Agricultural Education. 439 



result by steam it horses would not do, by imported bands if tbe bomo- 

 bred labourers were insufficient — in tbe end correcting at great cost 

 tbeir bhmders, and confessing tbat tbe knot bad been generally cut 

 ratber tban imtied — tbat difficulties bad been swept out of tbe way 

 ratber tban overcome — tbat tbe mere enemy, so to speak, and not tbe 

 enmity, bad been conquered, and tbat tbe natural metbod by wbicb 

 men as well as mere material are converted, and by wbicb tbings of 

 tbemselves come round, binging satisfactorily on tbe new element 

 wbicb may be introduced, is not only tbe cbeapest, but tbe most 

 efficient in tbe end. On tbe otber band, of course it must be confessed 

 tbat every neigbbourbood will furnish instances enough, and those, 

 too, of men who have been bred to tbe business, where the natural 

 metbod, as I have called it, has tended to listlessnes and idleness, and 

 ended in Natui'e not being used at all, but left almost altogether to 

 herself. 



These remarks have indicated and suggested rather than described 

 tbe well-educated agriculturist. He needs, first, such a perfect and 

 detailed acquaintance with tbe treatment of tbe soils, tbe plants, the 

 animals which be cultivates, as experience, and in fact apprenticeship, 

 can alone confer. And when you consider how many agencies he 

 employs — working-cattle, steam-power, labourers — what a magazine 

 of mechanism there now is in agricultm-al machinery — on what a 

 variety of soils, under what a variety of climates in this country be is 

 placed — of bow many plants and animals he needs to know tbe culti- 

 vation — bow quickly in order to their successful management be needs 

 to recognise and act on every aspect wbicb they severally present 

 under every variety of condition as to disease or health — bow patiently, 

 moreover, he has to deal with the living creatures wbicb he thus has 

 xmder bis care, it must be plain to you tbat long and habitual practice 

 and experience can alone confer the ability, or ratber aptitude, which 

 as a practical agricultiu'ist be needs. 



Then, as to tbe business arrangements which he has to conduct ; — 

 there is, as I have said, bis relationship to be defined with tbe owner 

 of the land, by which tbe returns for investments, bearing fruit often 

 many years after the expenditure, may be secured to him ; and there 

 is tbe relationship to be maintained with tbe labourer, so tbat willing 

 and intelligent services on one side may be secured by reasonable, 

 firm, and friendly bearing on the otber; and there is the market skill, 

 by which especially tbe right articles for purchase are selected, and 

 also by which they are fairly bought and sold ; and thus in the 

 business of the farmer there is ample scope for judgment and resolu- 

 tion, for both decision and kindliness of character, and for a skill and 

 promptitude wbicb are to be acquired of course in full only by 

 experience, but which are needed from the very beginning of bis 

 career. 



Lastly, there is the light of science, in tbe midst of wbicb be ought 

 to walk — no longer a slave to mere routine, but a freed man, acting 

 intelligently within tbe known limits imposed by Nature's laws — per- 

 ceiving tbe scope and tendency of every act tbat he dii-ects — able 

 therefore himself to suggest the improvements of which his art is 



