S04 TRANSACTIONS OF SUB-SECTION F. 



something analogous to this neglect in the modern Empire of Science ? Whatever 

 answer he made to this question, I feel that, ia the interests of our national 

 progress, I am justified in the appeal I make that, before modern civilisation goes 

 too far down the road of the rural exodus, the British Association should take 

 science and practice band in hand and call it back. 



The following Papers were then read: — 



1. Irish Soil Ma2)s. By Professor Grbnville Cole, F.G.S. 



2. Electricity in Agriculture. By Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. 



It has been found by large scale experiments on a farm near Evesham, as well 

 as by other previous experimenters, that a discharge of positive electricity into the 

 air above growing plants stimulates and increases their growth ; especially when 

 the sua is not too strong or the soil too dry. In this latter case it may over- 

 stimulate them. The reason for this action of electricity requires investigation. 



The experiments have been carried out by Mr. J. E. Newman and Mr. Lionel 

 Lodge on the farm of Mr. R. Bomford, of Bevington Hall, Evesham, and at the 

 nursery garden of Mr, G. 11. Newman, at Bitton, near Bristol. 



3. Agricultural Editcation. By J. E. Campbell, B.Sc. 



It is not perhaps well known that there was an agricultural school in Ireland 

 as early as ISiJG. Those interested in this early venture will find an account of it 

 in Thackeray's ' Irish Sketch-book.' The school was established by private sub- 

 scription, and was self-supporting for nearly twenty-five years. In 1868 the 

 Commissioners of National Education began their system of agricultural instruc- 

 tion, which they continued up to the creation of the Department of Agriculture 

 and Technical Instruction in 1900. The Commissioners started by giving lectures 

 on agriculture to teachers in training. It was as a demonstration farm in con- 

 nection with such lessons that the present Albert Agricultural College, Glasnevin, 

 was founded in the same year, 1838. The lectures Avero intended to qualify 

 elementary schoolmasters to give instruction in agricultural science, while 

 the college farm and its gardens were used to teach them to cultivate educational 

 gardens and small farms attached to national schools. Later, about twenty 

 agricultural schools were established in various parts of the country by the 

 Commissioners, at which provision was made for resident students. These served 

 at the same time as training centres for pupil-teachers and headmasters livinw in 

 the vicinity. The Commissioners aided other schools established by private 

 influence, and offered inducements to Poor Law Guardians to provide agricultural 

 education in workhouse schools. 



In 1900, when the Department of Agriculture was established and charged 

 with the duty of providing agricultural education in Ireland, all that remained of 

 the provision made by the Commissioners were two institutions — one the Albeit 

 Agricultural College, Glasnevin, and the other the Munster Institute, Cork. 

 After a study of the situation in 1900, the Department of Agriculture and 

 Technical Instruction decided on the following policy: — • 



1. To provide at one central institution the highest form of technical educa- 

 tion for the training of men who are to become teachers and specialists in 

 agriculture. This has been done at the Royal College of Science in connection 

 with the farm and college at Glasnevin. 



2. To provide at least one high-class agricultural college which would form a 

 stepping-stone to men desirous of entering the Royal College of Science, as well 



