644 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



The staffs of the different schools were strengthened from time to 

 time by the appointment of a number of Government students who 

 had completed their studies abroad, but the country is so vast and the 

 demands so great that many more additions are necessary. It is 

 interesting- to note here that forty-five scholarships for study oversea 

 have been granted since Union, previous to which thirty-three had 

 been granted. Thirty-two returned scholars are in Government 

 service, thirty are still engaged in studying; eleven others, who were 

 appointed to posts, have left the service. 



The suspension of the Agricultural Journal at this time meant that 

 effective publication could not be given to the work of the officers of 

 the Department. However, during 1914-15 twenty-three articles 

 dealing with agriculture and agricultural science, and giving the 

 results of experiment and research work, were published, and by other 

 means also the public was kept informed of the work being done at 

 the schools. In addition to work at the schools 190 lectures and 

 demonstrations at various centres, attended in all bv 7000 people, 

 were given ; fifty-two agricultural shows were assisted in connection 

 with judging, and an exhibit portraying agricultural educational 

 activity was sent to eleven of them ; 440 farms and poultry yards 

 were visited for purposes of giving advice ; and 8000 letters of an 

 advisory nature were wa-itten. There were six different courses in 

 operation during the year embracing a wide range of subjects and 

 attended by the various grades of students for which they were 

 intended. In 1915 there were 104 students at the schools, and in 

 addition 136 meu and 81 women attended the short courses. 



A great deal of experimental work was carried out on the expei'I- 

 ment farms attached to each school, the results being published, v.v(] 

 progress was made in conducting co-operative experiments either wHh 

 farmers on their own farms or in conjunction with agricultural 

 societies. Apart from the ordinary variety trials and manurinl 

 experiments upon different crops, notable results were obtained in 

 chemical investigations in the tannin contents of wattle bark, feeding 

 experiments concerning the production of beef, ostrich breeding and 

 management, life histories of insect pests and methods of control, plant 

 breeding, etc. 



Arrangements were made for the chemical analyses for farmers 

 of agricultural soils, manures, feeding stuffs, etc., and 617 such 

 analyses were completed during the year. Also 99 samples of milk 

 and cream were tested for butter-fat contents. Five sub-experiment 

 stations and stud farms were closed down ann their activities trans- 

 ferred to the agricultural schools. The different breeds and numbers 

 of pure-bred stock to be maintained at each agricultural school were 

 decided upon, all siirplus stock being- disposed of during the year. 



Development in regard to buildings and implements was arrested 

 by the war, but a number of minor works were carried out bv the 

 staff of the schools concerned. 



While the conditions set up bv the war continued to exert a dis- 

 turbing influence upon the agricultural schools and experiment 

 stations, it was possible nevertheless to carry on with much useful 

 work, and during the year 1915-16 members of the staff of the schools 

 gave 301 lectures and demonstrations attended by 9684 people, visited 

 1019 farms, were in attendance at 121 agricultural shows (at certain 

 of which carefully prepared educational exhibits were placed and live 



