101 



Professorship, and held the post for two periods of three years 

 each, during which he gave lectures chiefly on the results obtained 

 experimentally at Rothamsted. During the agricultural depression 

 which occurred after 1878 the income from the endowment fell 

 to about 120 a year, and this was absorbed during 1891-4 in the 

 maintenance of farm buildings and expenditure on improvements 

 on the estate. After an interval of three years, Prof. Warrington 

 was appointed in 1894, and held the post until 1900. On his 

 resignation no further appointment was made, owing to the recon- 

 stitutibn of the Professorship being under discussion. 



"For some years prior to this, proposals for including agri- 

 cultural science in the curriculum of the University had been made, 

 but, although they obtained considerable support, no definite action 

 was taken until 1905, when, on the abolition of the Royal Engi- 

 neering College at Cooper's Hill, Oxford was charged with the 

 education of the selected probationers for the Indian Forest Service. 

 In order to provide for the instruction of these probationers, the 

 University agreed to reconstitute the Sibthorpian Professorship. 

 The College of St. John's came forward and augmented the stipend 

 of the professor by 600 a year (francs 15 150), and subsequently 

 associated the professorship with a fellowship in that College, and 

 also undertook the erection of a laboratory with the necessary class- 

 room accommodation, the cost of which has been approximately 

 10000 (francs 252500). 



" The duties of the Sibthorpian Professor, as amended by Sta- 

 tute in 1905, are denned to be the giving of lectures and instruction 

 on the scientific principles of agriculture and forestry, including 

 the pathology of plants. Dr. W. Somerwille was appointed to the 

 Professorship in 1906. Shortly afterwards the Hebdomadal Council 

 instituted a Committee for the organisation of the study of Rural 

 Economy, and also established a Diploma in the subject. 



" At the present time the Diploma in Agriculture and Rural 

 Economy is granted to candidates who have pursued a course of 

 study approved by the Committee, and have passed certain exa- 

 minations. Before admission to the course, candidates must satisfy 

 the Committee that they have received a good general education. 



" The course of study must extend over two academical years 

 and must be pursued at Oxford; but members of the University 

 who have kept by residence all the terms required for the Degree 

 of Bachelor of Arts may be permitted by the Committee to pursue 

 it elsewhere. The course of study comprises the following sub- 



