210 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [25 April, 1917. 



Agricultural Education. 



Germany's exteaordiuary progress iu agriculture is in no small 

 measure due to the effectiveness of the machinery she has provided 

 for diffusing and disseminating a knowledge of agricultural principles 

 and methods throughout the community. 



Professor Von Rumken, of Berlin, summarizes the German view of 

 agricultural education in this way, " The great progress that agri- 

 culture has achieved in Germany during the last quarter of a century 

 is the result of union of practice with science, and proves that money 

 S|pent on research and on education iu every class brings in a high 

 rate of interest, and is compensated for by increase in land taxes and 

 of revenue from State railways." 



Prussia proceeded to organize her sy.stem of agricultural education; 

 in a characteristic fashion. The first steip was to set up several De- 

 partments of Agriculture of university rank, and provide them with 

 funds for a systematic study of methods and principles underlying 

 agricultural practice. Agricultural colleges were also established. 

 Three agricultural colleges and four Departments of Agriculture of 

 university rank have been established to (1) study principles and 

 methods, (2) carry out :cesearch work in agriculture, and (3) train 

 students. ISTo less than 65,000 students passed through these 

 institutions up to 1910. What influence these educated agri- 

 culturists had on farming practice cannot be demonstrated by 

 statistics, but it is certain that the agricultural progress made during 

 the past 25 years is in no small measure due to the leavening of 

 the agricultural population by these trained men and the improved 

 technical methods brought by these men to the various districts. 

 When suflicient progress had been made with the study of prin- 

 ciples and methods at the colleges and universities, and a sufficiency 

 of trained men were available, Prussia set out to establish leadership 

 amongst the farmers, and to provide for agricultural education 

 in the elementary schools. Short courses of instruction were 

 mapped out for farmers. These proved very popular, and over 36,000 

 attended in 1911. One hundred and eighty .peripatetic instructors and 

 official agricultural lecturers were em])loyed to visit farmers at their 

 homes and advise on farming problems. 



Finally, Prussia established an official Chamber of Agriculture for 

 each .province. There was an official chamber in each Prussian ]jro- 

 vince, with the German Agricultural Council acting as a central official 

 chamber for the Empire. 



According to a Prussian Law of 3((tli June, 1891, the chambers had 

 the following tasks set them : — 



1. To take account of everything that affects the interests of 



agriculture and forestry in their respective districts. 



2. To help foi-ward the technical development of agriculture. 



3. To assist the adm:uistrative bodies by submitting informa- 



tion and advice on all questions relating to agriculture and 

 forestry. 



4. To assist in management and settlement of prices in the 



produce exchanges and markets. 



