io8 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



it will be observed that in both countries it is not the number 

 of small and very small occupiers of land that diminishes. 

 It is the main d'ceuvre, the staff of landless or all but landless 

 labourers which suffers diminution. That clearly shows 

 that the fault in the matter lies not with Agriculture but 

 with the conditions offered to Labour. In all countries 

 there are, as a matter of fact, at present labour difficulties. 

 Germany has raised its agricultural labourer's wages relatively 

 far more than we have. There is absolutely no comparison. 

 And in Germany also the road is far more open for Labour 

 to independent occupation than among ourselves. Never- 

 theless difficulties will arise, as they have arisen for centuries 

 back. For we read that one of the causes suggesting the 

 formation of the Societe Nationale d' Agriculture de France, 

 about 1660, was " labour difficulties." However, the 

 maintenance, and even increase, of the number of small 

 farmers and small holders, which is purposely stimulated 

 by facilities given in both countries named, shows that 

 although human beings are withdrawn, it is not really 

 Agriculture that suffers inroads. Thanks to a system of 

 rural education adapted to local circumstances there is in 

 both countries— as any one can see who inquires carefully 

 into the matter— far more " rural-mindedness," so to call 

 it, among the rural population than among our own. 



It may afford some interest to trace here briefly the 

 course of development of methodised Agricultural Educa- 

 tion from its first beginnings. We shall have to look 

 abroad for that. For our first Board of Agriculture did 

 not leave a brilliant record behind it under that aspect. 



The merit of the first efforts made to methodise Agricultural 

 Education appears to be due to Emmanuel von Fellenberg 

 in Switzerland and " Father Thaer " in Germany. It was 

 in 1804 that Fellenberg, in company with the well-known 

 Swiss pedagogue Pestalozzi, prompted rather by humane 

 motives than professional, opened the first farm-school 

 at Hofwyl in Switzerland. A few years earlier " Father 

 Thaer " had begun teaching agricultural science (as learnt 

 in his position of physician ordinary to the Elector of Han- 

 over, our George III, from British Agriculture) on his little 



