INTRODUCTION 



The iDOsition that agriculture occupies in the British Empire is one 

 of first importance, and for many years the Government has given 

 special attention to its development. The unusual interest manifested 

 is no doubt partly due to the fact that those who control British leg- 

 islation are, for the most part, landed proprietors, and are therefore 

 personally injured by the decline of this industry and profited by its 

 proper advancement. Aside from this motive of self-interest, there 

 is also the great national problem of feeding the multitude of work- 

 ing men who are engaged in manufacturing occupations throughout 

 the British Isles. 



Special attention by the Government to this industry has been neces- 

 sary also by reason of the diverse character of the British possessions. 

 Located as they are in every continent, with every variety of soil, cli- 

 mate, and production, with densely populated districts, as England 

 and Ireland, and those sparsely settled just emerging from primi- 

 tive conditions, as portions of Australia and the Northwest Terri- 

 tories of Canada, the British Government has been compelled to 

 carefully study the entire field of agricultural production, and devise 

 means whereby the interests of this gi-eat industry can best be ad- 

 vanced in all of the countries under her control, and endeavor to put 

 in operation such agencies as would most effectually assist in increas- 

 ing agricultural production and in economizing its cost. 



Her problems have been to discover how in her older settled districts 

 the fertility of her lands may be increased while producing abundant 

 crops, and in her newer provinces how primitive soils may be econom- 

 ically brought to tillage conditions and their productive capacity 

 not only be maintained but gradually increased. 



The conclusion reached years ago by Great Britain's wisest states- 

 men was that the only solution of the question of improving agricul- 

 ture sufficiently to enable those who pursue it as a calling to maintain 

 themselves in comfort for all time to come, and at the same time to 

 produce a surplus sufficient for the use of those engaged in other occu- 

 pations, lies in the proper education of those who conduct its opera- 

 tions. 



Accordingly the Government established schools and colleges of 

 agriculture at home many years ago, and has since encouraged their 

 erection in all of her dependencies until now agricultural education 



(7) 



