248 Fifth Conference 



ing importation of foreign produce. When we have 

 established our county authorities some demand will 

 at once be made upon them as regards the higher edu- 

 cation and the better training of agriculturists. Who 

 are to guide, advise, and assist them in this enterprise? 

 If it is to be the Board of Agriculture, they must have 

 considerably more funds at their disposal than at 

 present. Then there is not only the all -important 

 question of teachers, but that of inspection. Who are 

 to appoint and pay these inspectors, and who is to 

 apportion the different districts in which they work 

 — and to whom are they to report.-^ Many of our 

 counties also are the fortunate possessors of an agri- 

 cultural college. I find that these institutions are 

 getting more appreciated by our farmers every day, 

 not only as centres for teaching and training, but as 

 centres for research and giving information, after the 

 closest scientific tests, to the farming community, and 

 on these grounds they have again and again given 

 proof of their value and necessity. The greater 

 portion of the sum allowed to the Board of Agriculture 

 is now given to these colleges; but after all this is far 

 from dealing with such a great and national question 

 in a comprehensive and practical manner. We are 

 glad to think that the two departments I have men-, 

 tioned are acting cordially together, but when the 

 Education Bill has been in operation a few years a 

 very different state of things may supervene as the 

 demands and responsibilities of the Board of Agri- 

 culture increase and multiply. 



And now whilst fully recognizing the importance of 

 organization in each county for securing the higher 

 training through, ist, the all -important medium of 



