PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION K. 677 



A much greater percentage of educated farmers is needed, and 

 if farmers will send their sons to the University and Agricultural 

 Colleges, they will get better representation in public assemblies. 



Original thinkers are few, but a few well-trained ones could do 

 much towards organizing the agricultural community into a strong 

 combination. The twentieth century will evidently be the age of 

 organization. There appears to be no room for the individual. 



The political, economic, and social status of the farmer affects 

 the national well-being, and it appears that the higher educational 

 centres should at least give an insight into the principles govern- 

 ing these important issues. 



The first thing to do is to rouse the farmers into activity of 

 thought in connexion with agricultural education. The colleges 

 and the University would do their share if they had the means, 

 but, as at present constituted, they cannot do much; hence I be- 

 lieve the initial work should be done by a special school designed 

 for the purpose, viz., the Itinerant School of Agriculture, of wh'ch 

 I shall have more to say later on. 



As a matter of policy, Australia's most urgent necessity is a big 

 increase in its population in the near future. Either the States or 

 the Commonwealth, or both, must devise a scheme by means cf 

 which the large numbers of people who will settle on the land may 

 be helped with advice and information. Any scheme that may be 

 propounded must of necessity include agricultural education as one 

 of its salient features. Hence there will be a need for trained men 

 to instruct the community in the many phases of agricultural 

 activity. 



Now that the tide of immigration has set to Australia, and 

 before the volume has become too great, consideration should be 

 given to the question, " How best to regulate if?" The farmers 

 could make use of those immigrants who have practical knowledge, 

 and of these some will have ambition and brains, and will be able 

 to carve out their own destiny. Those who are inexperienced, and 

 have little capital and education will be wiser to get in touch with 

 Australian conditions at the Agricultural College. A broader out- 

 look will be attained there, at a cheaper cost, and in a shorter time 

 than is possible on most farms, since it is the business of the college 

 to educate. A year's course could be designed to meet this need. 

 Possibly the more intellectual youths would choose to take up a two 

 years' course, or even a three years' course. 



If a school were set apart solely for immigrants, the results 

 would not be as satisfactory, since a -very important part of the 

 education — being in touch with the customs of the people — would 

 not be acquired so rapidly. The Itinerant School of Agricul- 

 ture, on which comment will be made in this paper, may also take 

 an active part in the agricultural education of immigrants. 



