[SHUTT] PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 11 
Educational work in agriculture should begin in the schools of 
the country and especially should it have attention in rural schools. 
The extent to which agricultural studies should occupy the time of 
teacher and pupil and the best method of presenting and inculcating 
the principles involved in the practice of farming in these schools are 
problems that yet await final solution. It is very encouraging, how- 
ever, to note that our educationists, in practically all our provinces, 
are giving this important matter their careful thought and that as a 
result we have witnessed in recent years a distinct progress, more 
particularly in connection with the so-called nature study and the 
establishment of school gardens. 
Of the agricultural colleges and schools in Canada, I have already 
briefly spoken. During the last decade their number has greatly 
increased, a most encouraging sign, looking towards the better educa- 
tion of those about to go on the land and towards the supply of trained 
men for educational and demonstrational work in our agricultural 
institutions. Of the work accomplished by these colleges I shall not 
speak in any detail, contenting myself on this occasion with the state- 
ment that I believe that it is eminently adapted to the needs of this 
country and that those who have it in charge are for the most part well 
cognizant of the character of education required by the sons of our 
farmers and are fully competent and qualified to impart it. 
A phase of educational work that has been specially developed 
in Canada and which has proven most valuable is teaching by corre- 
spondence, the supplying through the mails, in response to individual 
requests, of information to farmers. The problems on no two farms 
are identical and the farmer has been encouraged to send forward his 
enquiries and difficulties, with regard to the management of his land 
and the crops for which it is best adapted, questions regarding rota- 
tions, manures and fertilizers, the breeding, care and feeding of life 
stock, the relative nutritive values of cattle feeds and fodders, the 
preparation and application of insecticides and fungicides. These 
and a thousand and one other matters relating to general and special- 
ized agriculture are daily dealt with through the channel of corre- 
spondence. In this useful work of education through correspondence, 
the Dominion Experimental Farm system may justly claim to be the 
pioneer. From the first and steadily all through its history it has 
encouraged farmers to ask for information, to make known their 
difficulties and the response has been remarkable. It has amply proven 
the wisdom of its policy. To-day throughout Canada the Experi- 
mental Farm system is regarded by thousands and tens of thousands 
of farmers as a reliable bureau of information, willing and prompt to 
help as may be practical on all occasions. 
