1907.] 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



117 



"unusual." The rainfall varied a good deal. In England S., S.W., and E., it 

 was considerably in excess of the average, while in Scotland E. there was a large 

 deficiency. In other districts the divergence from the normal was less striking. 

 Bright sunshine was "scanty" in the east of England, but "moderate" in most 

 other districts, except the east of Scotland, where it was " abundant." 



A few reports have been received from the Board's correspondents on the weather 

 and the crops. In South-East Kent vegetation is still relatively late, but the crops 

 generally are said to look well. Gooseberries were somewhat affected by frosts, but 

 there is a prospect of a fair crop ; and there is also a likelihood of a good crop of 

 plums. In the Wisbech district it is reported that sharp frosts occurred on several 

 nights, but no great amount of damage was caused to the fruit crops. The young 

 trees, which are more exposed, suffered the most from frost, but the prospect for 

 every kind of fruit is encouraging. Pastures are backward. In Berkshire the frosts 

 do not seem to have done much harm to the fruit crops. Vegetation has made great 

 progress, and the pastures are now ready to carry stock. The lambing season in 

 Argyllshire is said to be a fair one ; corn is brairding well, but grass is late. 



Agricultural Education in Canada. — An educational experiment, which is about 

 to be tried in Canada, is the introduction of classes in agriculture in some of the high 

 schools. It is proposed to make a grant to each high 

 Miscellaneous Notes, school that will establish a class in agriculture, and will 

 agree to appoint a teacher recommended by the Agri- 

 cultural Department. A plot of ground must be provided near the school, to be used 

 for demonstration or experiment. The classes will specialise according to the agri- 

 cultural wants and conditions of the districts in which the schools are situated. In 

 fruit-growing sections, particular attention will be paid to fruit culture. In grain- 

 growing or vegetable-growing districts, those branches will receive chief attention. 

 The teachers will devote their time exclusively to agricultural work. If their time is 

 not monopolised in their respective schools, it is to be available for assisting and 

 encouraging agricultural and nature study in rural schools, and in sending the 

 Agricultural Department information as to pests, new and interesting developments in 

 connection with farming, &c. In fact they will be the local representatives of the 

 Department, as well as teachers. — {Canadian Farmers' Advocate, 7th March, 1907.) 



General Education Board in the United States. — An organisation of private 

 citizens in the United States interested in the study of educational needs, was 

 recognised by Congress in 1903 under the title of "The General Education Board." 

 It is intended to afford a medium through which gifts from private philanthropists 

 can be advantageously applied to education, and has been very largely endowed by 

 Mr. Rockefeller. No State Educational Institutions are aided from this fund. As 

 regards agriculture, some demonstration work has been undertaken in the Southern 

 States, where it is stated that the farmer obtains a smaller return from his land than is 

 the case in the North, and is consequently unable to support a good school system. 

 The Education Board has been successfully endeavouring to show farmers in three or 

 four Southern States, by means of demonstration farms, how to make the land more 

 productive. 



The Agricultural and Horticultural Association. — Wich reference to the informa- 

 tion respecting the Agricultural Organisation Society which was recently given in this 

 journal (January, 1907, p. 628), it may be pointed out that, besides the societies 

 affiliated to that Association, there are a number of other co-operative societies, some 

 of which have been in existence for a number of years. One of the oldest, the Agri- 

 cultural and Horticultural Association, Limited, dates from about the year 1866. It 

 is almost exclusively a society for the sale of seeds, fertilisers, oil-cakes, and other 

 requisites to its members, as well as to the general public. The sales for 1907 



