DIGNITY OF AGRICULTURAL LABOUR. 479 



proprietor himself. Some prospects will be thus afforded him of 

 improving his condition by industry ; he will be encouraged fa » 

 settle himself comfortably in marriage, and may, eventually, 

 become a proprietor in his own right ; also, in case the absent 

 proprietor should be desirous of parting with his estate, he could 

 safely enter into an advantageous arrangement with his former 

 manager. 



Now it is evident that the absentee proprietor cannot adopt 

 the proposed plan if the class of managers, generally, do not offer 

 sufficient professional guarantees. The formation of an agricul- 

 tural school, and certificates delivered by the " Central Com- 

 mittee/'' would afford such guarantees ; and the adoption of the 

 proposed plan would also be a powerful inducement to the youth 

 of the colony to improve themselves in the science of agriculture 

 and the art of husbandry. 



The reluctance evinced by all classes to field occupations 

 has its origin in a deep-rooted prejudice, the offspring of slavery. 

 Rural occupations are generally deemed a loss of caste in 

 plodding labourers, and are considered as the special province 

 of the ignorant. The command of God is, " In the sweat of 

 thy face shalt thou eat bread/' but slavery had made the com- 

 mand of God a prescription of man ; and the slave, obliged to 

 toil for the benefit of his master, viewed the obligation of 

 working as a curse, whilst the master regarded the occupations 

 of a slave (except in an interested light) as unworthy of his 

 attention. It is, to all, clear and evident that, whilst we are 

 loudly demanding an increase of field-labour, there is a glut of 

 tradesmen and petty shopkeepers in the island. An agricultural 

 school would have the effect of ennobling rural pursuits, and of 

 raising agricultural occupations in the estimation of the com- 

 munity. This is the reason that the strictest obligations should 

 characterise the training and service of the pupils, as also a high 

 salary be paid to the director of the farm — the former to insure 

 the stability and promote the final objects of the establishment, 

 the latter, to secure the services of a respectable and competent 

 individual. 



The pupils should be boarded by the director, on an adequate 

 allowance being made for the necessary expenditure. 



In conclusion, I suggest that the growth of fruit-t: 

 ground-provisions, and the more delicate vegetables — those of 



