260 RKPOHT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



teachers is a va liable." The coininittee also recommends the employ- 

 ment of itinerant instructors in agriculture, horticulture, farm liy- 

 giene, dairyin*;, poultry keeping, and other subjects in every county, 

 and emphasizes the fact that these instructors shoidd be selected from 

 those wiio have had practical experience. They should have their 

 headquarters at a centrally located agricultural institution, so that 

 arrangements for systematic demonstrations or improved practice 

 can be made. And finally, as regards the teacliing force, it recom- 

 mends '' that universities and colleges in receipt of aid from the board 

 of agriculture should provide courses of instruction on subjects bear- 

 ing on agriculture and horticulture for elementary school teachers." 



Lack of attention to post-graduate work in agriculture in England 

 and Wales was alluded to by the committee in its recommendation 

 that '"' the board of agriculture provide or encourage the provision of 

 scholarships for post-graduate research, and also traveling fellow- 

 ships for teachers, enabling them to stud}^ foreign systems of agri- 

 culture." It also believes that there should be increased provision for 

 original research, field experiments, fruit stations, and demonstra- 

 tion plats, and recommends that the board of agriculture collate the 

 results of experiments and publish those directly bearing on the im- 

 provement of agricultural practice. 



As regards instruction in agriculture of a lower grade, which the 

 committee believes to be of vital importance, the winter agricultural 

 school " appears to be especially adapted to the needs of this country." 

 It is believed that within the next ten years from 50 to GO of these 

 schools will be provided and that their course of study should be 

 especially adapted to boys from seventeen to twenty years old who 

 have already had some practical instruction in agriculture or horti- 

 culture. Short winter courses in colleges have been held with success 

 and should be continued, and this is true also of local winter courses, 

 "which should be encouraged until longer and more systematic 

 courses of instruction are available at winter agricultural schools." 



The committee calls attention to satisfactory instruction now being 

 given in a number of special subjects, such as forestry, dairying, and 

 veterinary science, and recommends that greater attention be given to 

 such instruction in future. 



AVith regard to the organization of agricultural instruction the com- 

 mittee believes that — 



agricultural instruction, when provided by universities, university colleges, 

 agricultural colleges, farm institutes, and winter schools, or by means of special 

 classes or courses of lectures in agriculture and kindred subjects (e. g., dairying, 

 horticulture), should be under the direction of the board of agi-iculture; while 

 all instruction in agricultural subjects forming part of courses in i»riniary, sec- 

 ondary, or such evening schools as are in definite continuation of the education 

 given in primary schools should be under the board of education. 



