IN A UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM n 



South-Eastern Agricultural College), and Wales ; while 

 these Universities, and three in Scotland, also grant 

 degrees in Agricultural Science. 



Those who have followed the developments in agri- 

 cultural education of the past sixteen years cannot fail 

 to have noticed the marked change that has come over 

 public opinion during that period. In 1890 a small 

 proportion of farmers were enthusiastic supporters of 

 education and research, and did everything in their 

 power to help forward the work. A considerable 

 number, on the other hand, were definitely hostile, 

 and were active in their advocacy of the diversion of 

 Technical Education funds to the relief of the rates. 

 But the great bulk of agriculturists adopted an attitude 

 of passive indifference, or, at the best, exhibited a 

 languid curiosity as to the manner of man that ventured 

 to offer to instruct them in their business. It is now 

 some years since I have heard of any active opposition 

 on the part of farmers to the provision of technical 

 education in their calling. No doubt one meets with 

 men who are prepared to criticize their county 

 scheme ; but their objections, when closely examined, 

 are usually found to rest essentially on the insufficiency 

 of local funds to provide some particular form of educa- 

 tion that would fit directly into their requirements. 

 But of out-and-out denial of the benefits that Education 

 and Science can confer on the business of Agriculture 

 one hears nothing now. On the contrary, there is 

 a large volume of testimony to the advantages that 

 practical men have derived from the facilities for educa- 

 tion and scientific inquiry that the Board of Agriculture 

 and local authorities have placed within their reach. 

 A very large number of farmers now look to the local 

 colleges, to the experimental stations, and to the county 



