ON EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR OVERSEAS LIFE. 309 



with seedlings of Trifolium subierraneum, but subsequently a stronger growth appeared ; 

 a somewhat similar after-effect was also seen in the case of a hybrid Pelargonium. 



Exposures of 2 minutes daily given to plants of Voandzeia receiving natural 

 illumination for only 7 or 5 hours daily have a much more serious effect than when 

 given to a plant receiving a 12-hours' day. 



The full report of these experiments will appear in the Proceedings of the Society 

 of Experimental Biologists during the course of the present year. 



Educational Training for Overseas Life. — Report of Committee 

 appointed to consider the Educational Training of Boys and Girls in 

 Secondary Schools for Overseas Life (Sir John Russell, Chairman ; 

 Mr. C. E. Browne, Secretary ; Major A. G. Church, Mr. T. S. 

 Dymond, Dr. Vargas Byre, Mr. G. H. Garrad, Rev. Dr. H. B. 

 Gray, Sir Richard Gregory, Mr. 0. H. Latter, Miss McLean, 

 Miss Rita Oldham, Mr. G. W. Olive, Mr. A. A. Somerville, Dr. G. K. 

 Sutherland, Mrs. Gordon Wilson). 



The special work undertaken by the committee since the last meeting of the 

 Association, viz., the elaboration of schemes of practical work in schools for garden, 

 field, and laboratory, has not been sufficiently developed for publication this year, but 

 it is hoped to issue an interim report in 1928. 



In carrying out this project the committee have had in mind the twofold nature 

 of their objective, viz., the introduction of agricultural studies into the curriculum, not 

 only to help forward those who are destined to pursue an agricultural career on leaving 

 school, but also to benefit boys generally whatever avocation they are likely to adopt 

 later on. 



1. Agricultural studies have an educational and cultural value which has been fully 

 proved wherever the work has been carefully planned and systematically established. 

 By their means the teaching of History, of Geography, and of Science becomes vitalised 

 and humanised. Such studies lead to a natural growth of knowledge of the basal 

 facts of life ; they afford an inexhaustible supply of projects from which other sub- 

 jects of the curriculum may draw their inspiration. Ordinary schooi occupations, 

 to the young, often present no rational sanctions, they suggest no simple purpose 

 linking them to actual living. Agricultural studies and associated activities succeed 

 in supplying these sanctions, and therefore create the interest which bridges the gap 

 between work in school and the course of life outside. 



2. Their economic value is equally clear in affording opportunities for a first-hand 

 acquaintance with ' the chief industry of the world.' They open the eyes of a youth 

 to the possibilities of a career on the land overseas, and they afford him sufficient 

 experience to enable him to decide whether he is fitted or unfitted for such a life. 

 To sum up, by supplying land workers for the Oversea Dominions the schools would 

 be helping, in no small measure, to bring about that distribution of population within 

 the Empire so keenly desired by all economists, not only hi the interests of the 

 Oversea Dominions and of Great Britain generally, but equally in the interests of the 

 individual. 



In connection with the last-named objective, and as a valuable contribution to 

 their inquiry, the committee have included in this report a paper written by Commis- 

 sioner D. C. Lamb, of the Salvation Army, ' On the importance to the Empire of 

 the transplantation of boys, with some observations anent (a) the benefit of giving 

 them elementary training in agriculture before they leave the Mother Country, and 

 (6) their settlement and after-care in the King's Oversea Dominions.' Though this 

 paper does not refer to secondary schools, it deals with the adolescent stage in life 

 and describes experiences which supply useful information for the guidance of those 

 concerned with the training of boys of every grade between the ages of fourteen 

 and eighteen years. 



Transplantation of Boys Overseas. 



By Commissioner David C. Lamb. 



The density of the population of England and Wales, 0-49 persons per square mile, 

 is now the highest in the world. 



In June 1921 the peak of unemployment in post-war conditions was reached, the 



