10 Middle-Class Education. 



numerous in England, and that most of them are proficient in 

 writing and arithmetic. Yet these are not so well educated as 

 the farmers in Scotland, The young Scotchman often looks 

 rather dull at first sight, so as to lead a stranger to suppose he 

 can neither read nor write ; but if he be set down to write out an 

 account, or such like, his hand goes like a little engine, and 

 shows at once that both schoolmaster and scholar have been 

 at work. In England the reverse is frequently found. A smart- 

 looking youth discourses very fairly — very fully, perhaps, so as to 

 create an impression that he is well educated, and of an observing 

 turn of mind, which impression may last till something in writing 

 is required, and then he will be utterly at fault, or perform his 

 task in a bad, shaky manner ; showing at once that the school- 

 master had been out of the way, and that he is much wanted. 



Another instance of the active influence which education has 

 exercised on the Scotch farmers may be found in the career of 

 the Highland Agricultural Societv, which was constituted more 

 than half a century before the Royal Agricultural Society of 

 England, and throughout its course has been more generally 

 supported by farmers than the English Society. This I take to 

 be a sign of a defect in English education, which leads to pre- 

 judice as well as ignorance. There ought to be more membei's — 

 far more — belonging to the Royal Agricultural Society. The 

 Society educates by its Journal, its Shows, 6cc. Every farmer of 

 100 to 200 acres ought to belong to a Society which endeavours 

 to diffuse — and to a great extent does diffuse — a great deal of useful 

 agricultural information amongst its members. Some members, 

 it is true, complain that the Journal is not so instructive as it 

 might and ought to be. To those we would suggest that they 

 should make some personal efforts to contribute such articles as 

 appear to be required. Were the members of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society more numerous, it might be advantageous to 

 publish the Journal quarterly with more short articles. There 

 Avill undoubtedly be many more contributors by-and-by, if agri- 

 cultural schools are started and properly managed. 



The Agricultural Society of Scotland has very recently been 

 taking steps for promoting agricultural education, of which the 

 following are the chief points : — 



" The examination of candidates of not less than eighteen 

 years of age, for a certificate of proficiency in farm accounts, 

 mensuration, and a good knowledge of practical agriculture ; 

 also a general acquaintance with the elements of botany, chemistry, 

 and natural history." 



" That candidates who possess the certificate, and have passed 

 their twenty-first year, should receive a diploma, if found on a 

 final examination to possess a thorough knowledge of the theory 



