456 



Keport of the Intelligence Department. [Aug., 



was one of his mildest descriptions, and it enabled him to 

 combine in the same anathema two of his chief aversions — 

 potatoes and popery. The pigs and potatoes campaign of to-day 

 would have placed Cobbett in a dilemma, for he consistently 

 glorified the one, and condemned the other. It is certain, 

 however, that no dilemma would have long embarrassed him. 



The pleasant sight of " the most interesting of all objects," 

 the " neatly kept and productive little gardens round the 

 labourers' houses," which he describes as an " honour to Eng- 

 land," give occasion for the comment: "We have only 

 to look at these to know what sort of people English labourers 

 are : these gardens are the answer to the Malthuses and the 

 Scarletts. Shut your mouths, you Scotch economists; cease 

 bawling, Mr. Brougham, and you Edinburgh Eeviewers, till 

 you can show us something, not like, but approaching towards 

 a likeness of this." The pertinence of this sound and fury 

 escapes us now, but it was apparent enough at the time, and we 

 can at any rate recognise it as authentic Cobbett. 



REPORT OF THE INTELLIGENCE 

 DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY. 



The Intelligence Department of the Ministry is charged with 

 duties relating to agricultural education and research, horticul- 

 ture, the improvement of live stock, the destruction of rats, 

 and diseases of animals. A Keport on its work, covering the two 

 years ending 31st March, 1921, which has just been issued,* 

 is therefore deserving of the closest consideration by farmers. 

 The period covered by the report saw the termination of many 



war-time " activities, the introduction of many new schemes 

 to meet altered conditions due to the War, and, generally, a 

 big development of Intelligence work to correspond with the 

 increased importance now attached to agriculture by the public. 

 The Eeport under notice contains not only an account of work 

 accomplished but a statement of the policy underlying it, and 

 is therefore of quite unusual interest. 



Agricultural education is carried out by Agricultural Colleges 

 (including University Departments of Agriculture) and by 

 Local Education Authorities. To these bodies the Ministry 

 makes grants-in-aid, and is charged with some responsibility 

 for the proper spending of the money. The Institutions for 

 higher education provide courses of instruction covering two 



* Report on the work of the Intelligence Department, Ministry of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries, for the two years 1919-21 : H.M. Stationery Office, 

 Imperial House, Kingsway, W.C.2. Price 5/-. 



