90 RURAL RECONSTRUCTION 



Government mother hen watch so steadily and with so great care 

 over its farming chicks. 



However, though for the promotion of " Better Farming," being 

 a public interest, we must needs go to seek assistance from the 

 national Government and local authorities, the national Govern- 

 ment and local authorities need not be appealed to for all help 

 required — which, indeed, they would scarcely be in a position to 

 give. In America, once more, as has been already shown — Bankers' 

 Associations are very open-handed and zealous in the promotion of 

 educational instruction for present and intending farmers, such as 

 boys' and girls' clubs, pig clubs, calf clubs, corn clubs, poultry 

 clubs, seed clubs, and the like — all of which render two most valua- 

 able services. One is, that they greatly promote technical agricul- 

 tural knowledge. Upgrowing farmers learn in the best way pos- 

 sible, and at a time when teaching received sinks deep into the 

 receiver's mind. The other service rendered is that, catching 

 their pupils young, these institutions infuse into them, in the place 

 of that anxiety to go for " betterment " and amusement into 

 towns — which is steadily depopulating our rural districts — a love 

 of rural life, rural surroundings and rural occupations, and to 

 correct by their teaching the admitted defects of our general educa- 

 tion, by " ruralising " it and training up young folk suitably for 

 country life and agricultural pursuits. More will have to be said 

 about this in giving details. On both sides of its activity indicated 

 certainly such stimulation of education has proved most successful 

 and beneficial, providing material enrichment for the country. 



Furthermore, research and demonstartion are most effective 

 parts of education. We ourselves were the first nation to introduce 

 agricultural experimental stations by private, but public-spirited, 

 enterprise. " Rothamsted " may be said to have been the mother 

 of all that exists. But the " mother," however fruitful in the pro- 

 duction of knowledge, has not proved over-prolific in the generation 

 of offspring in her own country. Certainly more is done in imitation 

 of Rothamsted abroad, and very much more in the two American 

 Commonwealths. Both research and demonstration lead auto- 

 matically to " Better Farming," which is a national interest. Re- 

 search teaches the experts, opens to them new provinces of know- 

 ledge. Demonstration diffuses the benefits of such increased know- 

 ledge abroad. The eye is ever so much more prompt an instrument 

 for receiving knowledge than the brain — or, perhaps, rather, it 

 opens most readily access to the ultimate seat of intelligence. 

 Accordingly demonstration is by far the most effective method to be 



