492 



The New Faem Institutes. 



[Sept., 



THE NEW FARM INSTITUTES. 



Sir Daniel Hall, K.C.B., F.R.S., 



Chief Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. 



The coming autumn will see a welcome increase in the 

 number of Farm Institutes. The number of complete Institutes 

 which were at work during the session which is just 

 over w^as four, viz., the East Anglian Institute of Agri- 

 culture, Chelmsford (Essex County Council} ; Newton Eigg 

 (Cumberland and Westmorland County Councils*; J^Iadi-yn 

 (Carnarvonshire); and Sparsholt (Hants County Council). In- 

 struction of a Farm Institute type was also given at the Mon- 

 mouthshire Agricultural Institution at Usk. Seven new schemes 

 should be completed in time to start work next month (October), 

 bringing the total to twelve. Six of the new Institutes are being 

 provided by County Councils: — Reaseheath (Cheshire); the 

 xAgricultural Institute, St. Albans (Herts); Moulton Grounds 

 (Xorthants); Rodbaston (Staffs); Cannington Court f Somerset); 

 and Llysfasi (Denbigh). One Institute (Ijittle Chadacre, Suffolk), 

 is a gift from Lord Iveagh, who has generously made himself 

 responsible for the entire cost, initial and annual. 



The position would have been still more favourable if it had 

 not been for the Cabinet Veto on new Schemes relegating 

 to abeyance six other schemes which could not be considered as 

 " in operation " at the time the halt was called. It is hoped 

 that the new fund, which will be established when Clause 3 of the 

 Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Bill becomes law. will enable 

 these schemes " in abeyance " and a further four or five new 

 Schemes to be proceeded with. 



It is thirteen years ago since the idea of Farm Institutes was 

 originally put forward in the Report of the Departmental Com- 

 ndttee on Agricultural Education, presided over by liOrd Reay 

 [Cd. 4206 — 1908]. The progress seems slow, but when allow- 

 ance is made for the set-back caused by the War and its financial 

 legacies the start that has been made is not unsatisfactory. 



Winter Courses. — The Farm Institute is regarded by the 

 Ministry as a most necessary agency for the instruction of the 

 majority of future occupiers of the land, and the chief intelli- 

 gence centre in each district to meet the current requirements of 

 the industry for information and advice. From the educational 

 side the Farm Institute is distinct from an Agricultaral College in 

 that it aims at giving instruction by means of short winter 

 courses which will not involve any long absence of the student 

 from the farm. As a rule a course of instruction is covered 



