The School of Agriculture,

opened in July 1880, is situated near the township and railway station of Lincoln, about twelve miles from Christchurch. The buildings are brick and stone, and accommodate fifty-six students, the director and teaching staff, besides including lecture theatre, class-rooms, chemical, &c., laboratories, museum, library, dining hall, and all necessary offices.

The farm is 660 acres in extent, and has been selected to comprise soils of various qualities, from rich swamp pasture to light, comparatively thin soil overlying shingle. The farm is carried on, as nearly as possible, on economic principles, the students taking part in the regular daily work, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of ploughing and every other kind of farm-work; the use of implements; the management of stock; milking, and the making of cheese and butter. Chemistry is taught, from the testing of simple substances to the quantities and analysis of manures, soils, foods, and farm produce, also biology, land surveying and levelling, and rough carpentering and farriery.

The progress of this institution has been most satisfactory. The number of students receiving instruction last year was fifty, and those in residence at one time, thirty-two. Auckland, Nelson, Hawkes Bay, and Otago, contributed four-fifths of the number.

The staff consists of the following lecturers:—Agriculture, W. E. Ivey, M.R.A.C., F.C.S., F.I.C.; Chemistry and Physics, Mr. Gray; natural science, Dr. von Lendenfeld; mathematics, surveying, and book-keeping, E. M. Clarke; veterinary science, T. P. Hill, M.R.C.V.S., London.