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CHAPTER XII. 



TECHNOLOGICAL TEACHING. 



There is one subject which, though not strictly 

 belonging to my text, I must, before concluding, take 

 the opportunity of adverting to. I refer to the value of 

 technological teaching, and the importance of the 

 establishment of technological schools — especially in 

 connection with agriculture. Much of the future 

 wealth of Queensland depends upon the proper develop- 

 ment of the resources of the soil's surface on her long 

 coast. Hitherto the proportion of good to bad farming 

 has been as the grain of wheat to the bushel of chaff ; 

 while much of the success which has been attained has 

 resulted from the combined favorable influences of good 

 soil and fine climate. This will be better understood by 

 those who have watched the career of a shipload of 

 immigrants. Of those who take to farming, a compara- 

 tively small number have had any previous practical 

 experience. The majority have been mechanics, col- 

 lectors, weavers, drovers, merchants' clerks, tradesmen, 

 &c, &c, but know little more of farming than to 

 distinguish between a plough and a harrow when they 

 see them. As they happen to have more or less of 

 money, they commence on their own account, or as 

 farm laborers. Up to this point there is of course 

 nothing to object to ; as there is no occupation to which 

 they could take, more likely to benefit the colony, or, in 

 the long run, to lead more rapidly to their own inde- 

 pendence. But, instead of benefiting by the experience 

 of others, they — mistaking the influences of climate and 

 virgin soil for their own skill — imagine, before they 

 have been here six months, that they are heaven-born 

 agriculturists, and begin to patronise the older settler 

 by advancing in the columns of the Press, for his 



