National Agricvltiiral Kxamination Board. 341 



GEOFFREY Talbot, Harris Institute, Preston. 



HENRY WiLBERFORCE THOMPSON, Leeds University. 



ALEr Daa'ID Robert Walbank, Leeds University." 



KOBERT H. P. Walling. Armstrong College, Neweastle-on-Tyne. 



.ARTHUR RICHARD Westrop, Harper-Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Salop. 



Hugh Alexander Wyllie, West of Scotland Agricultural College, Glasgow. 



5. The Reports of the Examiners in the five subjects 

 included in Part I. are as follows: — 



1. Agricultural Botany. (200 Marks.) 

 Professor John Percival, M.A., F.L.8. 



The average standard of attainment in the subject was maintained this year, but 

 there was an absence of really well trained candidates. The more elementary parts 

 of the syllabus had been well prepared in most instances, but a number of those 

 examined showed only a slight practical acquaintance with the botany of farm crops 

 and fungi. More attention should be given to the botanical features of the chief 

 root and fodder crops and the finer details of grasses. It would be well if all 

 students of this subject could see small plots or ears and grain of the chief varieties 

 of wheat, barley, oats and rye. 



2. Mensuration and Land Surveying. (200 Marks.) 

 Mr. R. E. C. Burder, P.A.S.I. 



The candidates in this examination seemed to experience little difticulty in drawing 

 the plans and sections, although, at the same time, more attention might well have 

 been devoted to neatness and finish in the execution of the work. In the mathe- 

 matical questions the chief fault appeared to be that too little care was taken to 

 select the shortest and safest methods of working. In the viva voce examination the 

 candidates showed that they possessed a very fair knowledge of the signs and 

 symbols employed upon the Ordnance Maps, and seemed to have appreciated tlie 

 necessity of studying this portion of the subject. 



3. General Chemistry. (200 Marks.) Dr. H. B. Baker, F.R.S. 



The standard reached by the candidates seemed to me quite satisfactory. Many 

 of them had pursued their studies under very disadvantageous circumstances, and 

 it speaks very highly for their perseverance that many of them did so well. In 

 each of the three branches of the subject. Physical, Inorganic, and Organic, the 

 candidates, on the whole, acquitted themselves creditably, and the oral examination, 

 which I consider a most valuable adjunct, convinced me that in most cases the 

 knowledge shown was not the result of cramming. The note books produced often 

 showed very careful experimental records, but one would rather have had the rough 

 note books actually written in the laboratory, than the carefully made copies which 

 were in most cases presented. It is often as interesting to see the account of an 

 experiment which failed as of one which succeeded. 



4. Geology. (100 Marks.) Dr. J. E. Marr, M.A., F.R.S., P.G.S. 



The answers of the candidates in Geology were on the whole satisfactory, and 

 proved that they had a good grasp of the principles of the subject. The knowledge 

 of geological map reading showed a distinct improvement on that displayed in 

 previous years, which is a very satisfactory feature of this year's examination. 



5. Agricultural Zoology, (100 Marks.) Prof. J. Arthur Thomson, M.A. 



The majority of the candidates were well-prepared, especially on the more 

 practical .'^ide of the subject. The two practical questions included in the paper, 

 which involved the classification and description of two specimens supplied, were 

 well done with few exceptions. On the other hand, the statements made as to the 

 general characters of Nematodes, Mites, or even Hymenoptera, showed tireat lack 

 of practice in distinguishing the general from the particular, the important from the 

 trivial. Very few of the candidates showed any understanding of Mendel's Law. 

 In the oral examination many displayed a pleasing familiarity with the appearance 

 of common animals of agricultural importance. 



6. The Examiners in the five subjects included in Part II. 

 report as below : — 



6. Peactical Aghicultube. (500 Marks.) Mr. T. A. Dickson, Mr. John 



Gilchrist, F.8.I., and Professor W. McCracken. 



The proficiency of the candidates, with the exception of those who reached 

 the honours standard, is moderate, and to many a more thorough preliminary 

 education would have been an advantage. There has been an improvement in the 



