210 Agricultural Education. 



" He had been," he said, " a member of the Society from the 

 time of its formation, but he was not aware that anything had 

 been done by the Society in discharge of its duties in reference 

 to that particular point." And although he had no doubt that 

 the Society had indirectly promoted the education of the agricul- 

 tural community by its shows, its discussions, and its Journal ; 

 yet with regard to the object (No. 7) in its Charter to which he 

 alluded, the Society had taken no direct steps for the education 

 of the profession ; the subject was very briefly discussed, but no 

 resolutions were then passed. At the monthly Council Meeting, 

 however, held on the 2nd of March, 1864, Mr. Holland, M.P., 

 had a notice on the agenda paper for the appointment of an 

 Education Committee, but, in consequence of his being unable to 

 attend, Mr. Acland, M.P,, brought the matter before the Council, 

 and the nomination of the Committee was deferred until the 6th 

 of April, when the following — The Earl of Powis, Sir Edward 

 Kerrison, Bart., Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P., Colonel 

 Kingscote, Mr. Acland, Mr. Barthropp, Mr. Druce, Mr. Holland, 

 M.P., Mr. Wren Hoskyns, Mr. Thompson, M.P., Mr. Owen 

 Wallis, and Professor Wilson, were appointed to consider the 

 measures which ought to be taken " for the improvement of the 

 education of those who depended upon the cultivation of the soil 

 for their support." On the 20th of the same month (April, 

 1864), Mr. Holland read a paper on Agricultural Education, 

 with a view, as he said, to open a discussion on the subject. In 

 his lecture he alluded to the rapid advances which all classes, 

 and particularly the middle class, had made in education ; and 

 remarked that agriculturists must bestir themselves if they 

 wished to hold their own among the rest of their countrymen ; 

 he also spoke in the highest terms of the efforts that had been 

 already made by various persons, and particularly by the Rev. 

 Prebendary Brereton, in Devonshire ; and after observing that 

 the discussion of that day should in no way interfere Avith the 

 operations of the Committee appointed to consider the question 

 of education, concluded by stating his views on the subject 

 generally, which were briefly that — 1st, following the example 

 set in Devonshire, we ought to do our utmost, not only as a 

 Society, but as members of the agricultural class, to establish 

 a system of public schools throughout the country as opportunity 

 presents itself; 2ndly, that further encouragement ought to be 

 given to the farmer's son to induce him to reap the advantages 

 to be obtained from this system, showing him that, if he will 

 but exert himself, and bring out the talent that in him lies, he 

 Avill gain honours and attain a status; and lastly, that provision 

 ought to be made to enable those who have gained such honours 



