PBOCEEDINGS OF SECTION K. 679 



In Victoria, the work at the colleges is continuous throughout 

 the year, there being no dead season; also, the students are en- 

 gaged at work all the year round, with the exception of the usual 

 short vacations. The staff is numerically small compared with that 

 of any of the American colleges, and their duties, in consequence, 

 much heavier. 



In Australia, the members of the staff who would be most in- 

 terested in the agricultural side of the work are also practical 

 managers of their respective branches, and cannot leave their work. 

 Their time is more than fully occupied already. 



If the American system were to be adopted, then a change 

 must be made in the Australian system. It will be more costly, 

 and probably less suited to Australian conditions. However, it is 

 not impossible to do all that is done in America, but with the 

 smaller population it will cost more. Still with an inflow of immi- 

 grants, it will be worthy of the State to organize and induce its 

 farmers to adopt sound method that will save the community much 

 capital, and not impair the fertility of the land. 



Undoubtedly, by popularizing the work, financial support would 

 be forthcoming. To popularize it, I believe it is essential to create 

 a special school first, on the lines that will be subsequently indi- 

 cated. This school could also interest itself in the education of 

 the farmer's daughters in respect to domestic economy and such 

 subjects as poultry-farming and apiculture. 



D. The Itinerant School of Agriculture. 



The education of the farmer either at the college, or away from 

 it, needs the inspiring influence of men of exceptional qualifica- 

 tions. 



The chief of the Itinerant School of Agriculture must be a 

 good organizer and an enthusiastic level-headed man, who can 

 arouse public interest. He should be a clear and fluent speaker, 

 with a natural earnestness, and have a knowledge of his work. 



He should be practically the sole selector of his staff. This will 

 be composed of men who know their work thoroughly, who can 

 present their ideas clearly, and who can hold their audiences. 



I believe this branch should be independent of any other, and 

 the permanent members of the staff should not be called upon for 

 other duties. It is a distinct profession — this instructional work 

 of the man on the land — and the men who take it up must be 

 specialists in handling human nature. When the itinerary has 

 been mapped out, the chief of this school should be the master of 

 the situation, and only subject to his immediate head by presenting 

 progress reports and the usual financial statements. 



The chief would work in advance of his school, create public 

 interest where there is none, gain the hearty, and even financial, 

 co-operation of the public men of the town and district, and the 



