TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 841 



investigated the persoDalty left by fanners, which was 1,073,348/., or an average 

 of 1,860/. per fanner, and concluded by noticing the large estates (100,000/. and 

 above) left in 1876. 



3. On the Application of Physics and Biology to Practical JBconomics. 

 By Patrick Geddes. 



Having at the last two meetings brought before the Section — (1) An analysis 

 of the biological aspects of political economy, i.e., of the facts of organisation of 

 labour, social progress, &c., viewed in terms of the laws of physiology and 

 evolution, and (2) an outline of the physical aspects of the subject, i.e., of the pro- 

 duction and consumption of wealth expressed in terms of the doctrine of energy, 

 the writer now desires (3) to outline the combined application of these depart- 

 ments of theory to the systematisation of practical economics ; the current vague 

 general conception of this, in terms of ' progress in wealth and population,' being 

 replaced by that of the development of natural resources towards personal and 

 social maintenance and evolution. 



MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. 



The following Reports and Papers were read : — 



T.. Report of the Committee for continuing the inquiries relating to the 

 teaching of Science in Elementary Schools. — See Reports, p. 163. 



2. Schools of Commerce.^ By Sir Philip Magnus. 



For some time the opinion has been gaining ground that education must be 

 -directed towards commercial pursuits as well as towards those connected with 

 productive industry ; that for the maintenance of our trade and commerce fitting 

 instruction must be provided for those who are to be engaged in distribution as 

 well as in production. The urgency of the need of improved technical instruction 

 has called attention, in the first place, to the importance of satisfying this great 

 want. During the last few years successful efforts have been made to place our 

 technical instruction on a more satisfactory footing. The improvement is seen in 

 the work of our university colleges, in the schemes of the Charity Commissioners 

 for the establishment of secondary schools, in the development of evening technical 

 classes under the City Guilds Institute, and in the opening of a central institution in 

 London for the training of teachers. There are many indications that the claims 

 ■of commerce will be now considered. 



Of the want of more systematic commercial education there is little doubt. 

 Improvements in the means of production will not alleviate commercial de- 

 pression, unless markets are found for the cheapened products. The valuable 

 consular reports which are now periodically published show unmistakably that we 

 lose trade, not always and solely because we cannot manufacture as well as our 

 competitors, but often and equally for want of knowledge of the places where 

 markets for our goods may be found and of the requirements of the markets it 

 should be our business to satisfy. This knowledge is supplied to merchants abroad 

 by well-educated agents skilled in business habits, conversant with foreign lan- 

 guages, and famiUar with the physical, social, political, and commercial circum- 

 stances of different parts of the world ; and this knowledge, it is contended, is 

 afforded by the system of education adopted in Germany and in other countries, 

 and places men of commerce in these countries at an advantage over those at 

 home. Moreover, the answers to the important circular sent forth by the London 



■ Published in the Contemporary Revieiv, December 1887. 



