130 THE FUTURE OF OUR AGRICULTURE. 



giving his services for testing, meeting doubts and objec- 

 tions, and becoming a " guide, philosopher and friend." 

 That is to a great extent — but not solely — in respect of 

 dairying, the work of the zuivelconsidenten, in respect of 

 breeding of the fokking consulenten, of the Netherlands, 

 of the agronomes de V£tat of Belgium, of the Diredeurs 

 departmentaux of France, and of the numerous " control 

 societies " of Germany, Switzerland and the Scandinavian 

 kingdoms — in Germany and Switzerland also of the itinerant 

 lecturers sent about by the Governments or else by 

 agricultural societies. It is the work of the " County Agri- 

 cultural Representatives " in Canada, whose number keeps 

 increasing, because there is a steadily growing demand for 

 their services ; and of the " County Agricultural Agents " 

 of the United States, the service of which officers in both 

 American countries are highly esteemed and considered 

 indispensable. In all countries named the work of such 

 instruction has proved blessed with good results. It means 

 money spent upon a large staff of teachers. But it yields 

 a return. And the outlay is not likely to prove permanent. 

 For once a certain number of farmers have been converted, 

 the ground is sure to be found to have been cleared for 

 schools and " courses." There will still be plenty of work 

 left for the consulenten and agronomes, such as testing, 

 inspecting, advising and controlling. But there is not 

 likely to be much need left for beating up recruits. 



Outside the province of individual influencing, societies 

 of farmers, independently formed, ought at least fully to 

 share the work with the Government officers. It would be 

 ungracious indeed to fail to recognise the excellent work 

 which many of the men sent out by public Departments 

 accomplish — for instance, the active and well-skilled " Direc- 

 tors of Agriculture " (as they are now styled, of France ; 

 a few years ago their title was " Professors "). There is 

 one of them stationed, with his modest staff, in every 

 Department — as the Canadians and Americans have their 

 Agricultural Representatives or Agents in each county, 

 where he is called upon to serve as teacher and controller 

 of things agricultural. The change which he has helped 



