880 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



behaviour of the students has been good, and not a single fine or 

 other punishment was imposed. 



In the class work some excellent papers were written, and the 

 quarterly and general examinations showed the highest average of 

 marks yet obtained for the school. 



A gold prize offered by Messrs. Langwill &: Davies for an essay 

 on Spraying was won by Student T. G. Baldwin, who contributed an 

 excellent addition to the literature on this subject. 



Several students completed a two years and one a three years 

 course, and left the school. The new students enrolled during the 

 year numbered about twenty-five. The number at the end of the 

 year 1903-4 is thirty, made up of seventeen male and thirteen women 

 students. 



The fee of £5 per annum which has been exacted in the past year 

 has not affected attendances, whilst it has had a steadying effect on the 

 character of the student and their parents. 



The fee is excessive when it is considered that the agricultural 

 colleges give free education, but with every means for the complete 

 training and equipment of the student attending the institution, there 

 need be no diminishing of the fee. 



Training of Gardeners. 



The value of the gardening industry in all forms is very consider- 

 able, yet no training ground is provided in the whole of Australasia, 

 except at this institution. It would therefore be well to offer a free 

 education to two or three youths through the medium of State School 

 scholarships, in order that the demands of local gardening may be 

 met and a far larger outlay made in the beautification of Australian 

 homes. 



At the same time capable but poor boys who desire to be fruit- 

 growers should have some chance of getting instruction here. Either 

 by examination after training at the Working Men's College or any 

 night school or institution, they should be regarded as eligible for a 

 one, two, or three years' course. 



Students as Lay Helpers. 



Wherever senior students have been found trustworthy they have 

 been sent into the country to assist in the planning, planting and 

 pruning of orchards. This has proved of value to both owners and 

 students, as the one is helped over his difficulties and the other 

 enabled to test his own judgment and ability apart from his school 

 instructors. 



Working Men's College Class. 



The Agricultural Chemistry Class of this institution has com- 

 menced field operations on a piece of natural soil, and it is intended 

 to test and demonstrate various manures, and methods of stimulating 

 plant growth. The advantages will be twofold, as the Working 



