220 



boys who are destined for an agricultural career were to receive 

 during their final year at school, or perhaps longer, instruction in such sub- 

 jects as may be brought to bear more or less directly upon agriculture, such 

 as chemistry, geology, plant and animal physiology, instead of, as at present, 

 devoting their time largely to classical studies. If at the same time those 

 boys receive some practical instruction in agricultural arts and be made 

 familiar with the methods of raising and handling crops, the ultimate <*ain 

 to the community would be great. Youths thus trained cannot fail to be 

 more observant, more receptive of new ideas, more apt in utilizing them, 

 and more fertile in invention than those who are thrust into planting life 

 with no specific preparation or training. 



39. To accomplish this, the Experiment Station should provide a course 

 of instruction in agricultural subjects which may be taken by boys of the 

 higher schools as part of their school work, and while still under school dis- 

 cipline. We have outlined such a course of instruction occupying three 

 hours a day ; these three hours would be spent at the Station, the remaining 

 time would be occupied in School work in the ordinary schools in the usual 

 manner. The course ;vould extend over one year, but we consider it very 

 desirable, or almost necessary, that the pupils should devote two vears to 

 this work : — 



40. The course of instruction which we suggest is as follows :— 



Agricultural Chemistry — including theory of agriculture. Two lectures 

 a week each of 1 hour's duration. 



Practical Chemistry — Two lessons or demonstrations a week each of 2 

 hours' duration. 



Practical instruction in agricultural methods and practice, (a) in the 

 field, — three lessons or demonstrations a week each of 2 hours' duration ; 

 (b) in the laboratory or class room in extension of the field and lecture 

 work, — one lesson a week of 1^ to 2 hours' duration. 



Plant Physiology and Botany, as applied to agriculture. 

 One lesson a week of one hour's duration. 



Veterinary instruction — Two terms. 



One lecture a week of one hour's duration. 



Agricultural Entomology : insect life, injurious and beneficial insect*' 

 One term. One lecture a week of one hours' duration. 



Book-keeping should be taught in the schools, instruction being given 

 in the methods suitable for use on plantations. 



Mensuration, land measuring, &c, should be taught partly in the schools 

 and partly by practice at the Station. 



41. The lectures and classes of this course would be open to any member 

 of the community on payment of a moderate fee ; students would be permit- 

 ted to attend courses of instruction in any one or more subjects according to 

 their requirements. In this way the usefulness of the instruction given 

 would be extended to persons other than pupils of the High Schools. It is 

 probable that some persons would gladly avail themselves of this means of 

 acquiring information in the different branches of agriculture to be taught. 

 Appropriate fees for this course of instruction should be fixed, but there is no 

 ground for anticipating that any very considerable sum would be derived from 

 this source. 



42. For the instruction in agriculture of the students of the training col" 

 leges, through whose agency the teaching of agricultural subjects in Elemen" 

 tary Schools must be accomplished, a special course of instruction should be 

 provided. This should comprise a course of instruction in the general princi- 

 ples of agriculture, including the rudiments of agricultural chemistry, pant 

 physiology, properties of soils and the nature and uses of crops of local m- 

 portance. In addition to instruction by lectures, special attention shoul be 



