profits of a Bank provided his balance does not fall 

 below Rs 100, though he may contribute any amount 

 down to a minimum of Rs. 10 per annum to make him 

 eligible for sharing in the benefits in years of distress. The 

 Banks should invest the money in securities approved 

 by Government ; but speculations of an agricultural 

 character approved by Government should be allowed. A 

 scheme worked on such a line will teach raiyats economy 

 and it may lay the foundation of a great many agricultural 

 improvements. If 3 per cent, of interest is guaranteed by 

 Government and if the banks are controlled by Government, 

 there should be no lack of shareholders and of capital. The 

 best agency that one could think of at the present moment 

 to whom Government might entrust the duty of organising 

 agricultural banks in connection with post-offices, and agri- 

 cultural enterprises of various sorts on improved methods, 

 is the India Agricultural Development Company Limited, 

 which has been recently formed. 



CHAPTER CXLIV. 



AGRICUI/TURAI, EDUCATION. 



~\~\ 7E have alluded to agricultural education as one of the 

 principal means of overcoming famines. The means 

 must necessarily be slow in its operation, but it is the surest 

 means of all ; and if the system of agricultural education 

 devised is of a sufficiently practical character, the effect 

 need not take very long in being perceived. Foundation 

 has been laid of agricultural education in Bengal j but the 

 arrangement that are possible to make at Sibpur, will enable 

 Government to give agricultural education of a rather high 

 standard, to only about a dozen individuals annually. If 

 these men (who are mostly graduates in Science of the Calcutta 



