Beport on Agricultural Education. 
525 
The distinctive feature of the Downton College is that its pro- 
prietorship and that of its farm- stock are vested in the President 
of its Council, Professor W rightson. The farm is 550 acres in 
extent, of a varied character in its soils and produce. It is in 
the valley of the Christchurch Avon, which is employed for 
the irrigation of 45 acres of water meadows. There are also 
about 60 acres of dry pasture and marsh, which, together with 
the water meadows, yield pasturage for a dairy of 25 cows. 
The soil is of the character common in the South country 
chalk districts. Some of it is flat productive land of an alluvial 
character, with gradually rising fields to the downs above. 
A heavy stock of sheep is maintained on this farm. About 
700 ewes and ewe-tegs form the permanent breeding flock. 
The ewes are lambed in January, February, and March, and are 
of the Hampshire Down breed. The lambs, according to the 
custom of the country, are sold either fat or in very forward 
condition at the great autumn fairs in the neighbourhood. 
It is generally understood that the limited accommodation 
available at Downton has been taxed to its fullest extent. We 
have shown that the education is of a very similar character to 
that at Cirencester, and the classes of students are drawn from 
the same rank, namely, those of the upper and the wealthier 
middle classes of the country. At both places large numbers 
of students avail themselves of the course of education with the 
intention of emigrating or becoming land-agents and agricul- 
turists in their own country. 
The Chair of Agricultuee, Ukiversity of Edinburgh. 
This Chair was founded in the year 1790, but with a stipend 
of only 50/. per annum, by the late Sir William Pulteney. In 
1868, by the exertions of the Highland and Agricultural Society 
of Scotland, the endowment was increased by 300Z. per annum, 
150/. of which, as before mentioned, is paid by the Government, 
and the other by the Society. The total emolument of the 
Professor is now about 370/. per annum, and the fees payable 
by the students are 4 guineas per course of 100 lectures. The 
Highland Society endeavour to stimulate students to attend 
these lectures by offering annually ten bursaries of 20/. each 
towards their expenses. These bursaries are tenable for one 
year at the University in order to enable the holders to qualify 
for the Society's diploma. 
The syllabus of the course of lectures delivered by Professor 
Wilson, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., is of a most comprehensive character, 
including in the first section the history of agriculture up to 
the present time ; in the second section the general purposes of 
agriculture and the conditions affecting it ; in the third section 
