430 



THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



would qualify for a degree. The Dookio 

 College, if continued as a second-class 

 .'ollege, would be in a position to give the 

 xind of instruction needed. Other 

 second class colleges could be established 

 when needed. They should not, I think, 

 give diplomas, but a diploma could be 

 gi\ en by an examining body to candidates 

 who, after passing through the college, 

 had had two years' experience of man- 

 agement on an approved farm, and 

 had successfully passed an examina- 

 tion in the principles and practice of farm 

 management. 



As to the highest class of agricultural 

 education, such as would justify the 

 graninig of a degree, I am not sure that 

 the colony is yet ripe for it. When the 

 jjroper time arrives the question will have 

 to be considered as to whether a central 

 first class college will be needed for it, or 

 the work should be undertaken by the 

 L'nivcrsity. Possibly a chair of agricul- 

 ture at the TTniversitv would meet the 

 case, the ])rofessor occupying that chair 

 havint;- clia vise of the "Model Farm" at 

 Royal Park; the physical, chemical, bio- 

 logical, and engineering instruction being 

 given by the existing professors of those 

 sciences. 



Adults in Pkactice. 



Under this head little need be said. 

 Much is being done already, and the 

 methods of work are understood. 



Popular lectures are useful, as preli- 

 minary work, to arouse the interest of the 

 people; but these lectures are to be re- 

 garded as mainly introductory to prac- 

 tical demonstrations in the field and 

 factory. 



The agricultural societies need to be 

 more educational. It would be well if 

 they could be developed more on the 

 lines of farmers' clubs. If the grants for 

 show purposes were reduced the money 

 saved could be devoted to payment of 

 official judges, and to grants for club 

 rooms, the grants being in proportion to 

 the attendance at farmers' meetings, num- 

 ber of papers read, discussions held, and 

 so on, consideration, of course, being 

 given to the quality of the work. Prizes 

 might be awarded to the best clubs, and 

 for papers and work of special merit. 

 Publication of such papers and the edit- 

 ing of a journal of the societies are mat- 

 ters of detail, which any organiser would 

 consider. I need not enter into further 

 details on such matters. 



Analysis of Aloe Ash. 



MR. WILLIE NICHOLSON, of Thed- 

 don, who, as was stated in the last 

 issue, had decided on sending a sample of 

 aloe ash to Mr. Alex. Pardy for analysis, 

 forwards the result for publication as 

 promised. 



The Report. 

 I have made the following determina- 

 tions : — 



Insoluble matter, sand, 



&c, ... .•• 33-74 per cent. 



Lime ... ••• 21'.52 „ 



Phosphoric acid ... 1'29 „ 



Potash ... ... 2-42 „ 



per cent, of the phosphoric acid being 

 water soluble. 



This would represent in a ton (of 

 2,()()01bs.) 430-401bs. of lime, 25-801bs. of 

 l)hosphofic acid, and 48-401bs. of potash : 

 tbv.t is, about .'56 times as much lime, G 

 times as much phosjdioric acid, and 5 

 times as much potash as in well made 

 farmyard manure. 



The sample naturally contained a good 

 deal of sand, which must of necessity 

 occur when separating it from the land on 

 which it was burned ; and does not repre- 

 sent the true composition (though approxi- 

 mately) of the pure aloe ash. 



It will be seen that it has a good agri- 

 cultural value, probably at the present 

 market prices— not including the lime- 

 running about 16a. per ton ; and taking 

 the lime, much of which is active, into 

 consideration, it may be represented at 

 about £2 per ton. 



I may repeat the precaution which 

 should be observed in regard to this 

 fertiliser, viz., that it should not be 

 allowed to lie exposed to rain and 

 moisture before putting it to use, as much 

 of the valuable constituents are soluble in 

 water, and liable to loss by leaching if so 

 neglected ; if it is not spread on the land 

 for which it is intended at once, it should 

 be stored under cover till required. 



