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treated in such a way as to be of the greatest value to the children, both educationally and practically. In dairying the course of the work taken was as nearly complete as it is possible to take the subject in a school class. In agriculture a demonstration plot was used in which peas, beans, cabbages, and most of the ordinary kinds of vegetables were grown. Children's individual plots were attempted, but the only ground available was the site of an old dairy factory. This proved barren and useless, and the plots were therefore abandoned. A good deal of interest was taken in the farmers' plots, where, on ground of very poor quality indeed, experiments in growing turnips, mangolds, and carrots were carried out. The treatment as recommended by Mr. Aston, Chemist to the Agricultural Department, was generally adopted. The experiments in practical agriculture were carried out under the supervision of Mr. R. McK. Morison, the Board's instructor in agriculture, and the chemistry lectures were given by Mr. J. Hunter, M.A., first assistant master in the school. Practical Work. —ln growing turnips experiments were made with superphosphates, superphosphates and basic slag, bonedust and superphosphates, bonedust, superphosphates and kainit, and special turnip-manure. The section on which no manure was used raised a crop of 4 tons 12cwt. per acre, and the manured grounds showed a remarkable increase at little cost. One and a half hundredweight of superphoshates per acre increased the crop to 25 tons 13 cwt. at a cost of Bs. 3d. per acre for fertiliser, or an approximate cost of 4s. 7d. per ton to produce; 1 \ cwt. each of superphosphates and basic slag, 25 tons 6 cwt., at 15s. per acre or Bs. 7d. per ton; f cwt. bonedust and 2 cwt. superphosphates, 37 tons 9 cwt., at 16s. 3d. per acre or ss. Bd. per ton; § cwt. bonedust, 2 cwt. superphosphates and A cwt. kainit, 38 tons 5 cwt., at 18s. 9d. an acre or 6s. 7d. per ton; special turnip-manure (3 cwt.), 27 tons 5 cwt., at £1 2s. 6d. per acre or 12s. 6d. per ton. The results jf the experiments should give a clear idea of the comparative values of the manures used. The crop of mangolds was planted late in the season and in very dry weather. The seed germinated well but many of the plantlets faded, though single specimens of the vegetable matured splendidly. The crop as a whole was for comparative purposes a failure. Similar manures were used in connection with the carrots, the yield being increased from 9 tons 17 cwt. 2 qr. 23 lb. with no manure to 15 tons 14 cwt. 1 qr. 15 lb. by manuring with superphosphates, bonedust, and potash. The most satisfactory results, however, were obtained with superphosphates and bonedust, the crop weighing 14 tons 11 cwt. 2 qr. 22 Ib., the cost of production per ton being 2s. Bd., a little more than half that with the experiment with the three manures mentioned. Theoretical. —The course of chemistry, fully illustrated with experiments, was opened by studying the preparation, properties, and uses of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbonic-acid gas, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, nitric acid. Then, after considering the functions of oxygen, carbonic acid, and nitrogen in the atmosphere, and the action of plants in appropriating carbon and liberating oxygen, artificial manures were studied; the elements contained in each, the percentage of solubility in water and then in acid were considered. Manures were classified into (1) phosphatic, (2) potassic, (3) nitrogenous, and (4) calcareous. One lesson was devoted to lime and its uses. Analyses were made in class of Lawe's superphosphates, James and Co.'s bonedust, Westfield's prepared guano, Westfield's turnip-manure. Samples of kainit and muriate of potash were also analysed, and lessons were given on the proper mixing of manures and the proper mixtures to apply to different crops and soils. Dairying. —This subject was taken by Mr. A. R. Gatland, 8.A., assistant master in the secondary department of the school. Lessons were given on the composition of the milk, water, fat, variation in quality during milking, bacteria, effect of temperature, germination, fermentation, sterilisation, keeping and cooling of milk, physical condition of the cow, importance of good pasture and good water, flavours and odours due to improper feeding. By the courtesy of the Chief Dairy Commissioner, Miss Breen, an expert in buttermaking, visited the school twice during the year and gave instruction in practical buttermaking. She took the children through a course of work, including the testing of the milk, butter-fat, separating or skimming milk, churning and buttermaking. The Board's Inspectors were present at Miss Breen's concluding lesson, and can vouch for the value of the work done. F. Ttrer, Superintendent. Extract from the Report on Rahotu School Gardens and Farmers' Plots. These classes were instituted rather late in the preceding year, consequently sufficient time was not allowed for the proper preparation of the ground. The Agricultural Committee enclosed for the above purposes 1 acre of the horse-paddock adjoining the school playground. The soil was pretty much in its natural condition, consisting of dales and downs covered with ferns and noxious weeds of all descriptions. The ploughing of the ground was excellently performed by one of the members of the Agricultural Committee. Immediately after the ground had been broken up the demonstration and practice plots were laid off by the pupils under the direction of the demonstrator. The unevenness of the ground entailed a very considerable amount of hard labour. 1. Demonstration and Practice Plots. — When the ground had been properly levelled, the part chosen for the school gardens was divided into thirteen practice plots, each 30 ft. by 10 ft., and three demonstration plots, each 30 ft. by 20 ft. As two demonstration plots were considered quite enough for all practical purposes, the remaining one was handed over as a flower-plot to the care of twelve girls. Each practice plot was tended by two pupils, and, owing to a spirit of emulation and a sense of proprietorship, they took a great interest in their respective plots,