346 National Agricultural Examination Board. 



6. The Examiner in Chemistry and Bacteriologj' at the 

 English centre (Dr. Augustus Voelcker, M.A., B.Sc), in his 

 report, states that " The number of failures in this part of the 

 Examination was considerably higher than has been the case 

 previously. Out of the thirty-three candidates, no Jess than 

 fourteen failed absolutely, and four others only just qualified 

 with half -marks. Of the remainder, however, no less than eleven 

 gained over two-thirds marks and several of the papers were 

 really good and showed sound and special knowledge, this being 

 particularly marked with respect to bacteriology. 



" As a rule, the viva voce part of the Examination was not as 

 satisfactory as the written papers, and it was in this that the 

 general weakness in the elementary principles of chemistry was 

 chiefly shown. 



" While in some cases practical courses, both in chemistry 

 and in bacteriology, had evidently been carefully followed, in 

 others the practical work done had, as shown by the candidates' 

 note-books, been of a very meagre and unsatisfactory nature. 

 A further matter for regret is that it was evident that in several 

 instances candidates presented themselves who had not the 

 remotest chance of ' passing,' and steps should be taken to 

 prevent this in future." 



7. The Examiner in Chemistry and Bacteriology at the 

 Examination in Scotland (Dr. T. W. Drinkwater, F.R.S.E., 

 F.I.C.), reports that " Many of the candidates were very badly 

 prepared for the Examination. They had not realised its scope 

 or its standard. The spelling in some of the papers was poor, 

 and the candidates responsible for these seemed to lack general 

 education. There were a few papers of outstanding merit, and 

 the remainder, with the exception noted above, were up to 

 average standard." 



MoBETON, Chairman. 



16 Bedford Square, London, W.C. 

 November, 1911. 



