matters connected with bee keeping.

Farm Hygiene.

Farriery. Instruction is given in this subject by an itinerant teacher employed throughout the year. Nine centres were visited during the year. The practical work takes place at some local forge, and lectures are also given on the structure of the horse's foot and the principles of shoeing. The number of pupils attending both the theory and practice was 77. At the examination conducted by the Worshipful Company of Farriers held in the county during the year 26 students presented themselves, and of these 19 satisfied the examiners and qualified for the Company's certificate.

Manual Processes.-Applications for instruction have been received, and it is to be hoped that courses may eventually be organised in some of these subjects.

Horticulture.-Instruction is given in this subject by means of lectures, and by demonstrations on pruning, washing, &c. A course of from two to four lectures was given at 32 centres to an average attendance of 35. The demand for this kind of instruction increases every year, not only among cottage gardeners and allotment holders, but also among tenant farmers and fruit growers. Small horticultural societies have been formed in certain localities as a result of these lectures, and these societies hold local exhibitions.

School or other Gardens.-Gardens were attached to nine Elementary Day schools in this county. Of these, two were worked on the collective plot system and seven on the individual plot system. In most schools one class was arranged for consisting of 14 boys, but in one or two centres two classes of 14 boys each were formed. There were also two Evening school gardens in the county at which 24 pupils received instruction.

Fruit-growing Stations.-The county contributes to the National Fruit and Cider Institute, see page 73.

Training of Elementary School Teachers.

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Organisation.--The agricultural education work of this county is conducted almost entirely through the staff employed at the above Farm School. The staff of the Agricultural Department of the University College, Reading, is employed for examination

purposes.

School or College.-The county has established and maintains the above Farm School, Basing.

Agriculture. The county employs an instructor in this subject at the Farm School. No outside lectures were given.

Field Experiments.-These were conducted on the farm attached to the Farm School.

Experimental Farm.-The farm attached to the Farm School comprises 28 acres of pasture land and 33 acres of arable. A variety of simple experiments were conducted there for the

benefit of the students. They were chiefly manurial on the various farm crops, but there was also one feeding experiment with cattle.

Dairying. A fixed dairy school is maintained at the Farm School. The courses held are of five or ten weeks' duration. There were 32 in attendance during the year. An itinerant school is also maintained. It visited 11 centres for ten days each. The total attendance was 145, and of these 127 took the full course.

Poultry Keeping.-Instruction is given in this subject at the Farm School. Lectures are also given in the county. A course of four lectures was given at each of three centres, and two lectures at one other centre, to an average attendance of 18. In addition 65 visits were made to private poultry keepers.

Bee Keeping.-Instruction is given in this subject at the Farm School, and by means of lectures throughout the county. Four lectures were given at one centre and two lectures at each of two other centres, to an average attendance of 27. In addition, 620 visits were made to private bee keepers.

Farm Hygiene.-Instruction is given in this subject as required by a local veterinary surgeon. Four lectures were given at one centre and two lectures at one other centre to an average audience of about 65.

Farriery. Instruction is given in this subject by means of a travelling school and van employed from September to June. Ten centres were visited for ten days each. The total attendance was 72, all of whom took the full course.

Manual Processes.-Instruction is given to the students at the Farm School in the various processes of agriculture, including agricultural engineering and wood work.

Horticulture. Instruction is given in this subject at the Farm School, and also by means of lectures and visits throughout the county. A course of four lectures was given at each of 22 centres, of three lectures at each of six other centres, of six lectures at one other centre, and of two lectures at each of two other centres, to an average attendance of 20. Eight visits were made to private gardens and advice given.

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School or other Gardens.-There

were gardens attached to 27 Elementary Day schools in this county at which 413 pupils received instruction. There were also six Evening School gardens at which 68 pupils received instruction.

Fruit-growing Stations.-A certain acreage of the farm attached to the Farm School is devoted to fruit-growing, and instruction is given to the pupils in this subject.

Training of Elementary School Teachers.

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