19-22.] School of Agriculture, Cambridge University. 229 



students was maintained, and a number of men entered for 

 the final Diploma course after having taken an honours degree 

 in Natural Science. Such men readily obtained good positions 

 in India and the Colonies, and Professor Middleton 's Indian 

 experience was an important factor in encouraging a class of 

 students of this type. 



As the number of students increased it became evident that the 

 department was outgrowing its temporary home in the chemical 

 laboratory, and the need of a permanent agricultural laboratory 

 became pressing. The first step was taken at the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society's show at Derby in 1906 when His Majesty King 

 Edward VII, who was staying with the late Duke of Devonshire, 

 Chancellor of the University, visited the show and expressed 

 great interest in the Department's exhibit of new varieties of 

 cereals in the Education building. The Duke soon afterwards 

 consented to act as chairman of a special committee of the Cam- 

 bridge University Association with the object of collecting 

 £20,000 to build an agricultural laboratory, the University 

 having promised to provide a site adjoining the other scientific- 

 laboratories and museums. The Worshipful Company of 

 Drapers, whose munificence had already created the Professor- 

 ship of Agriculture, headed the subscription list with the offer 

 of £5.000 on condition that an equal sum should be promised 

 immediately. This condition was fulfilled at the first meeting 

 called in London by the Committee. Very soon afterwards, the 

 Duke of Devonshire, who had initiated the scheme, died. His 

 place as chairman was taken by the present Duke, to whose 

 energy the ultimate success of the scheme was due. 



Meantime Professor Middleton, like his predecessor in the 

 Chair of Agriculture, accepted an Assistant Secretaryship at the 

 Board of Agriculture, which made it necessary for him to leave 

 Cambridge in May, 1 ( .)07. He was succeeded by the writer, 

 whose appointment necessitated a considerable reorganisation of 

 the Department. Professor Middleton had taken charge of the 

 teaching of Agriculture and the direction of the farm. The 

 new Professor continued his teaching of agricultural chemistry, 

 and the agricultural teaching and the farm were put in thd 

 hands of Mr. K. J. J. Mackenzie, who had been Vice-Principal 

 of the South Eastern Agricultural College. 



A few months later, the Drapers' Company gave further evi- 

 dence of their great generosity by increasing their annual tfrant 

 and renewing it for a second period of 10 years to 1919. This 

 enabled the University to create a second agricultural professor- 



