11 June, 1917.] Agricultural Teach'nuj at the University. 361 



trati-(l by the attached graph, the attendance dropped in tlie eijjhth, 

 ninth, and tenth years to seventeen, eleven, and four respectively. 



It may be noted that in 1908 the Education Department initiated 

 its policy of sending teachers to the University to be trained in agricul- 

 tural science, so that they might give agricultural teaching at the Agri- 

 cultural High Schools. 



In 1911 the first student graduated, and towards the end of the year 

 Professor Cherry was appointed. At this time, also, the Education De- 

 partment, which had been sending up three or four teachers to the 

 course each year, abandoned this policy, and graduates and teachers found 

 no demand (or remuneration) for their services. 



At the end of 1914 the course was considerably modified, and war 

 broke out. 



In the opinion of the Committee, the School of Agrieidture at the 

 llclbourne University has not attracted in recent years as large a num- 

 ber of students as might have been expected, mainly on account of the 

 want of remunerative openings for graduates at the completion of their 

 •course. The Committee is of the opinion that the school will continue 

 to fail to attract students unless a career with a reasonable emolument is 

 •open to graduates in agricultural science. 



Those graduates who are not teachers, and who have remained in 

 Victoria, have entered the Department of Agriculture, and after two or 

 three years' service are filling temporary positions as field officers at 

 salaries of £144 to £200 ]iei- annum. Xo one will voluntarily take up 

 agriculture who is called upon, after gaining the degree, to put in an 

 indefinite period at such inadequate remuneration. 



We are firmly of the opinion that the falling off in the number of 

 students entering is largely due to the failure of the graduates in agri- 

 cultural science to obtain emoluments, comparable with those of 

 graduates in other courses which have the same entrance examination, 

 and require the same length of time for graduation, e.g., veterinary 

 science, law, and engineering. 



So far as the present course is concerned, the Committee is of the 

 ■opinion that it has not succeeded in training farmers. The course was 

 not, however, designed for this purpose, as the agricultural colleges 

 provide special facilities for such training. 



Although a reasonable proportion r<S) of the graduates have from 

 time to time found emplovment in the Agricultural Department, this 

 lias been at a remuneration incommensurate with the value of the useful 

 scientific work they have carried nut. More of this work is urgently 

 required. 



Several graduates of the course gave promise of making their mark 

 in agriculture, but some of these were lost to agriculture bv reason of 

 more adequately paid work in allied branches of science. TTwo of the 

 most brilliant have fallen in the war.) 



It is to be regretted that the majority of the graduates employed 

 in the Edtication Department have not been engaged in teaching agri- 

 culture, but have been mostlv occupied in teaching other subjects in 

 primary and secondary school work. Insufficient weight would appear 

 to be given to the training in agricultural science when making appoint- 

 ments or considering promotions. It would :i|ippar that this result is 



