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Boys proceeding to the College from one of the State-school farms or from the Hurlstone Agricultural High School, after having been through the two-years course at one of these institutions and passing the prescribed examination, are admitted to Hawkesbury as ssecondyear students. Otherwise applicants desiring to take the full College course or the diploma have to pass an entrance examination, which is practically the Sixth Standard in the public schools. Students failing at these examinations or not desirous of sitting for them can stay on at the practical work of the farm and take special courses, such as the dairying, orchard, poultry, or piggery courses, as vacancies occur. Physique and general aptitude for college work are considered in conjunction with the applicants' educational attainments. Each applicant has to produce a testimonial as to character from his last teacher or employer, evidence as to his aptitude and fitness for agricultural education, and a medical certificate as to the state of his health. Fees (Diploma Course). —The fees are £30 the first year, £20 the second year, and £10 the third year, with a few additional small charges, such, for instance, as 11s. for medical attendance, 4s. for medicine, and 10s. to cover expenses connected with sports (football, cricket, hockey, shooting, and gymnastics) and concerts connected with the social life of the College. Courses. —The principal work of the College is the three-years diploma course, but in addition to this there are special courses in the dairy, orchard, poultry, piggery, experimental plots and farm, carpentry, saddlery, blacksmithing, and engineering sections. There are also short courses for farmers in winter, and a summer school for public-school teachers (described later). The rural-schools course for town children is also held at Hawkesbury. The curriculum of the diploma course is as follows : The course extends over three years. The College year is divided into two sessions Of twenty weeks each, the first of which begins in January of each year and ends in June; the second in July and ends in December. The subjects dealt with are as follow : — First year : Principles of agriculture; chemistry; practical chemistry; botany; English; arithmetic; elements of surveying. Second year : Principles of agriculture and live-stock; chemistry; practical chemistry; elementary mechanics; entomology; sheep and wool; book-keeping; veterinary science. Third year : Principles of agriculture and live-stock; chemistry of the soil; practical chemistry; botany; farm-engineering; veterinary science; sheep and wool. An examination is held at the end of each year, and a pass is awarded to students obtaining 50 per cent, of the maximum marks in principles of agriculture and 50 per cent, of the total maximum marks in all other subjects, except at the end of the third year, when 70 per cent, must be obtained in practical agriculture and 50 per cent, of the total maximum marks in all other subjects; but the number of marks obtained in any one subject must not be less than 33 per cent. Students failing to pass the examination at the end of any year may apply to the Principal for permission (1) to attend the year's course again; (2) to sit for the examination again at the end of the next year without attending at the College; or (3) to attend one or more special courses during the year. A student failing to attend 90 per cent, of the lectures delivered on any one subject is not permitted to sit for the annual examination. At the end of the first and second years certificates of competency are awarded to successful students, and the full College diploma to those passing the third year's examination. The latter are then entitled to the academic distinction of H.D.A. (Hawkesbury Diploma of Agriculture). All these students are required to work on alternate days at outside work on the farm or in the class-rooms or laboratories, as directed. This is one of the most important features in connection with the establishment. They also visit some of the higher-class farms and other agriculturally educative institutions in groups periodically, and from these no doubt they acquire a large amount of valuable information. Special Courses. —A large number of special courses are available for students desiring to follow any particular branch of farming. The fees and deposits for special-course students are the same as for the first year of the diploma course, but non-resident students are admitted to either the diploma or special courses at a fee of £2 2s. per annum. The special courses are as follow :— (1.) Special dairy course of six months: This covers all the subjects connected with dairy-farming and dairy-work, and at the end of the term a practical and theoretical examination is held, and certificates are awarded to those proving competent in milk-testing, buttermaking, cheesemaking, and dairy-farming; but each student must obtain 50 per cent, before he receives his pass. (2.) Special orchard course : This extends over a period of twelve months, and embraces all sections of orchard-work. A certificate of competency is awarded on conditions similar to those mentioned above. (3.) Special piggery course : The instructional course here covers all phases of the management of pigs, including judging on a score-card system, killing, and dressing pigs. A certificate of competency is issued in this department also to those proving successful. (4.) Special poultry course : This extends over a period of six months, and is intended for students who propose taking up poultry and ostrich farming. (5.) Other special courses: There is a special course of twelve months in the "experimental plots and farms branch, and also short courses in carpentry, blacksmithing, saddlery, and engineering.