AGRICULTURAL TRAINING OF NATIVES. 



By K. A. HoBART Houghton. B.A. 



I propose to consider briefly that somewhat neglected but 

 important branch of native education, agricultural training. And 

 in doing so one has at least this satisfaction that here, at any 

 rate, is a phase of the vexed native problem upon which there is 

 little ground for controversy. For, whatever opinions may be 

 held as to the wisdom of allowing natives to advance to secondary 

 and higher education, and whatever arguments there may be 

 against training native artisans to compete in the labour market 

 against skilled European workmen, it is difficult to imagine what 

 objections can be urged against instructing natives how to make 

 a better use than they do at present of the land they possess. It 

 does not bring them into competition with white labour — that 

 bugbear of our proud Anglo-Saxon race — it sends them back among 

 their own people, it increases the natural wealth of the country, 

 and tends to raise their standard of living, and, in consequence, 

 to increase the general trade carried on with them. 



But there are two outstanding reasons why agricultural training 

 for natives should be developed. Of all the land reserved for the 

 exclusive use of natives, over 220,000 square miles are occupied 

 communally. That is to say, that, with rare exceptions — for the 

 progressive native farmer, whose land has not been granted him by 

 Government on individual tenure, usually purchases a farm for 

 himself — this great extent of country is handled in the most wasteful 

 way ; mealies, kafir corn, pumpkins and beans are practically the 

 sole products, raised too only to supply the present needs of the 

 cultivators ; the stock is scarce and poor ; the land is being denuded 

 of its valuable timber. The annual loss to the country from this 

 kind of occupation must be something enormous, and will continue 

 until some even elementary knowledge of agriculture spreads 

 among the people. 



But there is another and a more pressing reason why agricultural 

 training should receive attention. In the past the natives have 

 been a pastoral people — and still are, to a large extent. But the 

 commonages are getting smaller and are unable now to carry the 

 population dependent upon them. The result is that with the 

 exception of the few progressive natives who are preparing for 

 what they recognise the future holds in store, the natives as a 

 nation are growing poorer — are becoming an impoverished race. 

 Even in prosperous seasons the land cultivated gives no more food 

 than is necessary, while fuel and building material are growing 

 scarcer every year. 



Unless a widespread movement in the direction of improved 

 methods of agriculture take place, and until the native learns how 

 to grow food for his stock in times of drought, and to make the 

 land produce two bags of mealies where now he reaps only one, 

 the situation, as the population continues to increase, will become 



