E.—7

42

No. 6. CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, LINCOLN. Visitor.—His Excellency the Governor-General. Board of Governors. Appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General—Dr. Chas. Chilton, M.A., D.Sc., M.8., C.M. Appointed by members of the Legislature—H. A. Knight, Esq. (Chairman); Hon. D. Bnddo, M.P.; R. W. Lochhead, Esq. Elected by governing bodies of agricultural and pastoral associations—John Deans, Esq ; John Studholme, Eso.: N. M. Orbell, Esq. Staff. Director.—R. E, Alexander, A.R.C.Sc.I. Lecturers. —Biology—Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, M.A.D.Sc., F.N.Z.lnst. Chemistry—M. J. Scott, 8.A., B.Sc. Veterinary Science — Colonel J. H. Stafford, M.R.C.V.S., D.S.O. Applied Mathematics —J. W. Calder, B.Agr., B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering—R. A. Fougere. Farm Overseer.—Gs H. Tobeck. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, I have the honour, by direction of the Board of Governors, in pursuance of the Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act, 1898, to submit the following report of the work of the institution for the year ending 31st December, 1926. The accommodation provided was taxed to its fullest capacity. In all fifty-two students were enrolled : of these four were holders of bursaries under the Education Department, and one was holder of a Kitchener Scholarship. Six students sat for various subjects set by the New Zealand University for the degree of Bachelor of Agriculture : of these three sat for the final examinations and completed their course, and three sat for intermediate subjects. The work of the students both in class and on the farm has been satisfactory, and competition for prizes and scholarships offered by the Board of Governors has been very keen. Twenty-four students left the College at the end of the year : of these three had been in residence one year, five two years, and sixteen completed the full course ; of the latter ten satisfied the examiners and were awarded the diploma of the College. We are indebted to a number of commercial firms and farmers for allowing students to go over various manufacturing concerns and farms ; these facilities are most useful from an educational point of view, and are highly appreciated by the staff and students. We are also indebted to a number of friends for prizes and trophies to be awarded students : these are also highly appreciated as they stimulate wholesome competition. Arrangements were made at the beginning of the year to give the Director leave to visit Great Britain and Europe to inquire into agricultural education and research. Dr. Hilgendorf carried out the duties of Director in the latter's absence. Mr. J. W. Calder, Lecturer on Applied Mathematics, was confirmed in a permanent appointment to assist Dr. Hilgendorf in his plant-breeding work. The plant-breeding work is still being carried on with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture. In addition to the pure strains of wheat and oats put on the market, some very promising crosses of wheat are now in an advanced stage of trial, and if satisfactory should be available for distribution in about two years' time. A further development of the plant-breeding scheme is now in progress ; with extra assistance offered by the Agriculture Department, selections of the best grasses have been made. This branch promises to be a most valuable addition to our research work. The manurial trials on wheat have been continued under the supervision of Mr. Scott, and continue to give results which will be of great value when correlated with similar trials carried out on other areas. A number of grazing trials to test the expediency of top-dressing pastures were started in the early spring, and were made possible by a grant from the Agriculture Department. During the winter the Board of Governors asked Mr. Scott to initiate and supervise pig-feeding experiments both on and off the College farm, the object being to determine whether bacon and pork could be produced on a paying basis, and the cheapest and most efficient foods and manner of feeding to attain this object. So far the results are encouraging, and the work will be continued and extended. The Wheat Producers Board, which had been dealing with wheat-prices for a number of years, and which ceased to act two years ago, found itself with a surplus of £1,190 16s. 6d. which it could not distribute. It therefore decided to present the balance to the College for the purchase of a seed cleaning and dressing plant, and shed to contain the plant. This plant and building have been erected, and the action of the wheat-growers has been of very great advantage to our plant-breeding work. The best thanks of the Board of Governors are offered to the Canterbury and Otago wheat-growers for their gift. The College and farm buildings have been kept in a good state of repair. As previously pointed out, new laboratories are urgently needed, and the renewal of the farm buildings is also necessary. The farm has been maintained in its high state of fertility, and continues to give high yields of grain in spite of continual croppings. The crop returns and stock-sales give clear indications of the