ON EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR OVERSEAS LIFE. 283 
B. and C, Plant life, etc. 
(a) Seeds and seedlings, individual experimental work—e.g. structure of seed 
—absorption of water by seed—increase in weight and volume—respira- 
tion of seed, effect of temperature on germination ; (b) plant nutrition 
—water cultures, sand cultures. Potato experiments—(eight-plot test— 
law of diminishing returns—observation of same only—results considered 
in Vo.), photosynthesis, respiration in plants and animals; (c) the use 
of a flora; (d) work in the garden: (a) raising plants from seed, etc., 
(b) management of border, (c) experiments arising from the indoor 
course. 
Form Vo. Boys and Girls. Average age, 15. Hours per week, 44. 
A. Chemistry continued. 
(a) The three mineral acids—preparation, composition and reactions; sodium, 
potassium—their hydroxides; phosphorus, sulphur, and carbon—their 
oxides and acids derived from same; phosphates, sulphates, carbonates ; 
salts of importance in agriculture; (b) organic chemistry—introduction 
to such materials as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, by examination of 
simple foodstufis and vegetable matter. 
B. Physics. 
Simple treatment of energy—transformation and conservation of energy— 
electricity, light, heat, etc., as forms of energy. Heat treated in greater 
detail: the thermometer—time temperature curves. Change of state— 
latent heat—boiling points, etc., quantity of heat—specific heat. Expan- 
sion, conduction, convection, radiation. 
C. and D. Plant life, etc. 
(1) Soil—origin—structure—water content—organic content—clay, sand, and 
humus—pore space, air space. Movement of water in soil—capillarity— 
surface tension—diffusion—effect of cultural operations on water content. 
Soil temperature—factors controlling it, drainage—hedges—slope—colour. 
Micro-organisms present in soil—fermentation, decay—nitrification— 
denitrification—bacteria in relation to food—milk, butter. (2) Experi- 
mental results—consideration of numerical results from various experi- 
ments (chiefly dealing with potatoes). (3) Greenhouse and frames. In 
relation to radiation, convection, sunshine, humidity of atmosphere, etc. 
Form Va. and B. Average age, 16. Hours per week, 3. 
The whole of the previous year’s work revised, with necessary extension and 
amplification, e.g. the vernier, Boyle’s Law, fluid pressure, comparison of plant ash 
with soil, physical and chemical processes involved in composition and decomposition 
of plants and animals. Other elements of importance in plant nutrition, e.g. 
magnesium, iron—their oxides and common salts. 
Potato experiments, 1925. Law of Diminishing Returns. 
Nine plots are used on which potatoes are grown with variable quantities of potash 
and nitrogen (phosphates constant). 
The data are used for such problems as 
1. Calculation of weight of fertiliser to be applied. 
2. Calculation of percentage of potash, phosphates, and nitrates in dressing. 
3. Calculations of yield: total crop per acre and ratio of crop to seed. 
4. Comparison of yields. 
5. Relation between yield, cost, etc. 
In addition, useful observations are made by the children during the growing 
season. 
Variety trials—A number of varieties is grown in sextuplicate on a plot 
55 ft. x 205 ft.—six sections. 
One section is trenched each year—the others are worked one spit deep. At the 
same time the trenched section has garden refuse worked into the second spit. All 
sections are dressed with artificial fertilisers in spring. No dung is available, but rape 
meal has been used during the last year. The yields are calculated on tons per acre 
and also crop: seed. Since 1919 we have grown more than twenty immune varieties. 
Varieties for 1925.—Tinwald Perfection, Kerr’s Pink, Catriona, Katu Glover, 
Ally, Arran Comrade, Kok. 
Varieties on small plots: Field-Marshal, Majestic, Di Vernon, Arran Chief, King 
Edward, Ben Lomond, Golden Wonder, Crusader, Ben Cruachan, Immune Ashleaf. 
Seed size trial—This year we are planting sets of Arran Comrade and Tinwald 
