1921.] 



285 



The Study of Agriculture.— (H. Cecil Pawsou. London : N inton & 

 C'o , Ltd. Price 5.s. net.) In a small book under above title, Mr. H. Cecil 

 Pawson, Lecturer in Agriculture in Ibe University of Dtnlianj, lias brid<:^ed 

 over the considerable gaps in tlie information usually available to youths 

 desiring to go in for one branch or anotlicr ol" agriculture. The book should 

 be particularly useful to parents who, tbongli llicir own pursuits lie in cities 

 or towns, have the desire and means of satisfying their sons' taste for a 

 country life. Of the real difficulty which exists for parents and youngsters 

 alike in getting information and advice on a career that is foreign to them, 

 Mr. Pawson is obviously' well aware. Whatever is the hnal object of 

 training in agricultin-e, a very big proportion of aspirants are ignorant of the 

 most effective means of arriving at it. The book, however, is not written 

 only for those who, after training, will be in a position to take a farm ; it 

 shows also the experience necessary to those who for want of capital or 

 through particular aptitude will tend to become County Organisers, University 

 Lecturers, Research Workers and so on. Within t-he wide sphere of 

 agriculture many activities lie, and cases could l)e quoted of intending 

 farmers of seventeen years becoming lecturers at twenty-seven, or of embryo 

 land-agents finishing as officials. It is therefore of the greater importance 

 that the spade work should be such as wdll qualify for almost any agricultural 

 career, and the foundations nmst be sound in order to carry the superstructure 

 of later years. 



The reading of Mr. Pawson's book will be a revelation to a townsman. 

 The author brings out briefly but clearly the wide nature of the subject, and 

 furnishes a valuable bird's-eye view wherein one can trace the road to 

 success in the different careers that agriculture offers. Practical knowledge 

 must be the foundation of all. How best to acquire that knowledge and 

 preserve it in a systematic way Mr. Pawson aims at showing. It is of the 

 greatest importance for the student to go to a farm, and not only must the 

 farmer be sound but able and willing to explain the business to the newcomer. 

 Cases are met with in which, owing to disinclination or inability on the 

 farmer's part to teach his pupil, the latter frequently learns little beyond the 

 performance of manual tasks. This state of things is not only discouraging 

 to the beginner, but is wasting his time. Like the Farmer's boy " in the 

 old-fashioned song, the pupil must learn 



" To plough and sow, to reap and mow," 

 but he is going to be a farmer or a lecturer, as the case may be, and tl:ere is 

 nmch else to learn. 



Three rules are given : — "Be observant, willing to learn, and of an 

 enquiring mind." The author demonstrates the value of noting everything 

 that appears important or unusual. He lays stress on the advantage of 

 seeing other farms in the district, and, what is of particular importance to 

 those who desire to attain to official and advisory posts, of gaining practical 

 farming experience in different parts of the countr}'. The time seems to 

 have come when a rising generation of agricultm-ists amplify their practical 

 experience by attending classes at Farm Institutes or Agricultural Colleges, or 

 go up to a University. It seems that if those interested consulted the 

 authorities of these colleges-, not only bel'oi-e entering tlieni. but before 

 starting practical training, a much straighter path nn'glit be found to uliinuite 

 success. In this stage of the student's career the author has sound advice to 



