THE AGRICULTURE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 87 



greater numbers these could prove one of the solutions to the problem 

 of making enough muck to apply to some of the hungry soils in the 

 county. This has been demonstrated by some with great success. Horses 

 too have never been particularly numerous, but they are now fewer than 

 at any previous stage in the last fifty years. This is again explained by 

 the increased use that is being made of tractors. 



The interest taken in livestock improvement in the past has been in- 

 fluenced by the landowning community, an outstanding example among 

 these being that of the Welbeck Estate. 



Agricultural Education 



The part which education has played in the farming economy of the 

 county is considerable. Nottingham University College through its Agri- 

 cultural Department was responsible for the organisation of the early 

 work. The foundation of a Dairy Institute at Kingston-on-Soar in 1895 

 by the County Councils of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire 

 and Lindsey, was one of the earliest efforts in providing technical edu- 

 cation in this important branch of Agriculture. The experiences at 

 Kingston suggested that it was not ideal for agricultural teaching to be 

 given in the heart of a city away from close contact with the actual 

 problems. In 1902 the Agricultural Department was transferred from 

 University College to Kingston-on-Soar. The subsequent development 

 of the Midland Agricultural College was made possible by the continued 

 co-operation of the County Councils whose first interests were concerned 

 with the provision of technical instruction in Dairying. By 1913, a new 

 site was found at Sutton Bonington to establish a modern College that 

 would be equal to the growing demands for education in Agriculture. 

 Since 1919 Sutton Bonington has been the headquarters of the Midland 

 Agricultural College. The College is the advisory centre for the counties 

 of Derbyshire, Kesteven, Leicestershire, Lindsey, Nottinghamshire and 

 Rutland, the County Councils being active partners in the government 

 and support of the College. 



The College is not responsible for any direct work in the associated 

 Counties, except through the advisory service, which works in co-operation 

 with the Agricultural Staffs in each county. The local agricultural edu- 

 cation staffs have developed the system of giving organised day class 

 instruction in agriculture during the winter months, the award of scholar- 

 ships to the Midland College being based largely on results in such 

 classes. 



