Use of Agricultural Machinery. 



[may, 



It is now generally recognised that education must play an 

 important part in stimulating the use of improved machinery 

 in agriculture. In evidence given before 

 U^e ori^ ricuUnral Departmental Committee on Agricul- 

 Machinery tural Machinery this opinion was expressed 

 by nearly all the witnesses. The raising 

 of the standard of general education is likely to stimulate the 

 interest and quicken the apprehension of all classes of workers 

 in tasks other than dull routine ; and this in itself will lead 

 to a better and more instructed use of agricultural machinery, 

 and a broader outlook upon its possibilities. Beyond this, 

 however, direct instruction in the principles and use of 

 machinery is required by all classes of the agricultural 

 community. 



At present, some measure of instruction in agricultural 

 engineering or allied subjects is provided at Agricultural 

 Colleges and kindred Institutions, and by Local Authorities 

 either through Farm Institutes or by means of extension 

 lectures. The opinion of a number of well-qualified witnesses 

 who appeared before the Committee was, however, that the 

 present facilities were inadequate. It is urged that the 

 subject of agricultural machinery should occupy a more 

 prominent place in the curricula of Agricultural Colleges and 

 Farm Institutes, and that in the case of the former there should 

 be attached to the staff at least one specialist whose whole time 

 would be devoted to the subject, and who would be available 

 for instruction and advisory work. Further, there should be 

 available at each Institution, besides the machinery and 

 implements used on the farm, a well-equipped machinery 

 workshop and an exhibition of the principal types of machines 

 and implements on the market. 



The facilities hitherto given have been available chiefly for 

 those who would later farm on a fairly large scale or who 

 would direct farming operations in some capacity or other. 

 Less provision appears to have been made for the instruction 

 of smaller farmers and of labourers in the principles and use of 

 agricultural machinery, and the problem has probably been 

 found to present greater difficulties. The Committee has 

 come to the conclusion, after sounding the views of the witnesses 

 best qualified to speak on this subject, that either within the 

 continuation classes proposed under the new Education Act 

 or outside them, some instruction in the principles of mechanics 

 and in their practical application to agriculture might usefully 

 be given to youths above the age of fourteen ; it is believed that 

 in this way the interest of the man in his task would be 



