lo Oct., 1910.] Educational Facilities at the Viticultural College. 635 



ewes were exceecdingly fat ; on opening the abdominal cavity layers of fat 

 i;everal inches thick could be seen. The liver was slightly enlarged and 

 vcrv friable. In one case the li\er tissue broke down when the organ was 

 being removed from the abdominal cavity. Constipation was also present 

 in each case. All the animals showing symptoms of the disease and those 

 which had died were clase up to lambing and in each ca.se the post mortem 

 examination revealed large twin lambs. The portions of liver forwarded 

 to vou were taken from a slaughtered animal. 



The animals were on very good feed (Cocksfoot, about 5 or 6 inches 

 high) and the owner informed me that they had been on similar feed for 

 ttic previous 12 months. 



In company with the owner I went through the remainder of the flock 

 and noticed that nearly all of them were lying down. When made to rise 

 tJiev would walk leisurely for a few yards and then lie down again. In 

 fact, such an abundance of feed existed that the animals could get all they 

 required within a few surrounding yards, consequently no exercise was 

 taken in looking for their feed. 



A number of cross-bred ewes in the adjoining paddock were in perfect 

 health. This paddock was the same as the one in which the Shrop.shire 

 ewes were running in everv i)articular. with the exception that it was 

 heavily stocked and the feed eaten bare. 



As to treatment, I recommended that the animals should be removed to 

 a pasture where the feed was not so luxuriant, eaten bare in fact, and 

 that a certain amount of exercise should be given daily.'' 



Later on, Mr. I-yons advised me that the owners reported that, acting 

 under his instructions, they lost no more except those that were actually 

 suffering at the time of his examination. 



EDUCATIOXAL FACILITIES AT THE VITICULTURAL 



COLLEGE. 



G. H. Aihock, I-.L.S., Principal. 



In response to a request for .some account of the educational facilities 

 afforded the boys in training at the Viticultural College, the following 

 particulars are submitted for such readers of the Journal as are interested 

 in the work undertaken by the Agricultural Department at this 

 institution. 



Dexteritv in the practical work of the various branches, is, of course, 

 the ideal aimed at. The boys learn by doing, and " practice makes 

 perfect." In tiie vineyard, nursery, and farm, all seasonable work i.s 

 carried out largely bv the boys under competent supervision. Expertness 

 in pruning, disbudding and tying, budding and grafting, comes readily 

 to the deft fingers of most of the lads. Let a few figures from the current 

 season's grafting tallies speak of the celerity and ability shown in this 

 important operation. The " ringer of the shed " is an old boy, (Holm- 

 quest) who was kept on after attaining the age of 18. His highest daily 

 tally is 2,099. ^ record that it will be hard to beat. Taking those lads 

 who are still learners, the following are the highest daily numbers of all 

 engaged in actual grafting during the season. It must be distinctly re- 

 membered that only first class grafts- count. These are the records : — 

 Hogan. 1.754; Walker, 1,579: Paleth'orpe, 1.431 ; Church, 1,385; Nash, 

 1.062 ; Dudderidge, 940; Clover, ST'S ; Giroud, 752. The daily averages. 

 throughout the season were: — Hogan, 1,442; Walker, 1,334; Palethorpe. 



