lo Oct. 1910.] P^.d-jcational Facilities at tin Yiticuliural College. 6,37 



1,303; Church. 1,081; Nash, 892; Dudderidge, 828; Clover, 746; 

 Giroud, 676. For the whole shed the highest daily average was that of 

 A. Deas, with 1,459, which was put up with the most difficult wood to 

 operate on. 



To enable us to attain these results the grading of the wood is care- 

 fully carried out by juniors, by means of an original and useful device. 

 Most of the boys engaged in grafting are 15 and 16 years of age. Two 

 turned 17 just as grafting finished. Some have been with us but a few 

 months. Though in their first season they already show promise of quick- 

 ness and skill. Mr. H. Wilkinson may well be proud of these results 

 which speak so eloquently of his training. 



The extensive dairy work on the farm, too, is all done by the boys. 

 They do the milking, separating and butter-making. They also take a 

 prominent part in the making of silage and hay, and, in fact, in all the 

 duties on the farm. 



To supplement this practical training, and make clear the reasons for 

 the various practices, lectures are regularly given. At these the lantern 

 and microscope are freely used, experiments are conducted, and no pains 

 are spared to make the lectures thoroughly practical as well as instructive 

 and interesting. By such means practice and theory are blended with the 

 happiest results, and the information is kept up to date. The time has 

 long passed when agriculture could be conducted on a mere rule of thumb 

 basis. The intelligent grower wants a more cogent reason for his opera- 

 tions than " What was good enough for my father and grandfather is 

 good enough for me.'' Neither has the world to-day any use for the 

 man who farms on paper. But with the happy combination of sound 

 theory and intelligent practice we have many evidences of success. Here 

 it is aimed to give the boys both aspects, and theory and practice go 

 hand in hand. 



In the agricultural section tiie importance of this branch of industry is 

 emphasized. It was the earliest as it still is one of the noblest of pro- 

 fessions. Have we not the highest authority for saying " The King him- 

 self is served by the field?" We undertake an elementary study of the 

 soil. Without dipping too deeply into the geological aspect of the ques- 

 tion, this subject can be made intensely interesting. The decomposition 

 of rocks and formation of soil are going on under our very eyes, and we 

 note the process on the College farm, especially in certain exposed por- 

 tions of rock that rapidly weather. The agencies that help to the forma- 

 tion of soil are thus seen at work. The accumulation of humus is noted. 

 The question of plant food follows. Experiments are always interesting 

 and should be valuable. The active portions of the soil are discovered. 

 Demonstrations of osmosis show how the plant takes up some of its food. 



The importance and value of drainage, the necessity of thorough culti- 

 vation, the imperative need of providing fodder crops, and conserving 

 them in the form of silage are not overlooked. Victoria is already the 

 richer for her attention to the latter, and will be richer still when she 

 thoroughly realizes its importance. Manuring, rotation of crops and fal- 

 lowing are of course practised as they should be on every farm, and the 

 results of our experimental plots are studied. These and other subjects, 

 in their turn, are treated in the lecture room, and are followed with keen 

 interest by the boys. Other lectures deal with the secretion, composition, 

 and treatment of milk. Even the weeds are studied. Calculations of 

 areas, computation of the capacity of a tank or dam, setting out an orchard 

 or vineyard, all receive due attention and are very necessary information 

 for a farmer. Often the boys themselves suggest the subject of their 



