Middle-Class Education. 15 



There are many persons who say it is altogether Avrong to aim 

 at making a school-farm pay ; that it should be a place whei-e 

 the best methods of agriculture are in practice, and where the 

 best class of stock is kept, but that profit should be kept entirely 

 out of sight. To my mind, this is like leaving out the part of 

 Hamlet, and I think that most farmers agree with me. There is 

 certainly some ground for saying that good methods of cultiva- 

 tion may be taught to an apprentice taking part in them, 

 although his part of the labour is a loss. It might be of 

 service to him to build a corn-stack which would not stand 

 a day, or if it did, might require so much labour in propping 

 that the cost would have been less if the apprentice had been 

 idle. Still I cannot see how the best farming — the so-called 

 best farming — should cause a loss, if the pupils were drilled 

 thoroughly and well, and under such supervision as ordinary 

 labourers are. Here, however, lies the difficulty. Farmers' sons 

 will not bear the same kind of ruling as those who must live 

 entirely by their labour ; and without good discipline and good 

 order there can be no profit either on a farm or elsewhere. 



In Huntingdonshire nearly 20 years ago an agricultural 

 school with some land attached to it, was started for those 

 intending to become farmers. A good English education was 

 taught, with a little mathematics, and practical land-surveying. 

 By the aid of local subscriptions the school Avent on fairly for a 

 time, but not being self-supporting it fell off, and when 1 last 

 heard of it, was nearly extinct. The school-fees were too low in 

 the first instance, and had to be raised afterwards ; this is in 

 itself a great obstacle to ultimate success. In this instance 

 theorv combined with practice did not succeed. 



In Herefordshire, some years ago, a gentleman farmer boarded, 

 lodged, and educated a number of boys, who paid for these 

 advantages by merel}- working upon the farm. When started 

 this plan did not pay, but it was supposed it might do so after 

 a time. This expectation has not, however, been realised. 



1 do not mention these instances of failure in a financial point 

 of view, for the purpose of condemning the combination of 

 instruction in agriculture with general education ; but for the 

 information of persons who, not having heard the results of 

 attempts already made to unite learning and working, are over- 

 sanguine of success from such efforts. 



To the Rev. J. L. Brereton, Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral, 

 Devonshire and the adjoining counties are much indebted for 

 the establishment of a very good school suited to the wants of 

 farmers' sons and the middle-classes generall}' ; many others 

 have given substantial support, but ^Ir. Brereton has pulled the 



