1908.] Grants for Agricultural Education. 747 



Analyses of peat soils are made for members in the chemical 

 laboratory at a charge of 3s. 6d. each, and advice is given as 

 to the best method of cultivation, manuring, &c. The Society 

 also retains the services of a botanist who makes a special 

 study of the botanical questions connected with peat land. 

 Each summer he visits and reports on the character of the 

 peat and bog in a different district, and advises as to the 

 methods of reclamation which he considers applicable. He 

 also examines samples and advises members as to their suita- 

 bility for fuel or litter. 



Experimental cultivation is carried out on a large scale at 

 Flahult, where the work is seen and examined by numerous 

 visitors. The Society also encourages the formation of ex- 

 perimental fields on farms in different districts, by supplying 

 seeds and manure gratuitously. Demonstration plots have 

 also been established with a view to educating the rural popu- 

 lation. Practical advice and assistance in dealing with peat 

 land can be obtained from an expert attached to the Society, 

 at a small charge per day for maintenance, and this is a 

 privilege which is much sought after. Some additional 

 information as to this Society, with photographs of the station 

 at Flahult, will be found in the Journal d' 'Agriculture Pratique 

 (21st November, 1907). 



The grants made by the Board of Agriculture in aid of Agri- 

 cultural Education amounted to £11,550 in the year ending 



31st March, 1907, an increase of £1,000 

 Grants for Agricul- over the previous year. This increase was 

 tural Education. chiefly caused by the subsidy of £800, 



given for the first "time to the Royal 

 Veterinary College, though small additional grants were made 

 to a few other institutions. In all, 20 colleges and schools now 

 share in the funds placed at the Board's disposal by Parliament, 

 and the number of students receiving instruction at these 

 various centres in 1906-7 was 1,221. While these figures 

 are .satisfactory, Mr. Middleton remarks, in the course of his 

 report on this side of the Board's work, that the number of 

 students pursuing the longer courses offered at the colleges 

 is not so large as a few years ago promised to be the case. 

 In spite of inducements in the form of scholarships given 



