1922.] The School of Agriculture. 



299 



The course of instruction for the diploma extends over two years, 

 with an examination at the end of each. The first examination 

 for the diploma is a difficult technical examination in agriculture 

 and agricultural sciences. In the second year a candidate may 

 specialise in any line, either practical or scientific, and is exa- 

 mined in that line only. Thus, the diploma is a valuable qualifi- 

 cation of professional standard. The University gives diplomas 

 also in forestry and horticulture, the instruction and examination 

 for which are on similar lines. 



These diplomas are taken for the most part by Cambridge men 

 who have already taken honours degrees in natural science and 

 are intending to become agricultural experts at home or abroad. 

 It is a point worth noting that in Cambridge over 300 men take 

 honours degrees in science every year. 



For many years it has been an honoured tradition in Cambridge 

 that every teacher in the science schools should engage in 

 research in his own subject. This tradition has been followed 

 in the case of agriculture. Already in 1910, when the School 

 of Agriculture was opened, members of the staff were well known 

 by their publications. It is only necessary to mention Professor 

 BifTen's work on plant breeding, which has produced Little 

 Joss Wheat, and Dr. Marshall's work on the physiology of repro- 

 duction. 



When the Development Fund became available for the 

 promotion of research, and the Development Commissioners 

 decided to establish Research Institutes in various branches of 

 agricultural science two of these Institutes were placed at Cam- 

 bridge — a Plant Breeding Institute under the direction of 

 Professor Biffen, and an Animal Nutrition Institute under the 

 joint direction of the writer and Dr. Marshall. The Plant 

 Breeding Institute has its laboratories in the School of Agricul- 

 ture. It is also equipped with bird-proof cages for the experi- 

 mental culture of small plots and with greenhouses and sorting 

 rooms. These are accommodated at Gravel Hill Farm. The 

 larger plots for testing and growing on for seed are situated at 

 How Hill Farm, a mile further out on the Huntingdon Boad, 

 opposite Girton College. The staff of the Institute have concen- 

 trated their attention chiefly on cereals and potatoes. Hp to the 

 present the main practical result of their work has been th< 

 production of the two wheats, Little -Toss and Yeoman, -vhich are 

 too well known to require description. But porhaps the resnll 

 which will in future prove still more valuable is Professor Biffen's 

 discovery of the mode of inheritance of immunity to yollow nisi 



