AGRICULTURE 193 



cultivation of hybrids and seedlings, are completely 

 provided for. The extensive botanic garden belong- 

 ing to the Senate is at the disposal of the staff 

 and the students, the more distinguished of whom, 

 after completing their degree course in Cambridge, 

 start on a course of research in this country or 

 abroad. The importance of the department as touch- 

 ing agriculture on its scientific side can hardly be 

 overestimated. 



The professorship of agriculture was founded in 

 1899, and endowed for a term of years by the 

 munificence of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, 

 a body which, with commendable breadth of view, 

 recognizes alike the importance of applied scientific 

 instruction for the artisan and of scientific investiga- 

 tion in all forms of the national activity. The depart- 

 ment of agriculture is conducted on the most practical 

 and progressive lines. It provides instruction in the 

 principles of agriculture for the sons of landowners, 

 farmers, and others. It conducts experiments on 

 crops and live stock, making every effort to secure the 

 intelligent co-operation of farmers. The University 

 experimental farm, for the use of which the department 

 is indebted to the generosity of a member of Clare 

 College, has an area of 140 acres. The County Councils 

 of Cambridgeshire and nine neighbouring counties co- 

 operate in the work and assist it by subsidies. The 

 field experiments of the department extend over ten 

 counties. Parties of farmers visit the experimental 

 plots every season in order to see the results of the 

 experiments and to discuss them with members of the 

 staff; and reports which summarize these results are 

 widely distributed in the districts concerned. Of the 

 suitability of Cambridge as a site for a school of agri- 

 culture, and of the importance of the work undertaken 

 by the school, it may be well to leave the late pro- 

 fessor to speak for himself. 



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