REPORT OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATION BOARD ON THE RESULTS OF THE SEVENTH EXAMINATION FOR THE NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN DAIRYING, 1902. 1. The National Agricultural Examination Board beg to report that the Seventh Annual Examination for the National Diploma in the Science and Practice of Dairying was held in September and October last. The Examination for English candidates was held at the University College and the British Dairy Institute, Reading, from September 22-26, 1902, and for Scottish candidates at the Scottish Dairy Institute, Kilmar-· nock, from September 29 to October 3, 1902. 2. Twenty-four candidates were examined at Reading, and of these the following eleven satisfied the Examiners, and have therefore been awarded the National Diploma in the Science and Practice of Dairying : WILLIAM EDMUND GODFREY ATKINSON, S.E. Agricultural College, Wye, and British Dairy Institute, Reading. JOHN BATESON, Harris Institute, Preston, and Lancashire C.C. Farm, MISS ELSIE GERTRUDE COOK, British Dairy Institute, Reading. HENRY BROUGHAM HUTCHINSON, Harris Institute, Preston, and Lancashire C.C. Farm, Hutton. JAMES DYSON LACY, Midland Agricultural and Dairy Institute, Kingston, Derby. THOMAS MILBURN, Harris Institute, Preston, and Lancashire C.C. Farm, Hutton. GEORGE POTTS, Durham College of Science, Halle University, and British Dairy Institute, Reading. MISS JENNY H. REID, Glasgow and West of Scotland Agricultural College, Scottish Dairy Institute, Kilmarnock, and British Dairy Institute, Reading. JOHN EDWIN RIGG, Harris Institute, Preston, and Lancashire C.C. Farm, Hutton. 3. Sixteen candidates were examined at Kilmarnock, and eleven of them satisfied the Examiners, and have been awarded the Diploma, viz. :— MISS NELLY M. BENNET, Causewayhead, Stirling. MISS SUSAN GARDNER FINGLAND, Braehead, Cathcart. PATRICK FOWLIE, Bogfold, New Pitsligo. GEOFFREY STEELE HENDERSON, Dundonald Street, Kilmarnock. MISS ANNIE CRAIG SPEIR, Newton Farm, Newton. 4. The Examiner in General Dairying (Professor J. R. Campbell) reports "a very marked improvement in the attainments of the candidates at both centres, as compared with last year. With few exceptions, those who presented themselves had given sufficient attention to the subject to warrant them in hoping to be able to secure the Diploma without further study. The written papers were on the whole fair; but there is still far too great a tendency to evade the question asked, and to place before the Examiners a mass of facts which, although sometimes correct in themselves, have no reference to the subject of the question." 5. The Examiner in Cheese-making (Mr. John Benson) who also acted at both centres, reports that the "work of the various candidates was on the whole very good. The answers given in the written and oral examination were in most cases accurate and intelligent. In practical cheese-making, the majority of the candidates did good work. Some of the candidates, however, had not had sufficient practice, and were without the experience which enables a trained cheese-maker to decide when the whey should be drawn, and when the curd should be ground and salted." 6. The Examiner in Chemistry and Bacteriology at the Examination in England (Dr. J. Augustus Voelcker, M.A., B.Sc.) reports that the answers in these subjects" showed great inequalities. The number of absolute failures was not large, but the remainder might be divided into two distinct classes, the one consisting of candidates who had made a special study of the subjects, and who accordingly acquitted themselves very well; the other of those who, plodding away, had managed to get up a fair acquaintance with the bearings of chemistry on dairying practice. These latter in several instances showed, by their want of grasp of the principles of chemical science, that their knowledge had been acquired for the time only, rather than built on a sound foundation. There had been endeavours in several instances to supplement reading by a certain amount of work in the laboratory, but it must be emphasised that the mere acquirement of certain facts cannot take the place of systematic training in science, such as is needed to enable one to make any real advance in the practice or teaching of scientific dairying." for the National Diploma in Dairying. 369 7. The Examiner in Chemistry and Bacteriology at the Examination in Scotland (Dr. A. P. Aitken) reports that the candidates did excellent work on the whole and the examination showed a great improvement upon former years. "A considerable number of the candidates were up for the second time, and had therefore much improved their acquaintance with Chemistry." 8. The following Table gives the number of entries and the results of the Examinations for the National Diploma in the Science and Practice of Dairying, which have now been held annually for seven years : [For Examination Papers, see Appendix, page cxciv.] VOL. 63. BB 370 Notes, Communications, and THE WORK OF THE IRISH AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. INASMUCH as the "Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland," created by the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899 (62 & 63 Vict., Ch. 50), which came into operation on April 1, 1900, has now been about two and a half years in existence, a note on the origin, organisation, and functions of the Department will perhaps be of interest to readers of the Journal. Notwithstanding limitations of space it will, I think, make for the clearer understanding of what follows if I take a rapid preliminary glance at some of the leading facts of the economic situation in Ireland with special reference to its main industry, agriculture, before passing on to a short survey of the events that preceded and paved the way for the creation of the new Irish Department. I then propose to sketch, as succintly as may be, the constitution and powers of the Department which, in its peculiar combination of popular control and state administration, is unique in the United Kingdom.' I. Ireland is predominantly an agricultural country. Out of a total population of 4,458,775 according to the Census of 1901, no less than 876,062 are described as "engaged in agriculture.” Owing to the continued drain through emigration, there has been, of course, a serious decline (amounting in the past decade to 60,697) in the absolute numbers of those gaining their livelihood directly from the land; but it is remarkable to find that the proportion of those engaged in agriculture to the total number enumerated as occupied, is higher now than A fairly complete account of the economic resources of Ireland is given in Ireland: Industrial and Agricultural, published for the Department in 1902 by Messrs. Browne & Nolan, Ltd., Dublin. Economic Situation in Ireland. 371 it has been in any decade since 1851. The percentages of those engaged in agriculture of the total employed, by decades, since 1841 are as follows: The staple manufactures of Ireland are few but important, e.g., linen, whisky, and porter (or stout as it is termed in England) including beer of all kinds, ship-building, and to a less but increasing degree, woollen goods. Within the last decade or fifteen years there has been a notable revival in smaller and cottage industries, particularly in lace and crochet; while, of course, the fishing industry continues to be of great and growing importance. But when all is said, Ireland still depends mainly on her agricultural resources; though the industrial movement, both as independent of agriculture and as subsidiary thereto, is daily gaining ground and opening up promise of the development of resources-minerals, building materials, &c.-which have too long lain dormant. This is the first fact of the economic situation in Ireland that has to be remembered by the outside student of her condition. The second fact is that Ireland is a country of large estates and small holdings. This is generally known, but not always accurately realised. The following Table will make it clear as regards the size of holdings: It will be seen from the above statement that in the year 1901 as many as 68.1 per cent. of the total holdings in Ireland were under thirty acres. Another fact that needs to be borne in mind by students of the Irish problem is the conditions of land tenure. The Irish Land Commission have fixed (up to March 31st, 1902) "fair rents" on as many as 338,843 holdings, of which the original rental was 6,877,248., and the revised rent 5,439,5751.—a reduction of over 20 per cent. In over 47,000 cases rents have been further revised, and in the vast majority of cases reduced, and other "first term rents" (as they are called) are being daily reconsidered by the Land Commission. Again, as many as 62,000 (March 31, 1902) tenants have bought their holdings |