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In Denbighshire, the number of centres at which these experiments were conducted was respectively one and five; while in Flintshire the experiment on potatoes was carried out at one

centre.

Spraying demonstrations as mentioned above were carried out in Anglesey at four centres, in Carnarvonshire at three centres, in Denbighshire at one centre, and in Flintshire at three centres. It is reported that farmers are becoming interested in the subject and are themselves buying spraying machines.

Dairying. The number of pupils who attended the dairy school in Denbighshire during the last season was 36, and, of these, 24 attended for a month's instruction or more. Of the total pupils attending, 10 took cheese-making only; 16 took buttermaking as well; while 10 pupils received instruction in buttermaking alone. The certificates awarded at the end of the season were as follows:

Ordinary certificate in cheese-making
butter-making

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895

Training of Elementary School Teachers.-A course of eight lectures in agricultural chemistry was given at a centre in Anglesey, and was attended by 12 students. If, however, it is desired that the teachers in North Wales should become qualified to give instruction to children in anything appertaining to Nature study, courses of a much more extensive and thorough character must be organised.

EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

One of the main objects in view at this farm is to endeavour to improve the breed of Welsh black cattle, sheep, and horses, and judging not only from the appearance of the stock on the farm, but from the successes gained in the show ring, that object is in process of attainment. The present stock kept consists of about 90 head of cattle, 1,600 sheep and lambs, and 18 horses. A variety of experiments in sheep breeding, with a view of ascertaining the best cross to use for obtaining lambs coming early to maturity, has been carried on as in former years.

Feeding experiments with cattle have also been carried out, and these are new to the farmers of Wales. Some of the largelyadvertised foods and meals are taken and their practical qualities ascertained. Experiments have also been conducted on feeding sheep under shelter.

The crop experiments conducted have consisted mainly of trials of different varieties of oats, mangolds, swedes, and potatoes; of the most economical quantity of seed to sow for the oat crop; and the comparative value of potato "seed" from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. This last experiment was undertaken at the instance of the Irish Department of Agriculture. A further experiment on the same lines was carried out with oats, to test the

point generally believed in, that change of seed is desirable. Oats of the same variety were obtained from 11 districts in the British Isles, and grown side by side at the farm. This experiment will be continued at any rate for another year before any attempt is made to draw conclusions from the experiment.

EXPERIMENTAL FOREST STATION.

Owing to the generosity of a gentleman near Chirk, an area of 50 acres of hill land has been presented to the Denbighshire County Council on condition that they plant it and place it under the scientific management of the lecturer in forestry at the College. This the Council have agreed to do, and planting will be begun this autumn. The objects in view will be largely the determination of the species which will grow best, and pay best, on land which is typical of the waste lands of Wales. The species used will be for the most part the commonly grown conifersLarch, Spruce, Scots pine, Corsican pine, and Douglas fir; but in addition some less frequently met with in plantations will be grown with the object of testing their real timber value. A few broad-leaved trees will also be grown. Several different kinds of soil cultivation, seed sowing, and planting will be tried. The trees will be planted alone and in various combinations, while divers methods of treatment, as for example in the thinnings, will be tested.

It is intended that a careful record shall be kept of all operations, and that results shall be published from time to time to show the progress of the work.

A "nursery" has been started of about half an acre in extent, and is stocked with some 45,000 seedlings of different sorts and ages; while a seed bed, with an area of 300 square feet has been prepared and been sown with the following :-Picea excelsa from the Alps, P. excelsa from Denmark, Picea Omorika, Pinus sylvestris from Scotland, Abies nobilis, Larix leptolepis, Larix occidentalis, Pseudotsuga Douglasii from Oregon, P. Douglasii macrocarpa, and Thuya gigantea.

FINANCES.

The expenditure during the financial year, exclusive of forestry and of the farm, has amounted to £2,545. The receipts have included county council grants amounting to £1,860, of which, however, a considerable portion had been due for the previous year; fees from students other than county scholars, £186; miscellaneous receipts, £91; and the Board's grant of £1,000 to the College and the farm. The Board further made, as in the previous year, a special grant of £250 in respect of forestry instruction.

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The following members of the College Staff, with assistants and demonstrators, also give instruction in their several subjects to the students in the Agricultural Department :

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L. C. Miall, D.Sc., F.R.S.

J. Goodman, M.Sc., M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E.
P. F. Kendall, M.Sc., F.G.S.

W. G. Smith, B.Sc., Ph.D.

N. Walker.

T. H. Taylor, M.A.

COURSES OF INSTRUCTION.

courses of instruction carried on in the University comprise :

1. A course for the B.Sc. Degree in the University of Leeds, extending over three or four sessions.

2. A general course carried on in the winter months and designed without reference to the requirements of any examining body.

3. A similar course, carried on for three winters, and designed to meet the requirements of the examination for the National Diploma in Agriculture, awarded jointly by the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

For the B.Sc. Degree, students must pass preliminary, intermediate, and final examinations, not entering the Agricultural Department until they begin to work for this last. The courses of study are as follows:

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Other students may take a one or two-winters' course, and are free to devote the spring and summer months to practical farm work. The subjects are as follows:

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