518 



Farm Institutes. 



[Sept., 



to agriculture. A winter course of instruction is held from 

 October to March. The students are able to observe the results 

 of various experiments and demonstrations on the farm, whilst 

 in the laboratories practical work is carried out in soil analysis, 

 seed-testing, etc. 



There is a fruit plantation and market garden having an area 

 of 2 acres. Here market garden crops are grown between 

 fruit trees on the Evesham system, which enables the grower 

 to employ horse-drawn or motor-drawn implements, and en- 

 sures a return even when fruit crops fail. Practical work in 

 horticulture also includes propagation by cuttings, layers, 

 grafters and budding. Inasmuch as the produce of the plot 

 is graded and packed and disposed of commercially, students 

 have the opportunity of observing every process from the pre- 

 paration of the land to the marketing of the crop. 



A summer course in dairy farming and poultry-keeping — 

 attended this year by 12 women — is also held; other short 

 courses are arranged as and when occasion demands. Pupils 

 are taken at the farm in preparation for the winter course and 

 at other times during the year. 



The Com^mittee are prepared to consider the admission at 

 reduced fees or without charge of a limited number of students 

 who are competent to benefit by a course of instruction at the 

 Institute but whose circumstances are such that they cannot 

 pay the full fee. 



