PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 323 



The Government of South Australia has recently purchased 1,600 

 acres of land for the purpose of encouraging and demonstrating the 

 best methods in dairy farming, A (iovernment dairy expert will be 

 placed in charge of the farm, and a dairy herd consisting of Jerseys, 

 Shorthorns, Red Polls, Ayrshires, and Guernseys will be used for 

 demonstration and instruction purposes. It is expected that stu- 

 dents will be received and given instruction in all phases of dairy 

 husbandry. 



Victoria reports an interesting experiment in the reformatory treat- 

 ment of boys from the neglected children's department by giving 

 them a course in viticulture and general agriculture in the buildings 

 and on the farms of the Viticultural College at Rutherglen. The 

 boys are received at the age of 14 and held until they are 18. They 

 are thoroughly trained in general farm work, dairying, and viticul- 

 ture, as well as along general educational lines. 



In one district of Victoria (East Gippsland) agriculture is now 

 taught as the science course in 55 of the public schools, about 50 of 

 these undertaking the work for the first time in 1909, and in most 

 cases the work was considered very successful. The agricultural 

 instruction is illustrated fully by a series of experiments in which the 

 children's powers of observation and reasoning are carefully and 

 systematically cultivated. 



The University of Melbourne has inaugurated a course in agri- 

 culture, with W. A. Osborne, formerly professor of physiology, as 

 dean of the faculty of agriculture. 



BELGIUM. 



An enactment signed by the King of Belgium November 9, 1909, 

 establishes a special department of horticulture in that country. 

 The councilors in whose hands the work of organizing the department 

 has been placed are Messrs. E. de Meyer, E. Henriouille, and L. 

 Joosens. This is believed to be the first definite department devoted 

 exclusively to the interests of horticulture ever organized. 



According to a recent report the number of clubs for farmers* 

 wives in Belgium, which were first organized in 1900, increased from 

 36 in 1908 to 65 in 1909, and the attendance from 3,981 to 6,162. 



BRAZIL. 



A bureau of agricultural inspection has been organized in Brazil, 

 which is to make a special study of agricultural conditions in that 

 country, with a view to suggesting opportunities for improvements 

 It will have charge of the work of collecting and disseminating 

 useful information among the farmers, promoting the introduction 



