TRANSACTIONS OF SUB-SECTION F. 805 



ns men, the sons of well-to-do i\irmers, who wish for an education to enahlo tbeui 

 to manage their own farms, and men who desire to become creamery managers, 

 or who wish to have a special training to fit them as horticultural or poultry 

 experts, stewards, land agents, or other occupations in connection with agri- 

 culture. This has been done at the Albert Agricultural College, Glasnevin. 



3. To provide provincial institutions at which young men who can be spared 

 from the farm for one year can be taken in as apprentices, taught agriculture, 

 both practical and technical, at a fee proportionate to their means. This work, 

 which liad to be delayed until teachers were trained, is now in progress at three 

 such institutions, and the provision of others is in contemplation. 



4. To provide winter schools of agriculture where the sons of farmers could 

 obtain technical training at small expense during the winter months, when they 

 can best be spared from farm-work. About thirty such schools were in existence 

 last winter in twelve counties where progress had previously been made with 

 itinerant instruction. 



5. To provide one central higher institution fur the training of women in the 

 domestic economy of the farmhouse, and in work which falls to the lot of women 

 to perform in connection with the farmyard, as, for example, dairying and poultry- 

 keeping. This provision has been made at the Munster Institute, Cork. 



(5. To provide for young women education in domestic economy and farmyard 

 lore at residential and day schools. This has been done at eight institutions, 

 while the equipment of others is under consideration. 



7. To provide in each county, by a system of itinerant instruction in agri- 

 culture, horticulture, dairying, poultry-keeping, and bee-keeping, instruction and 

 advice for farmers and their wives, sons, and daughters who cannot avail them- 

 selves of other means of acquiring information. 



8. Finally, in the application of all forms of State aid to make the schemes 

 of an educational character, and not to allow such aid to assume the nature of a 

 direct subsidy. 



Thus the Department have laid the basis of a graduated system of agricultural 

 education by means of which tlie youth who is inspired by the work of the 

 itinerant instructor may be able to obtain education in the local winter school of 

 agriculture, from which he may graduate to the provincial agricultural school, 

 thence to the Albert Agricultural College, or the Royal College of Science, 

 according to his circumstances and his education. 



Prior to about 1890 agricultural education in Great Britain was maintained 

 for the most part out of private funds, and was directed by leading agriculturists. 

 Since that date it has been supported by the State, and has claimed more attention 

 from recognised educational authorities. 



In Scotland this form of State aid is administered by the educational autho- 

 rity, as was formerly the case in Ireland, while in England it is administered by 

 the agricultural authority, as is now the case in this country. 



Thus there have been three sets of administrators engaged on this important 

 work, viz. (1) agriculturists themselves ; (2) the State education authority ; and 

 (3) the State agricultural authority. 



The author referred to the methods and procedure, as well as to the results 

 obtained by these three bodies, and deduced therefrom the lines which future 

 action should follow. Special reference was made to proposals for instruction to 

 boys attending elementary schools. 



4. Agricultural Edmationfor Business and for Knowledge. 

 By Dr. Carroll Dunham. 



