102 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



certain classes of instructors, but we have stood firm, 

 and nothing but the most rigid examination will satisfy 

 us. . . . And now we have come to the brick-and-mortar 

 stage." Throughout, the central authority is supreme. 

 And the result is a settled plan, perseveringly pursued, and 

 uniformity, co-ordination — in one word : a system. 



Such arrangement, which has worked exceedingly well, 

 approving itself by its results, wherever it has been tried, 

 was originally devised in Switzerland, as between the 

 directing Federation and the executing Cantons. It has 

 subsequently been adopted both in the United States and 

 in Canada, as between the Federation, or else the Dominion, 

 on one side, and the several States or Provinces, on the 

 other. Under all these arrangements it is the central 

 body which directs and exacts compliance with its regula- 

 tions, as well as contributions of funds. The result is not 

 only a general uniformity, but also efficiency and vigorous 

 work. 



Evidently we have been " boring with the wrong tool." 

 Afraid of over -centralising, we have in our decentralisation 

 missed our aim, because shooting at it with a favourite 

 but faulty shaft. The consequence is that our arrangement 

 spells " Chaos." And from such seed you cannot reason- 

 ably look for satisfactory fruit. 



What has been said does not mean that we have not 

 very bright points indeed to exhibit in our attainments, 

 in truth burning and shining lights, which are well worth 

 following up further. Quite the reverse. We possess some 

 first-rate educational institutions, reaching up to the top- 

 most grade, and most proficient teachers, just as in practical 

 Agriculture we have very highly skilled practical farmers. 

 However, these are comparatively few in number and possess 

 little power of communicating their brilliancy to the sur- 

 rounding mass of fog and darkness. The Board of Agri- 

 culture and Fisheries itself has in a recent Report confessed 

 that " Agricultural Education is a difficult thing, in which 

 there have been many failures and some successes." Un- 

 fortunately, as observed, the influence of such admirable 

 examples as we possess does not go very far. There is, 



