2 Middle-Class Education. 



which few farmers who occupy under 150 acres could afford to 

 pay. 



According to the Census Tables, there are about 40,000 

 farmers in England occupying above 150 acres of land each. It 

 is with the education of their sons that we are chiefly concerned. 

 In order to form some conception of the annual number of deaths 

 amongst a given number of farmers, I have taken a hundred 

 farms for comparison, and find that in 20 years there have been 

 about 63 deaths out of 100 farmers. At this rate, on 40,000 

 farms, 1200 young farmers would be required annually to fill up 

 the death vacancies. If these calculations be near enough for 

 our purpose, and schooling occupy, say, three years, 3600 would 

 be in training. I think that on an average two farmers have 

 three sons, which would give 5400 pupils, rather than 3600 ; 

 and agricultural schools, if conducted on a broad basis, might 

 educate all these lads for their future callings, though there 

 would not be farms for them all. Still, for many reasons, I anti- 

 cipate no such result, and reckon only on much smaller numbers. 

 A great many farmers would not at present so far appreciate a 

 distant boarding-school as to send their sons to it. Some could 

 scarcely afford it ; others who live near to towns would prefer to 

 send their sons to the best schools within easy reach. I am well 

 assured that a very large number of farmers would avail them- 

 selves of good schools for their sons when once fairly started ; 

 many would also assist in starting them. On the other hand, 

 however, many would not assist in any way, being uneducated 

 themselves, and therefore prejudiced and apathetic, or at least 

 unable duly to appreciate the value of education. Many towns, 

 and even some villages, have already very good schools for the 

 middle-classes, and some of these have a special leaning towards 

 asfricultural trainina;. These would continue to educate a good 

 many farmers' sons, although new agricultural schools were 

 started in every county to-morrow. Reasoning, therefore, upon 

 the best evidence which presents itself, I think that ior some years 

 at all events not more than 2000 scholars would be found to attend 

 any schools established upon the principle of being self-sup- 

 porting. 



■ As a matter of course, day-scholars, as well as boarders, of 

 all ages, might be admitted to the schools. For young men of 

 from sixteen to even twenty years of age, who may have left 

 school without having had an opportunity of learning land-sur- 

 veying, natural philosophy, and chemistry, a year or two spent 

 at these district schools would be of great value, more especially as 

 at that age the value of education would be deeply felt. The 

 sons of townspeople might also avail themselves of county schools, 

 and there obtain a good general education by selecting those 



