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AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION EXHIBITION, 

 DONCASTER, 1912. 



The Education Exhibition was once more under the direction 

 of Sir J. B. Bowen-Jones, Bart., and was for the most part 

 housed in one buikling adjoining the Forestry exhibits as in 

 previous years. A departure was, however, made at Doncaster, 

 in that the exhibits of the University of Leeds and the York- 

 shii'e Council for Agricultural Education were to be found in a 

 special pavilion separated from the main building. As in 1911, 

 the Agricultural Colleges were less numerously represented 

 than in some previous years, Init this would be explained by 

 the fact that the locality of the Show chanced to be somewhat 

 remote from many of the teaching and experimental institutions. 

 The general public, however, manifested a very keen interest 

 in this section of the Show, and apart from the passing curiosity 

 aroused by the various exhibits in the minds of the holiday- 

 makers, it was gratifying to note that the exhibition is regarded 

 not merely as an occasion for " window-dressing " but as an 

 opportunity by wdiich the teacher of agricultural science and 

 the investigat(n- of agricultural problems can get closely into 

 touch with the rank and file of practical farmers. The advantage 

 to both parties from these informal meetings and discussions 

 will be obvious to all. 



Of late years it has been increasingly noticeable that the 

 visitors to the Education Exhibition include an entirely new 

 class in the persons of the elementary school teachers, and their 

 scholars. In proportion as the College exhibits have become 

 fewer, so have those from the elementary schools increased, and 

 at Doncaster a large part of the building was given up to the 

 Nature Study and Rural Education Exhibition organised by the 

 County Councils Association. The various exhibits took an 

 extraordinary range and need not be particularised here, but 

 although the problem of the retention of the labourer on the 

 land is much more than a mere question of education, it is 

 obvious that the introduction of hand and eye training into the 

 school curriculum marks a distinct advance in educational 

 methods. 



The Royal Agricultural Society of England. Woburn Experi- 

 mental Station. The closing of the Cattle Classes at the 

 Doncaster Show drew more attention to the other departments 

 of the exhibition, and caused a larger number of visitors to come 

 to the Agi'icultural Education tent. Mr. H. M. Freear was, as 

 usual, in attendance throughout. 



The new matter shown consisted principally of exhibits 

 illustrating (1) the effect of heating soil, (2) the influence of 

 lime on natural and heated soils, (3) the heating of acid soil, 



