46 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA,, A. 1901 



of Garton Bros. Trials are also made of rotation plots. A number of experiments 

 were in progress in the fattening? and breeding of sheep, and in testing the effects of 

 fertilizers on the nutritious qualities of pasture grasses. Experiments have also been 

 tried with lime as a preventive of finger and toe disease in turnips, using it in varying 

 quantities, from 1,000 to 8,000 pounds per acre. Exi>eriments covering several acres 

 are in progress in tree growth, ten blocks of half an acre each or less being devoted to 

 this purpose. A well stocked and well kept nursery is also an interesting feature on. 

 this farm. Excellent work along many useful lines has been carried on at this insti- 

 tution for the past seven years, under the able management of Prof. Wm. Somerville, 

 who has recently been appointed Professor of Agriculture at Cambridge University. 



EXPEEIMENTAL GROUNDS AT LAUNCESTOX, CORNWALL. 



The experimental grounds at Launceston, Cornwall, were also visited. This is one 

 of threo stations carried on by the County Council of Cornwall. This station was 

 entirely devoted to expei'iments in horticulture. The land occupied was about two 

 acres, a short distance from the town of Launceston. The soil was a good clay loam, 

 and most of the land was occupied by different varieties of apple, pear and plum trees, 

 some of which were beginning to bear. The varieties were mostly of the well-known 

 standard sorts. A small area was devoted to the testing of raspberries, strawberries, 

 gooseberries, and red and black currants. Tests were also being made with tomatoes. 



READING COLLEGE AND BRITISH DAIRY INSTITUTE. 



A pleasant day was spent at Reading, in visiting Reading College and the British 

 Dairy Institute. Under the guidance of Prof. D. A. Gilchrist, director of the agricul- 

 tural department, I was shown through the buildings, and learned much regarding 

 the working of these useful institutions. The College and Institute occupy adjoining 

 sites in the town of Reading, within a few minutes walk of the railway stations. The 

 College was founded in 1892; the British Dairy Institute, which was established at 

 Aylesbury in 1888, by the British Dairy Farmers' Association, was removed to Reading 

 in 1896, to the newly-erected building, where it was placed under the management of 

 a joint committee, representing the British Dairy Farmers' Association and Reading 

 College. 



The building of the British Dairy Institute is very complete in its appliances for 

 practical teaching and experimental work. In addition to the well-arranged lecture 

 rooms and reading room, it has large milk-receiving, butter-making and milk-testing 

 rooms, four rooms for the manufacture of pressed, unpressed and soft cheeses, and 

 seven rooms for the ripening of different varieties of cheese. 



The higher certificate in dairying is granted to successful students who have 

 spont one year at the college, six months at an approved dairy institute, and six 

 months on a dairy farm. 



A short course in dairy instruction is also provided, of ten weeks, when successful 

 candidates receive certificates. 



Reading College is managed by a council, in which are representatives of the 

 County Councils of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, 

 subsidies being granled by all these bodies- to meet the cost of carrying on the agricul- 

 tural work of the institution. The College is affiliated with Oxford, and has, in 

 addition to the agricultural teaching, departments of letters and science, music and the 

 fine arts, and provides teaching for about 1,000 day and evening students. 



The diploma in agriculture requires a two-years course at the College, and one year 

 in practical work on a farm. A shorter course in agriculture is also provided, of six 

 weeks, at the end of which time certificates are awarded to successful students. This 

 is designed for candidates already familiar with farm work. 



