iQii.] A Suggested Type of Agricultural School. 411 



In the Physiological Department, also, much interestinj^ 

 work is being done. The experiments in spaying mentioned 

 in connection with the Animal Institute are being conducted 

 by this Department. The pigmentation of the fat of swine 

 is also being investigated, a matter that is of great interest 

 to the bacon industry. At the farm, an investigation on the 

 body temperature of cattle is being conducted in collaboration 

 with the Lecturer in Agriculture. This question has an 

 important bearing on the use of the tuberculin test. An 

 experiment on the crossing of Merino with Shropshire sheep, 

 with a view to combining the wool of the first with the 

 constitution of the second, is in progress. 



The Biological Department of the University is engaged 

 on a number of investigations on the breeding of poultry, 

 the necessary accommodation having been provided on the 

 University Farm. 



It is probable that the energies of the Cambridge School 

 as regards research will in the future be mainly directed 

 to plant breeding, animal nutrition from the chemical as 

 well as the physiological side, and animal breeding. It 

 will be seen from the above account that considerable pro- 

 gress in connection with these subjects has already been made. 



The Rural Education Conference which was constituted by 

 the Presidents of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and 



the Board of Education in June, 1910, 

 A Suggested Type of have had under consideration for some 

 Agricultural School, time a reference from the two Boards 



"as to whether there is any place in 

 the system of Rural Education either generally or in par- 

 ticular counties, in view of special local conditions, for 

 schools giving to boys leaving Elementary Schools a three 

 years' course from the age of 12 or 13 in the Theory and 

 Practice of Agriculture, together with continued general 

 education." This question w^as referred to a committee for 

 detailed consideration, and the Conference have now pre- 

 sented a Report* on the subject. As regards boys 

 who intend to get their living, at all events at the 

 outset, as agricultural labourers, the report states : — 

 "We understand that the type of school intended is one 



* [Cd. 5774.] Messrs. Wyman & Sons. sd. 



i 



