INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1909-10. 27 



much smaller than it formerly was. Most of the Provin- 

 cial Departments are now able to execute all such work for 

 themselves, and assistance m this respect has only been 

 asked for from three provinces. The major part of the 

 remaining samples has been submitted by the officers in 

 charge of the Military Farms, who require opinions on 

 soils and on grasses and other feeding stuffs. 



Educatio7i. — One student from the Punjab took a short 

 elementary course of Chemistry. One of the assistants 

 of the Agricultural Chemist, United Provinces, is taking 

 a three months' course. In addition, two new assistants 

 on the ordinary establishment have been entertained, and 

 these, as in all such cases, have been largely in the position 

 of students. 



Estahlishment. — The changes involved have been due 

 (i) to a junior assistant not being confirmed and another 

 appointed in his place, and (w) to the temporary appoint- 

 ment of a graduate of the Bombay University to act during 

 the absence of other members of the regular establishment. 

 The latter case is of interest, because although this assist- 

 ant is an M.A. graduate with very good credentials, he 

 was willing to come for a purely temporary acting appoint- 

 ment on Rs. 50 and thereby try to learn something. The 

 other assistant who was appointed during the year, worked 

 purely as a volunteer for about a year in Mr. Hooper's 

 laboratory at the Indian Museum, and has proved an 

 excellent assistant. It is this class of man that deserves 

 most encouragement and likewise generally makes the best 

 pLiblic servant; young men who are willing in the first 

 instance to show that they are capable of doing useful 

 work rather than to sit down and do nothing until a highly 

 paid appointment turns up. 



Programme of Work for 1910-11. — 1. The work on the 

 availability of plant food in soils will be continued, the 

 immediate aim Toeing the more correct ascertainment of the 

 composition of the aqueous solution in the soil. Included 

 in this section of investigation are naturally the amounts 

 of nitrate in soils and soil temperatures. 



