SECRETARY'S REPORT. 239 



Practical Agriculture. — First Paper. 



1. Enumerate the crops at present growing on the Royal Agricultural 

 College Farm, naming that which each field bears, or is being prepared 

 for, and the acreage in each crop, as nearly as you can recollect. 



2. Describe the acts of husbandry during the present session, in lots 

 Nos. 11, 19, and (3 and 5,) and the objects kept in view in each. 



3. Describe and value the acts of husbandry during the present ses- 

 sion in lot No. 8, and their object. State generally the best methods of 

 cleaning (1) strong clays, (2) moderately light soils. 



4. Describe (very briefly) the principal implements employed on the 

 Royal Agricultural College Farm, and give a catalogue of those which 

 would usually be required on a farm of 400 acres of turnip land. 



5. Give an account of the different methods of planting potatoes 

 according to the nature of the soil. Illustrate this from the plan adopted 

 in 3 & 5 ; enumerate also the manures used for this crop in that field, 

 and their apparent result up to this date. 



6. What are the uses of the different kinds of root crops ? "What 

 soils, what climates are best adapted to each sort respectively ? Show 

 how far one sort of root crop can replace another. What species of 

 root will best take the place of an early spring green crop ? 



7. What is the best method of cultivating barley ? How would you 

 manage the previous crop, so as to insure a good seed bed ? State the 

 quantity of seed, and the soils best suited to this crop. 



8. Write a short essay on pai'allel drainage, paying attention to — 

 (1.) The nature of the soil for which the system is adopted. 

 (2.) Depth and frequency of drains. 



(3.) Action of parallel drainage. 



(4.) General cost, and the return that may be expected from it. 



Second Paper. 



1. Explain the principles and use of the liquid manure drill. 



2. What is the use and object of a rotation of crops? Describe a 

 three, four, and five-field course, and state to what description of soil 

 each is respectively adapted. Give examples when you can from the 

 college fafm. 



3. At what period (1) of the year, (2) of the rotation, would deep 

 ploughing be advisable ? What kinds of soil does it benefit, and when 

 should it be avoided ? 



4. Explain the functions of live stock on a farm. What effect has 

 turnip husbandry produced on the meat-eating population of this 

 country ? 



