146 THE LAND AND ITS PROBLEMS 



For a young man, say, i6 or 17 years of age whose 

 parents can afford to send him through a proper course 

 of training, the ideal procedure is the Agricuhural 

 College and work on a farm under a good farmer. But 

 it must not be thought that one or two years will be 

 sufficient ; it is a question of steady training for four or 

 five years. So that it is very essential to make certain 

 that the youth, quite apart from his mental capacity, 

 has a real aptitude for manual work on the land ; and 

 he should undergo the test already referred to. 



During the period of training, a good plan is for the 

 pupil to spend one or two holidays on a farm in Denmark, 

 working as a labourer. 



These months on a Danish farm would give the 

 student a new point of view ; and he would be working 

 in a country where the development and organization 

 of agriculture have been carried to the highest level yet 

 achieved. He would see around him small arable dairy 

 farms and how they are worked by men who know their 

 job, I am here assuming that the trainee intends to 

 make his living by actually working on the land ; should 

 he wish to go in for a position under the Ministry of 

 Agriculture or a County Council this will still be the 

 best training. 



In Denmark the usual proceeding is for the pupil, 

 who intends to become a farm manager or expert, at 

 the end of his course of training to go on to a large farm 

 and work as under-bailifi^ for two or three years at a 

 salary, under a manager. In this way he acquires business 

 experience, and it is most necessary for him to learn how 

 to buy and sell to best advantage. This side is not of so 

 great importance where a man settles under the group 

 system, or where co-operative buying and selling is 

 developed. 



