448 Abstract Report of Afjricultaral Discussions. 



assemble from all the farms around as students of the several sciences 

 taught at one central institution for the purpose. 



I may mention that in Scotland it is not imcommon, and it is 

 desirable everywhere, for young men liaving become acquainted by 

 several years' practice \\"ith the work of the farm, to enter the office of 

 an accountant at lulinburgh for a year or more, where they also liave 

 opportiinities of attending scientific classes at the University and else- 

 where — thus imiting the two most influential additions that can be 

 made to the equipment of a thoroughly accomplished agriculturist. 



I am well aware this is but scanty treatment of my subject ; but, 

 indeed, no other is possible within the time allowed mo ; and I have 

 accordingly done little more than aim at a certain degree oi fairness 

 in my discussion of it, by giving that same prominence here, in the 

 scheme for the education of the farmer, to the imjiortance of prac- 

 tical instruction and skill, which it most assuredly has in the actual 

 experience of life. Had there been time I could have m-ged at greater 

 length, and of course with much gi-eatcr force, the professional advan- 

 tages, both direct and indirect — i. <?., both as actually affecting the 

 operations of the farm, and as giving a higher social and professional 

 influence and standing to the farmer — of that more liberal and scien- 

 tific knowledge of agriculture which can be obtained only by a union 

 of scientific v>'ith practical instruction. To this point, especially, 

 though no doubt, also to the correction of other faults and imper- 

 fections in this paper, the discussion following it will in all probability 

 be directed ; all therefore that I shall at present add is the following 

 conclusion, to which I think a full consideration of the subject 

 leads. 



A young man of twenty-one or twenty-two about to enter on a farm 

 is unusually well qualified both to make his business answer for 

 himself, and to make it respectable in the eyes of others, if, having 

 up till fifteen or sixteen been well educated at school, he has since 

 that time been resident on a farm, or, what is better, resident on 

 more than one farm, obtaining a practical acquaintance both in the 

 field and in the market-place with all that the farmer orders and his 

 labourers do ; and who during the last year or two has been at such 

 a college as Cirencester ; especially if during all this time upon these 

 farms he has been taking some interest in those sciences taught at 

 college to which agriculture is especially related, — and especially, I will 

 add also, if all along he has also taken a reasonable degree of interest 

 in all the social as well as strictly professional duties, occupations, 

 and enjoyments of country life. 



Perhaps even now he had better pass a year with a salesman, 

 accountant, or other professional man, and learn by practice the order, 

 economy, and j^imctuality of a well-conducted business before he enters 

 on business for himself And I do not doubt that, supposing a 

 young man to have no more than 2500/. or 2600/. at his disposal, it 

 will have, nevertheless, ultimately well answered his pm-pose, though 

 so much as 500/. or 600/. has been spent by him if necessary in this 

 way, and his capital thus diminished to this extent. 



