AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, CANTERBURY (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1882 Session I, E-07a

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1882. NEW ZEALAND.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, CANTERBURY (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Return to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, dated Ist June, 1882. "That there be laid upon the table a return (1) of all sales of the Agricultural College reserves, in the Canterbury Provincial District, of all rents received up to date for the unsold portions thereof, and of the amount of the annual rent of such portions ; (2) of all capital expenditure in connection with the establishment of a college, for the purchase of land, erection of buildings, procuring of machinery, &c., respectively, and nil liabilities incurred up to the Ist May under these heads ; (3) of the whole annual income and expenditure for each year since its foundation in the working of the farm and general maintenance of the institution ; (4) of the number resident as pupils for each year; (5) of the results obtained from the different agricultural experiments made at the farm ; (6) of the number of official visits made by the Board of Governors to inspect the College, tlie names of the Governors attending on each occasion, and the dates on which such visits were made."— (Mr. O'Callaghan.)

No. 1. Rettjkn of all Sales of the Eeserves of the School of Agriculture, in the Canterbury Provincial District, up to Ist May, 1882. A. E. P. £ S. d. 40,532 0 19 were sold before survey out of reserves ; Less 984 3 8 refund on deficient acreage after survey ; 39,547 1 11 ... ... 79,094 12 9 Less charge made by Surveyor-General for surveys ... 1,759 0 4 , Net amount ... ... £77,335 12 5 Rents received for Unsold Portions of above, and the Amount of the Annual Eent of such Portions. £ s. d. Total amount of rents received ... ... ... ... £ s. d. 4,766 14 4 Amount of annual rents, 1876 ... ... ... 750 0 0 „ „ 1877 ... ... ... 888 14 0 „ 1878 .. ... ... 638 10 0 „ „ 1879 ... ... ... 546 18 7 „ „ 1880 ... ... ... 968 5 1 „ „ 1881 ... ... ... 974 6 8 „ „ to Ist May, 1882

No. 2. Capital Expenditure in connection with the Establishment of the School of Agriculture, Purchase of Land, Erection of Buildings, Procuring of Machinery, &c, respectively, and all Liabilities incurred up to Ist May, 1882. Expenditure. £ s. d. Purchase of land for farm ... ... ... ... ... 17,71116 8 Erection of buildings and fittings ... ... ... ... 30,550 310 Machinery and implements... ... ... ~. ... 1,650 6 5 £49,912 6 11 Liabilities. £ s. d. Land ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nil Buildings and fittings ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,605 18 11 Machinery and implements ... ... ... ... ... 135 16 0 £1,741 14 11 Note.—The amount for the purchase of land is an investment of capital received from the sale of reserves. The amounts expended for the purchase of buildings and fittinga, and inr.chinery and implements, waa obtained partly from balance at credit of the Annual Maintenance Account, and partly from money borrowed on security of the endowment, I—E. 7a.

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No. 3. The whole Annual Income and Expenditure for each Fear in the Working of the Farm and General Maintenance. Income. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1876—Rents from reserves ... ... ... ... ... 750 0 0 750 0 0 1877 —Eents from reserves ... ... ... ... ... 888 14 0 Interest ... ... ... ... ... ... 773 4 10 1,661 18 10 1878—Rents from reserves ... ... ... ... ... 638 10 0 Interest ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,957 18 4 Bent from portion of farm ... ... ... ... 7 14 0 4,604 2 4 1879—Eents from reserves ... ... ... ... ... 546 18 7 Rents from portion of farm ... ... ... ... 136 5 3 Interest ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,407 13 0 Grain and produce ... ... ... ... .. 131 17 6 5,222 14 4 1880—Rents from reserves ... ... ... ... ... 968 5 1 Rents from portion of farm ... ... ... ... 38 2 6 Interest ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,121 15 6 Grain and produce ... ... ... ... ... 766 5 10 Livestock ... ... ... ... ... ... 522 12 10 Students'fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 320 0 0 7,737 1 9 1881—Rents from reserves ... ... ... ... ... 974 6 8 Interest ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,973 7 7 (3rain and produce ... .. ... ... ... 874 2 2 Live stock ... ... ... ... ... ... 490 5 10 Students'fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,300 0 0 Refund of students' travelling expenses ... ... ... 753 ■ 7,619 7 6 1882—Interest ... ... ... ... ... .. 1,748 0 0 Grain and produce ... ... ... ... ... 59 16 4 Live stock ... ... ... ... ... ... 268 12 1 Students'fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 360 0 0 Students, for books ... ... ... ... ... 212 2,438 9 7 £30,033 14 4 Expenditure, £ s. d. £ b. d. 1877—Inspection of reserves (maintenance) ... ... ... 368 Contribution to Canterbury College ... ... ... 525 0 0 528 6 8 1878—Inspection of reserves (maintenance) ... ... ... 6 13 4 Contribution to Canterbury College ... ... ... 500 0 0 Live stock ... ... ... ... ... ... 318 0 0 Maintenance ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,573 7 0 2,398 0 4 1879—Contribution to Canterbury College ... ... ... 500 0 0 Live stock ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,188 12 4 Maintenance ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,090 6 7 4,778 18 11 1880—Contribution to Canterbury College ... ... ... 500 0 0 Livestock ... ... ... ... ... ... 371 4 2 Maintenance ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,109 10 11 4,980 15 1 1881—Contribution to Canterbury College ... ... ... 500 0 0 Livestock ... ... ... ... ... ... 359 0 0 Maintenance ... ... ... ... ... ... 6,001 111 6,860 1 11 1882—Live stock ... ... ... ... ... ... 113 11 0 Maintenance ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,900 5 2 3,013 16 2 Balance ... ... ... ... 7,473 15 3 £30,033 14 4 Note.—This balance lias been absorbed in the erection of buildings and fittings and the purchase of machinery and implements, and is included in the amounts under the head of " Capital Expenditure " in answer to Question No. 2.

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No. 4 Eetuun of the Number resident as Pupils for each Tear. The school was opened the 19th July, 1880. Number of pupils during the two terms ... 21 1881 —Number of pupils during the three terms ... ... ... ... ... ... 47 1882 —Number of pupils entered for the present term (the first) ... ... ' ... ... 38 Note. —Of these Btudents, 1 comes from the West Coast, 2 from Otago, 5 from Napier, 2 from Nelson, 4 from Auckland, 2 from Wellington, 2 from GKsborne, 1 from Picton, 1 from Invercargill.

No. 5. Return of Nature and Results of Experiments made at the Farm.

Name. Prom whence introduced. Eesult of Cultivation. (a.) Inteodtjced Illinois Alexandria California 'lANTS, OB VaEIBTIBS OT PLANTS. Red clover )» ... Alfalfa (lucerne) Plant stands well; is still in cultivation; no seed. Too tender—killed first winter. Earlier than the common lucerne; plants still growing. A further supply of seed sent for this year. Failure. Lucerne si ... Melilotus, sp. Italy Russia Egypt Apparently a very promising plant of strong growth. Further trials being made. The cultivated spurreys. Highly recommended; but, though useful in their native country and grow well here, are not equal to other fodder plants in cultivation. Spergula maxima „ arvensis Denmark :> Rape Lentils Russia Egypt Not so valuable as English—coarser and less succulent. Grew well; but not adapted to New Zealand, at least at present. Grew and bore well; may be useful on light lands; experiment was not continued for fear of effect of alkaloid " lupuline" on stock. Heavy-yielding variety. Fair-yielding. Lupine (white) Egypt Vetches (spring) » (grey) „ (black) Illinois Montreal Canada Russia a j> • •• Mustard (white) 5> >J ••■ „ (black) )s )) Millet Egypt England Italy Iowa England Russia Illinois Failure. These vetches have been grown a second year, but, as the vetch is not a much-valued crop in Canterbury, the cultivation has been discontinued. These grew well. The English is valuable either for its seed, for sheep, or for green manuring. The cultivation will be continued regularly. The difficulty of harvesting this crop, where birds are so thick, is against it; otherwise it promises well. Cultivation of the English will be continued. Failure. This millet grew fairly well for two years. The climate is, however, rather cold for it, and it did not very well hold its own against grasses and weeds. It seeded well—plenty of seed on hand. These came, but not so strongly as the above. They are similar in habit, and not to be recommended. Climate apparently too cold. Samples of dun peas, not better than those grown here. ,, Hungarian grass Russian mohair Broom-corn Peas 3) Kansas South Australia Victoria Kentucky Victoria J> Partridge pea; very large, but not so saleable here as other sorts. Cultivation discontinued. These yielded seed of no better quality than that ordinarily grown, nor was there anything noticeable in the straw. Grown for three years; much attacked by birds; less straw, and therefore fibre, than yielded by ordinary kind. Failure. J) Linseed Russia, 3 samples Italy U.S.A. ;> •" „ „ (large-seeded) ... JJ Hemp Chili Russia U.S.A. Buckwheat Like all kinds of Polygonum, these grew well; but their value is questionable. For the growth of these oil-yielding plants the climate is too cold. „ mammoth ... Castor-oil )) Sesame Sunflower

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Return of Experiments— continued.

Name. Prom whence introduced. Result of Cultivation. (a. .) Introduced Planti 3, oe Varieties op Plants — continued. Grasses. Spain U.S.A. The seed of these and of many other kinds has been sown, but without result, owing to wane of germinating power. Seed of the fescues and other European grasses was sown twice, the seed being each spring bought from different seedsmen, but without result. A dwarf compact grass, recently brought into cultivation. Ramieh Ked-top Bluegrass Festuca duriuscula „ rubra ;> „ pratensis Bromus patulus, var. Europe nan us Panicurn (allied to the true broom-corn) North America Sown rather late, but has flowered. The climate is perhaps not suffii-iently favourable to allow of its profitable cultivation. (i.) Nat: IVE G-KASSES AND Foi !AGE PiANTS UNDEE EXPERIMENTAL CULTUEE. Microlsena stipoides „ avenacea Alopecurus geniculatus Dichelachne crinita Speplachne ramosissima North Island ... Of quick growth. Well adapted for orchard and forest growth. Of small value for cultivation. Of easy cultivation, and affords a considerable yield. Apparently only adapted for ornamental cultivation, although it is stated that horses feed upon it in the Takaka ranges An elegant grass for decorative purposes, but of little value to the agriculturist, although it is frequently eaten by horses and cattle. A valuable mountain grass ; adapts itself to cultivation with rye-grass and other introduced kinds. Apparently of but little value. South Island ... Nelson Apera arundinacea Banks Peninsula Agrostis canina Waimakariri ... ,, semula Arundo eonspicua (toitoi). Danthonia raoulii, var. aristala Danthonia semiannularis Southland One of the "snow-grasses;" of greatest value during winter. Not adapted for cultivation. A common New Zealand grass, now becoming mixed with introduced kinds under cultivation. A small species found in shingle or gravel; remarkable for its deep-rooted habit. A small nutritious grass, forming a compact sward; a favourite grass with horses, but apparently not adapted for cultivation. A. handsome species: found in wet situations. One of the most valuable kinds for cultivation ; will take the place of the English oat-grass. Of no value for cultivation, except possibly in maritime situations. This is the typical form, and yields a large quantity of succulent herbage, but is not adapted for cultivation on the plains, although it seems likely to prove a grass of high value in mountain valleys. „ sp. Lake Forgyth ... Triodia exigua Thomas River ... Desehampsia cssspitosa Trisetum antarctieum ... Springston Southern Alps ... Glyceria stricta Port Nicholson Poa foliosa, a Stewart Island... „ anceps, (3. „ australis, var. ltevis Festuca scoparia ,, duriuscula Stewart Island. Port Nicholson .. Not adapted for general cultivation. Triticum scabrum Gymnostichum gracile.., Angelica gingidium (aniseed) Ligusticum aromaticum Schcenus pauciflorus (" snow-grass") i Bealey Gorge ... Banks Peninsula The lowland form; a first-class grass, adapted for all ordinary soils, and generally cultivated in Britain. An excellent cattle-grass, but appears to die out unless allowed to seed freely. A grass of considerable value in mountain districts. A valuable condimental plant, greedily eaten by stock of all kinds, but now dying out. Easily cultivated. Greedily eaten by sheep. A slender sedge common in mountain districts, and eaten alike by sheep, horses, and cattle, but is scarcely of sufficient value for cultivation. ... Papaver sornniferurn (opium poppy) Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) Hyoscyamus niger (henbane) ({'.) SuNDB 1 r DmTG-YIELDING PLANTS. Seeds imported last spring, but arrived too late to allow of a fair trial being made during the season. Young plants of each are now in stock, so that their adaptability for culture in this district may be tested uuder more favourable conditions.

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Return of Experiments— continued.

Name. From whence introduced. Eesult of Cultivatipn. (c.) Sundey Dei Q-TIELDINQ- PLANTS — continued. Conium maculatum (hemlock) Menthapiperita (peppermint) Two of the best varieties, cultivated for distilling purposes at Mitcham, have been specially imported, and promise well for the future. All that can be grown will find a ready market. "Wheat. Purple straw Victoria (d.) Ceeeais. All the Australian Tuscans were grown for three years, and the two samples mentioned below were selected as the best. All gave very fair results, quality and yield. >> White Tuscan South Australia. Sydney Agricultural Exhibition U.S.A. and Victoria Adelaide Society's Purple straw These wheats are still grown on the farm, as the best of the Tuscans tried. About 25 acres sown 1882. These wheats were imported into Victoria from U.S.A., and grown there under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture. The samples tried here were the produce of Victoria. Samples are still on hand, and are better than any American wheat tried since, but are not thought to be equal to the Tuscan for New Zealand. A collection of American wheats. Many of these were rejected after trial as unsuitable, others were grown a second year, and a few a third year. As more promising-looking wheats became available for trial, these dropped out of cultivation, as none of them seemed better than New Zealand and other wheats on the farm. Fultz, Jennings, Talavera spring, Tappahannock, Clowson Prolific, Colorado, rustproof, Diehle, Mediterranean, Manitoba, Chidham, frost wheat, club wheat, Michigan wick, Lammas, Russia red, amber, Muskegon, Russian golden straw, white Rogers, Herts white, silver chaff (spring), Oran early, Fife, red May, white May, little early May Fine hard wheat Hard wheat Wheat U.S.A. Russia These wheats belong to the class of " hard" wheats. They proved to be bearded -wheats, the berry being long, thin, and translucent, but here never filling properly during the three years they were under trial. j: )) jj !J Oats. Tartarian (white) Victoria Light and inferior. jj )> jj jj >> Adelaide Society's hullless White Yellow Surprise 5) Not thought to be valuable. Halifax, N.S. ... Canada U.S.A. Good sample, but not better than growing on the farm. Light and inferior. Small oat; apparently not calculated to stand wind. White Dutch Yellow White Hull-less Black 5> ,, ... Canada Nova Scotia Charlotte - town, Nova Scotia Russia Failure. See above. Fair oat. See above. Good useful samples. Nothing particular. Light; of no value. 5) ... Dua Cape ,, ... Cape Colony ... Dun oat much used in Mauritius. Very inferior in quality ; poor yielder ; of no value. Babley. Victoria English Seed good sample; produce inferior. Cape English Chevalier Four-rowed Michigan ... >> Very inferior yield. Grown two years. Soil of farm not well adapted to growing barley of good quality ; produce not equal to seed. TJ.B-A. ... ?; 5> » ))

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Return of Experiments— continued.

In order to show the facility with which fruit may be grown in connection with, agriculture, about three acres of land have been set apart for an orchard, and about one-third is already planted, chiefly with apples and pears. The preparation of the ground and planting have been carried out entirely by students, under the instruction of the gardener. Two objects have been kept in view : first, to secure the best kinds of blight-resisting stocks ; second, to adapt the mode of cultivation to the peculiarities of the climate. The stocks selected for apples are the Northern Spy and the Majetin, both of which possess great powers of resisting blight. The former is the better stock where dwarf specimens are required ; the latter for those of larger growth, but may be used advantageously even for dwarf specimens, of kinds not making a robust growth,

Name. Prom wlience introduced. Result of Cultivation. Cereals — continued. Three samples barley ... U.S.A. and Russia Failures. Black barley ... Spain ... Curious rather than useful; yet a plump good berry. Rye. Mammoth rye ... U.S.A. ... Very large berry. Believe it to be a wheat. Winter ... Russia & Canada Both fair samples. Cultivation not continued. (e.) Sukdby Plants. Sainfoin ... England and Vic- This valuable plant is still in cultivation, but the soil of toria the farm is unsuitable, being deficient in lime. Some seed is available for distribution. Canary grass ... ... Yield not large, soil being poor; but this is evidently a crop suitable to the climate and for limited cultivation. Sugar-beet, Imperial ... France, via Vic- Imperial grows well. This is the first year the laboratoria tory has been of use in determining the percentage of sugar. Three roots, pulled 12th May, gave the following results :— j. w»i»lit Tonoth Circum- Percent. Percent. JNo. WeigM. Length. ferenefJ# o f Sugar , ofWater . I 2 3 4 lb. oz. inchea. 2 0 11 1 10 11 18 8| inche9. 12i Hi Hi 1036 960 7-92 83-92 82-89 84-80 Pale yellow colour. Av. 1 11 10 12 9-29 83'87 No. 1, a coarse necky root, weighing 2 lb. 4 oz., contained 84 90 per cent, water, and yielded only 3'87 per cent, sugar. Grows very well —sugar not determined. Many (15 to 20) varieties of corn have been tried. They —some of them—may be useful for fodder, but the climate on the plains is too cold and windy for the ripening of the seed, which, however, in several varieties, set very well. The same may be said of this plant. I should recommend its being carefully tried in the North Island. The climate is apparently too cold for this American hedge-plant. Have fair hedges of this. It grows rapidly in good, free, well-drained soil. Stands climate, and fruits well. Am, however, undecided as to its value for general use here. A very useful plant, preferable to rape on dry lands ; but must be fed in the autumn, else stalks become tough, are not then eaten by stock, and cannot be covered in by the plough. Neither the purple nor the green variety is suitable, turnips giving more feed and being more easily grown. If seed of the "drumhead" were cheap and true, this kind—which gave the best results —might be grown with advantage on heavy lands. It is not necessary to transplant. Besides trials of samples, a few acres have been grown the last two years. The yield of both seed and straw has been very fair. Some of the straw has been retted ; but without machinery for dressing the fibre it is useless to continue the experiment. No. iugar-beet, white Silesian ilaize Christchurch ... U.S.A. and New Zealand flarly amber sugar-cane New York )sage orange Victoria if rican box-thorn ,, ?housaud-head kale Cohl-rabi i^ield cabbage jinseed

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As considerable difference of opinion exists amongst the local fruit-growers with regard to the respective merits of these stocks, the experiment is of public interest and valuable results may be anticipated, plants worked on the different stocks being planted side by side, and subjected to the same mode of culture. The larger portion of the orchard will consist of apples and pears, stone fruits being represented but sparingly.

Winter Food of Small Birds. Contents of Crop and Gizzard of Birds shot.

Twenty birds killed later contained portions of young peas, wheat, &c, &c.

Date. I Kind of Bird. Seeds of Weed. Q-rain. Insects. Remarks. 1880. April 20 30 May 1 3 3 6 15 25 30 June 3 9 12 12 15 15 15 15 20 24 24 24 24 28 July 6 6 9 10 10 10 10 16 16 30 30 August 6 „ 7 7 „ 13 „ 13 13 „ 20 „ 20 „ 20 „ 26 26 26 September 2 2 8 8 » 13 „ 13 „ 13 „ 18 18 „ 24 „ 24 „ 24 24 30 October 8 Greenfinch Sparrow Lark Greenfinch Sparrow Greenfinch Sparrow Greenfinch Sparrow Greenfinch Sparrow >) Lark Native lark Lark Greenfinch Sparrow Lark Sparrow Greenfinch Lark Greenfinch Sparrow Lark >5 Sparrow Greenfinch Lark 160 178 150 132 a large number 110 190 110 173 125 96 378 793 362 469 79 120 681 231 240 43 167 387 172 254 378 283 76 18 260 180 18 153 271 268 5 205 268 231 160 2 wheat 10 „ 1 „ 26 „ 19 wheat 14 „ 12 wheat 1 „ 7 8 12 1 V Greenfinch )? >> 3 oats JJ 4 wheat » Sparrow Lark Sparrow Greenfinch Sparrow Greenfinch 19 „ 25 „ 2 „ » 5) Lark Greenfinch Sparrow Lark Greenfinch 184 268 317 10 40 36 10 14 3 45 2 14 „ 8 „ Not seed wheat, 6 „ Green matter. Lark Greenfinch 64 28 wheat 31 „ 6 „ Lark several 3J Greenfinch Lark 18 8 6 wheat 2

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Manures on Cereals, to show the Value of Nitrogen compared with Phosphates, or Potash, or both.

On Hoots.—Plot experiments were not successful, a plant not always being obtained. In the field, trials have been several times made to test the value of special manures. In all cases the manured land yielded better crops than the unmanured, sometimes very much so, and in more than one instance made apparently the difference between a good crop and none : i.e., the drills where no manure was used produced very few small turnips, whilst those adjacent, manured, produced a large crop. Turnips are generally sown with the water-drill—about 600 gallons of water and 2 cwt. superphosphate of lime per acre. In no instance on the farm has a crop so drilled been a failure, or even a partial failure, whilst sowing turnip-seed broadcast has failed to produce a crop, even after three sowings. So far the water-drill seems to insure a plant, whilst in broadcast sowing everything depends upon the weather. The cost of manure, of water, and extra labour in drilling amounts to something less than 20s. per acre.

No. of Plot. Kind of Manure. Weight per Acre. Ketnarks. 1 2 3 4, 5 6 7 8 Nothing Nitrate of soda... Superphosphate of lime' —25 per cent, soluble Kainit Ground bones ... Nothing ... . ... Farmyard Nitrate of soda Superphosphate Kainit Superphosphate Nitrate of soda Bones Nitrate of soda Superphosphate Kainit 280 1b. 336 „ 300 „ 336 „ 15 loads 280 lb. 336 „ 300 „ 336 „ 280 „ 336 „ 280 „ 336 „ 300 „ Plots=2 acres each. The whole area was, more or less, attacked by small birds ; the yield of each plot was therefore not taken. Plots Nos. 2, 7, 8, 10, and 11 were, however, decidedly the best. A second trial in case of a few plots was not more successful. Such experiments can only be carried out on plots in the middle of a large field of grain. These experiments were not continued last year, but will be again taken in hand. 9 10 11

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The germinating power of the same wheats was hardly affected by solutions of sulphate of iron containing 7 per cent, sulphate of copper of the same strength as above.

EXPERIMENTS IN "PICKLING" SEED WHEAT. Of 100 grains of wheat sown 21st August, 1880, there had germinated on the dates given the numbers following, viz.:—

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AuGrsi September 39th. 31st. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 6th. 7th. 9th. lith. 14th. 17th. 20th. 27th. ... Not pickled 29 84 85 87 96 97 98 98 98 98 98 99 99 Seeds germinated. A. 'Purple Straw" .., r Pickled with pure sulphate of copper 2 oz. to the sack 4 „ Q 13 4 o 40 19 4 61 35 7 83 53 8 85 57 8 88 64 13 93 81 27 93 83 40 98 85 48 93 88 50 93 90 5G 94 92 59 95 93 59 5) ;j 12 „ 2 4 8 10 10 14 19 26 31 39 45 51 53 • » 16 „ 3 5 8 8 11 19 31 36 40 46 4-9 49 H B. (■ 1 Hunter's White " ] Wheat ( Pickled with pure sulphate of ( copper (. 8 oz. to the sack 12 46 49 G4 60 70 65 77 74 79 76 83 79 89 87 89 88 89 88 89 88 90 89 91 92 93 93 Seeds germinated. » r c. ;iPurple Straw" ... I Not pickled 8G 86 87 88 90 92 85 05 05 95 95 96 96 Seeds germinated. r 2 oz. to the sack 48 62 69 SO 82 84 88 89 89 89 89 89 89 is Pickled with, pure sulphate of copper 4 >, „ Q 17 14 34 26 41 31 48 37 53 40 60 47 74 59 75 GO 78 6G 80 72 81 73 82 73 82 75 13 » I 12 „ 13 17 20 2G 28 32 41 44 47 48 50 52 C5 » 16 „ „ 2 7 10 15 18 19 26 29 34 40 45 49 51 19

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Samples of the same wheats were submitted to microscopic examination. Abo ut 00 per cent, of the grains were found to be injured, there being in the epidermis minute rifts or cracks —possibly caused by the drum, or smutter, of the threshing-machine. Twelve sound grains were sown, and all germinated ; twelve unsound grains were sown, and eleven germinated; twelve unsound grains, pickled with sulphate of copper, were sown, and none germinated. Similar experiments are now in hand; and also others to prove the efficacy of sulphate of copper in preventing smut, &c.: namely, In two fields smutty wheat has been drilled—(l) pickled with sulphate of copper ; (2) pickled with sulphate of iron ; (3) not pickled. Thick and Thin Sowing. —Two fields have been experimented on in this direction, one chain of land being sown with wheat, the quantity per acre being f bushel, 1 bushel, 1J bushels, and 1£ bushels ; variety of wheat, Hunter's white. The thickest sown was decidedly the best in both cases. The quality of the land has so much influence upon this question that experiments such as these have but little abstract value. The date of sowing and habit of growth of the variety of wheat sown must also be taken into account in deciding upon the quantity per acre to be sown, Subsoiling, Deep and Shallow Ploughing, have been compared every year but one. The difference is hardly observable during the growth of the first crop, but the effect of deep cultivation is afterwards easily perceived in the improved mechanical condition of the soil and improved crops.

New Varieties of Wheat, 1881.

Peas for Splitfinr/. —The Early Emperor was tried on a few acres of land last year. The experiment will be continued. Mustard — White and Brown. —Three acres tried last year with moderate success. Harvesting the latter presents a few difficulties in this climate, and in face of the small birds. Both cropa may, I think, be profitably grown. Wheats, 1882. —Besides the above-mentioned samples, 1 have been enabled, through the kindness of Mr. Lovegrove, of Makikihi, to sow a few acres with red wheats, brought from England this year by that gentleman. These wheats comprise Lammas, Nursery, Essex Rough Chaff, Talavera, and others. Beans. —Tick and winter beans have been this autumn imported from England and sown. The tick bean especially will probably prove better suited to our medium land than the larger Scotch bean generally grown in this country. The ordinary grain crops of the farm are not included in these lists. Until students are more advanced, it is not practicable to undertake much experimental work in which Ihe chemical laboratory is concerned. Completion of the buildings and of the work of organizing a new institution will leave more time for attention to the development of useful experimental schemes. W. E. Itet, School of Agriculture, Lincoln. Director.

No. 6. "Of the number of official visits made by the Board of Governors to inspect the College, the names of the (lovernors attending on each occasion, and the dates on which such visits were made." No record has been kept of the official visits of the Governors to the farm, or the names of the •Governors attending on each occasion. F. G. Stedman, Be'gistrar, Canterbury College.

Authority : Q-eorqb Didsbuet, GoTernment Printer, Wellington.—lBB2.

Variety. Whence obtained. Remarks. American Chicago Said to be a picked sample of American winter wheat, but proved to be a mixture of several kinds of wheat, all of poor appearance. These were wheats obtained from the Technological Museum, Melbourne, having been exhibited at the Melbourne Exhibition. They were all splendid samples, but, as soon as they came into ear, were attacked by birds and completely destroyed. Some of the seed, however, was left unsown, and is again under trial. "White Lammas „ Tuscan Polish Purple straw Braemar velvet Wheat i Tasmania Victoria N.S.W. Victoria Tasmania Victoria Cob Ten-rowed wheat Wheat Tasmania Victoria >i )»