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EDUCATION. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES. 



By H. W. Potts. 



Part II. 

 Canada. 



Despite the rigorous climate, this Colony may be considered one of the most 

 advanced in so far as agriculture is concerned. No finer example can be instanced 

 to-day of the beneficial results of well-considered State action in the enlargement 

 of a national industry. Twenty years ago agriculture in the Dominion was very 

 much depressed. To-day the out-put of wheat, dairy, and other natural products is 

 marvellous. It is admitted by all the farmers that this is mainly due to timely and 

 wise Governmental action. 



In 1885 Dr. Wm. Saunders was commissioned to visit the agricultural colleges 

 of the United States and Europe, and obtain preliminary information for the 

 Government. An Act of Parliament, based on Dr. Saunders' report, was passed for 

 the establishment of experimental farms and the proper control of agricultural 

 education and efficient organisation. 



The Act has been liberally interpreted, and administered with judicious 

 enterprise. Example and precept are utilized to create responsive vigour in the 

 farmers, the chief aim being to induce them to abandon the old practice of wasteful 

 farming by robbing the land of its fertility without returning an adequate equiva- 

 lent. This is scientifically demonstrated. The results obtained from deep ploughing, 

 clean land, rotation of crops, good seed, and an economic system of manuring are 

 clearly brought home to the farmer's mind. Each experimental farm devotes itself to 

 work out the problems of agriculture for that particular district. Prom this centre 

 a proper distribution of acclimatised seeds and plants is made to the surrounding 

 farmers. More than 100,000 farmers have received free during the past ten years 

 3 lb. sample bags of seeds. Twelve thousand packages of seedling trees, shrubs, and 

 plants, and more than six tons of seeds of hardy trees, have been sent out free. 



Agriculture is taught in the State rural schools, and proper training provided 

 for the teachers. A text-book is published. An examination must be passed by the 

 scholar in agriculture before admission is permitted to the High Schools. The Agricul- 

 tural College at Guelph, Ontario, presided over by Dr. Mills and a highly-trained staff 

 of educational experts, provides training leading from short courses of six months, up 

 to the term needed to qualify for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree of 

 four years. 



In addition special effort is made to organise Farmers' Institutes, for both 

 men and women, Live Stock Associations, and Dairying Associations, all of which 

 are highly educational. At their annual conferences, papers are read, and instruc- 

 tive discussions follow. These are published in pamphlet form and distributed. 



Dr. Saunders states : " The occupation of farming has been elevated in the 

 eyes of the community. It is no longer looked upon as a. sort of drudgery suited to 

 the dull and slow-going, but is now regarded as a suitable field for the higher 

 intelligence of cultivated minds. It is recognised as a calling requiring much skill to 

 conduct it successfully, and as giving ample scope for the exercise of the most active 

 and earnest minds, and one in which information of almost every sort may be turned 

 to practical account." 



