178 AGRICULTURE IN THE TROPICS [FT. Ill 



Direct technical instruction in agriculture should be the 

 aim of special agricultural colleges, perhaps best kept up in 

 connection with the Experiment Stations maintained by the 

 Agricultural Department. To these colleges should be drafted 

 the boys who show signs of wishing to take up agriculture as a 

 profession, and who have shown promise in the school garden 

 work, etc. 



So far, at any rate, as the natives of southern Asia are 

 concerned, it would appear best that the teaching should not 

 be too much bookwork, but should as much as possible be 

 practical, out of door teaching. A few lessons should for in- 

 stance be given upon insect pests, how to recognise them, how 

 to collect and send in specimens to the official entomologist, 

 and how to deal with the attack. The same with regard to 

 fungus pests, and other things. But in regard to agriculture 

 proper the fewer indoor lessons, and the more outdoor work, 

 the better. A few indoor lessons on the particular cultivation 

 it is intended to teach, and the rest should be outdoor practical 

 work, with field demonstrations. 



