66 REPORT OB^ THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



Revival of Agriculture 



The other and the principal object which the Act had in view 

 was to provide means by which the revival of agriculture, begun by 

 the I.A.O.S., might be carried to full fruition. This object was to be 

 attained, not by the Department doing for the Irish farmer what 

 he could do for himself, but by the Department educating, en- 

 couraging, and stimulating the Irish farmer to work with his own 

 hands and his own brain, giving direct financial help in the case 

 only of infant industries, which private initiative could not alone 

 create, and in the case of needy individuals — there were many of 

 them in Ireland — sunk in the depths of a poverty out of which, 

 without help, they could not rise. 



Council of Agriculture 



For the carrying out effectively of this work a Council of 

 Agriculture was brought into existence similar to the Councils of 

 Agriculture in Continental countries, only more democratic than 

 some of them, and going farther than one would have expected in 

 the direction of allowing Irishmen to manage their own affairs. 

 Two members were appointed by each County Council, Cork re- 

 turning 4 members, thus making the number elected by County 

 Councils 68. The Department appointed 34. The President and 

 Vice-President were members ex offi^cio. The Council of Agriculture, 

 representing the agricultural interests of the country, thus num- 

 bered 104. It was appointed for three years from 1st April 1900, 

 It must meet once a year. It discussed matters of public interest 

 to the agriculturists of the country. The Department is not 

 bound to follow the advice of the Council, but it invariably 

 does so. 



Board of Agriculture 



Besides the Council of Agriculture there are two Boards. 

 There is the Agricultural Board to advise the Department in con- 

 nection with all matters relating to agriculture and industries. 

 It is created in this wise. The Council of Agriculture, at its first 

 meeting every three years, divides itself into four Provincial Com- 

 mittees. Each of these Committees elects two members, who 

 represent it on the Agricultural Board. The Department elects 

 four members, one from each province. The Board thus consists 

 of 12 members, and is as democratic as the Council of Agriculture. 

 The power is with the direct representatives of the people. It is 

 an important body, for it controls most of the funds that are 

 devoted to agriculture, so that practically all the agricultural 

 operations of the Department are governed by this Board. 



Board of Technical Instruction 



The other Board is the Board of Technical Instruction, which 

 advises the Department on matters relating to, and controls the 



