8 Jan., 1907.] Agricultural Education. 35 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



Beport on Classes held during 1906. 



H . 1'. Hatukius, Organizing Officer. 



At no time in the world's history has there been greater need than 

 now for the farmer to keep himself in touch with its progress in agricul- 

 tural matters, for we live in a time of improved methods, and in farming, 

 as in all branches of production, it is absolutely necessary that we should 

 be "up-to-date" in order to obtain the best results. To stand still now- 

 a-days means retrogression. 



The series of Classes for Farmers organized by the Department of 

 Agriculture during the past year have been so successful in point of attend- 

 ance and interest of the students, as well as in the excellence of the in- 

 struction given by the various lecturers, that it is evidert that the farmers 

 are fully alive to the necessity of equipping themseb )s with the latest 

 practical knowledge and ideas ; in fact, so great has been the demand 

 for instruction throughout the State that the Department has had no little 

 difficulty in coping with it. 



These classes were started in 1902 with three centres; in 1904 the 

 number of centres increased to 7 ; in 1905 they rose to 11 ; while in the 

 year under review there were 17, exclusive of a special course of lectures 

 given at the Bairnsdale School of Mines. The number of students en- 

 rolled at the whole of the centres amounted to 1,321, an increase of 247 

 on the preceding year. 



There is one point to be borne in mind when considering the number 

 of students enrolled, viz. : — That, as the number of centres is increased 

 it is only tO' be expected that the average number at each centre will in 

 some degree be affected, because the more centres there are, the closer 

 they will be together. On the other hand, it will be an advantage to 

 the farmers to have more centres, as they will then have less distances to 

 travel. In this connexion it is interesting to note, as evidence of the 

 interest displayed, that at several centres some of the students came from 

 distances as far as 30, and in a few cases 50 miles. 



Taking these figures into consideration and the nature of the instruction 

 given, the importance of the classes is at once apparent. Not only do 

 the students go back to their farms with new ideas and methods for prac- 

 tical application, but they must necessarily, to some extent, spread the 

 knowledge acquired to others, and soi extend the good work carried out 

 by the Department. Another feature of the work worth commenting on 

 is the fact that the classes bring the farmers into closer relationship 

 and afford them an opportunity for discussing ideas and methods, old and 

 new, and thus mutually helping one another ; and, further, create a spirit 

 of inquiry and emulation, as well as a feeling of friendliness, and do 

 something at all events to break the monotonv of country life. 



During the past year it has been found advisable in one or two centres 

 to raise the standard of instruction given. iNIany of the students who 

 attended previous courses have again presented themselves, and, naturallv, 

 look for advanced knowledge. This, of course, is a pleasing feature, 

 but it has one drawback in that it deprives the '' raw recruits " of the 



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