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F. REPORT OF CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 1909. (The Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act, 1896.) [In continuation of E.-7, 1909.] Visitor. —His Exoellenoy the Governor. Board of Governors. Appointed by His Exoellency the Governor—E. Richardson. Elected by members of the Legislature—Hon. E. C. J. Stevens (Chairman); M. Murphy,' F.L.S.; and H. A. Knight. Eleoted by governing bodies of agricultural and pastoral associations—T. Blackley; J. McMillan; and T. Teschemaker. Staff. Director. —R. E. Alexander. Lecturer on Veterinary Science. —A. Taylor, M.A., M.R.C.V.S. Lecturer on Chemistry. —G. Gray, F.C.S. Lecturer on Biology. —F. W. Hilgendorf, M.A., D.Sc. Lecturer on Mathematics.—3. A Bartrum, M.Sc Farm Overseer. —W. Street.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. Sir, — 1 have the honour, by direction of the Board of Governors, in pursuance of the Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Act, 1896, to submit the following report on the work of this institution for the year ending 31st December, 1909, and the balance-sheet for the same period. The attendance of students was maintained at the limit of accommodation throughout the year, and altogether fifty-one students were enrolled, or four less than last year. The smaller number enrolled is accounted for by the fact that practically all the students completed the full year. I am glad to be able to report that the wink of the students in residence in 1909 was on the whole most satisfactory. In the judging competitions for young farmers, promoted by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association at the November Show, students from the College obtained two first, three second, and two third prizes among a large number of competitors. Twenty-four students left the College at the end of last year—7 at the end of their first year, 8 at the end of their second year, and 1 just before the end of his third year. Eight students completed the course, and, of these, 7 satisfied the examiners, and were awarded the diploma of the College. Their names and addresses are as follows: E. 0. McDouall, Oamaru (gold-medallist); P. H. 'Iresidder, Auckland; W. W. Eustace, Auckland; E. H. Beamish, Hawke's Bay; G. E. Ormond, Hawke's Bay; R. Hudson, England; A. H. Atack, Wellington. The post of Director, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Lowrie at the end of 1908, was tilled by the appointment of Mr. R. E. Alexander, Albert Agricultural College, Glasneviii, Dublin. A rearrangement of the teaching staff was found necessary, and Mr. J. A. Bartrum, M.Sc, Timaru, was appointed as teacher of mathematics, mechanics, drawing, and surveying, thereby relieving Dr. Hilgendoif of a portion of his teaching-work, in order to enable the latter to devote more of his time to experimental and research work, an arrangement by which it is hoped the College will be able to extend its usefulness. During the year upwards of £500 was spent in permanent improvements. A swimming-bath, 75 ft. by 25 ft., with a suitable dressing-room, has been provided for the use of the students, thus filling a long-felt want. All the woodwork on the outside of the College was repainted; the greater portion of the inside has also been renovated. A new drying-arrangement has been provided for the laundry. The outhouses and farm buildings have been kept in good repair. Arrangements have been completed for the erection of implement-sheds, and it is hoped they will be in use before winter. For some time it had been apparent that the area of the College farm was too limited to carry a sufficient number of sheep for the thorough training of students. Latterly the health of the sheep had been impaired by their being kept too continuously on the heavy lands of the farm. The knowledge of these facts prompted the Board of Governors to make an effort to secure more land. Fortunately, they were able to effect the purchase of 1,500 acres of light land within a few miles of the College, and the acquisition of this land enables us Io give the students a complete knowledge of the treatment of all classes of soils, from the heaviest to the very lightest ; at the same time we are able to carry some sixteen hundred more ewes, thus providing more sheep for training the students in sheep-management, shearing, classing, eVc. The general health of the sheep is very much improved by the frequent changing on the different classes of soil. The College land has been maintained at its high state of cultivation, all the operations being carried out on a commercial scale. The large number of crops and varieties grown have a very