Abstract

The main building of the Coimbatore Agricultural College and Research Institute-a handsome specimen of the Iado-Saracenic style of architecture--was begun early in 1906 and completed in 1909. The foundation stone was laid on the 24th September 1906 by H. E. Sir Arthur Lawley -then Governor of Madras-who himself, three years later, opened it on the 14th July 1909. At the time of the open- ing of the Institute, the building had been designed to in- clude, besides the Lecture Rooms and the Students' Chemical Laboratory, the Research laboratories of the Botanist, the Chemist, the Mycologist and the Entomologist. Since that time, the institution has undergone a steady though slow expansion and at the time of writing no less than eight ex- pert officers-each requiring separate laboratory, accom- modation have been added, leading to a heavy congestion of staff and thereby affecting the efficiency of the Teaching as well as of the Research Section.

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