Report of the Chemist for Agriculture. 849 



Mr. Lee lias, in addition to 74 lectures delivered at the classes, 

 given 40 addresses before many different Horticultural and Agricul- 

 tural Societies. The Director placed the supervision of the classes 

 in my hands. The management of the classes in the different centi-es 

 was allotted hj me to Mr. Lee, and after his departure from each 

 centre, the same duties during the last half of the course were per- 

 formed by Mr. Robertson. Both of these officers have by great tact 

 in their dealings, and unremitting interest in their duties, secured an 

 all round good opinion. Mr. Lee had found his opportunity in the 

 preceding year for establishing his position with the farmer and the 

 colleagues he worked with. The present year has seen Mr. Robert- 

 son's success in a similar direction. The able services of other well 

 known officers of the Department without my Branch, as well as 

 specialists from outside institutions, are a matter for comment from 

 the Director and will receive consideration from his hands. A special 

 report on the classes as a whole will be prepared by Mr. Lee. 



The Creation of an Instructional Class. 



The heavy demands made upon the time of the officers of the 

 Branch in carrying out these duties, has forced upon me the recog- 

 nition of the necessity of forming a purely instructional division 

 within the Branch; laboratory duties would not then be interfered 

 with. A further development of the Director's idea, by extending 

 the instruction to the farm itself, would render possible the con- 

 tinuous employment of such officers. The scheme has been put 

 forward by the Director to have night fireside lectures at some well 

 equipped farmhouse, at which the sous of neighbouring farmers might 

 assemble for two or three hours during the evening. This would not 

 interfere with the day work of the farm, and would thus obviate one 

 of the objections sometimes put forward by farmers. 



IV. THE CLERICAL DUTIES. 



The heaviest work of the Branch has undoubtedly fallen upon the 

 clerical staff. The scope of the work embraced by this report will 

 convey some idea of the heavy duties of the clerical staff. There 

 are two officers only for the perfoi-mance of the whole of this work, 

 which is increasing at a very rapid rate. The total outward papers 

 last year numbered 11,825 as compared with 7,174 the preceding 

 year. An increase of officers of the clerical staff, and better remuner- 

 ation of the services of those at present engaged, can with justice be 

 demanded. Mr. Hatton, and his assistant, Mr. Hassett, are both 

 recotumended for favorable consideration in this direction. 



