1922.] 



CouNcn; OF Agriculture for Wales. 



811 



not, however, necessarily an advantage. We are satisfied that a large numher 

 of tlie small farms, so typical of Wales, are entirely uneconomic as they are. 

 To be successful they should be either reduced still further in size or made 

 larger. The nature of the land in many parts of the country is such that it 

 can only be worked economically in large farms. It is also true that there is 

 good land in favoured situations which could be put to much more profitable 

 use if worked as intensive small holdings than is the case now when it forms 

 part of medium sized holdings used for mixed farming or stock-raising. We 

 are simply reiterating what every reformer has emphasised, when we say that 

 it is essential, in the interests of the niation, to maintain a large and flourishing 

 rural population, but we desire at least to associate ourselves with that view. 



We consider that the creation of small holdings and the improvement of the 

 position of the agricultural worker on the lines indicated in the preceding 

 paragraph would go a long way towards solving the problem of maintaining 

 a rural population, provided that a definite policy is pursued of selecting suitable 

 men for the holdings, and that the holdings themselves are placed on suitable 

 land and in favourable situations. 



V. Agricultural Education.— Agriculturists have reasons to l)e 

 gratified with the additional provision that has recently been made in 

 connection with Agricultural Education and Research. So strongly convinced, 

 however, are we that a high standard of Education and technical knowledge 

 is to be more than ever the need of the agricultural community of the future, 

 that we can regard the provision now made as adequate only for the time 

 being. Although the position of Agricultural Education and Research is 

 more satisfactory than it has ever been, we feel that much remains to be done 

 in connection with general education in the rural districts of the country. In 

 our opinion, the ordinary curriculum of the rural Elementary Schools should 

 be adapted to the needs of the district, and in all such schools Elementary 

 Science with a rural bias should be taught. We also consider that in any 

 Continuation Schools that may be established in rural districts in the future 

 the curriculum should be so framed as to arouse the pupils' interest in rural 

 life. Amongst other things, we think it is eminently desirable, on educational 

 and other grounds, that the attention of the pupils should be drawn to the 

 principles of Economics and such subjects as Farm Accounts. Something in 

 this direction might be done with advantage even in the Elementary Schools. 



VI. Road Transport.— We strongly urge the necessity for improving 

 and widening existing district roads and for the construction of new roads to 

 pi-ovide routes for road motors to convey traffic between country districts 

 and railway centres. 



Yll. Credit.— We consider that a Credit Scheme on the lines of the 

 scheme in operation during the War should be estabhshed and so developed 

 as to enable farmers and smallholders to obtain temporary assistance for the 

 purpose of carrying on their business. 



VIII. Land Drainage.— For the country as a whole there is hardly 

 any improvement that is more needed than land drainage, and we are greatly 

 concerned that operations under the Drainage Act of 1018 have had to be 

 suspended. We strongly recommend that the provisions of the Act should be 

 put fully into operation as soon as possible, as we are convinced that large 



