750 Manual Processes of Agriculture, [march, 



It has been a frequent complaint of late years that the old 

 skilled race of agricultural labourers is fast disappearing from 

 the country, and that there are no young 



in their employ to become specially skilled Workmen. Agri- 

 cultural societies and similar bodies have held competitions 

 for farm hands in the various manual processes of agriculture, 

 and such competitions have called forth a keen spirit of emula- 

 tion amongst those who have taken part in them, and have 

 assisted what is probably the truest form of education, that of 

 enabling a person to educate himself by observing the practice 

 and the skill or proficiency of others. Still, there was no doubt 

 that if the old-fashioned pride and skill in manual work was to 

 be revived, something more was needed. This was largely 

 supplied at the passing of the Customs and Excise Act of 1890, 

 which enabled the matter to be carried a step further, by placing 

 it within the power of County Councils to make provision for 

 definite instruction in these various subjects, and thus trying 

 to arouse fresh interest in them. 



Several County Councils from the outset availed themselves 

 of the opportunities thus offered, and organized instruction in 

 ploughing, thatching, hedging and ditching, and other kindred 

 processes. Other counties have from time to time followed their 

 example, and it is not easy to over-estimate the value o^ the 

 work thus done. It tends not only to benefit the labourer 

 directly by increasing his efficiency, but indirectly by giving him 

 a real interest in his daily avocations, thus rendering him less 

 inclined to exchange the benefits of the country for the supposed 

 advantages of town life. The work, too, has not been confined 

 to labourers, and it has been a most encouraging sign of the 

 times to find young farmers constantly taking advantage of the 

 instruction offered, thereby setting the best possible example to 

 the men in their employ. There is good reason to hope there- 

 fore that, at any rate in those counties which have made pro- 

 vision for this class of instruction, there will not in the future 

 be the same ground of complaint that has existed in the past 

 as to the lack of young or middle-aged skilled labourers. 



The Manual 

 Processes 

 of Agriculture. 



men coming on to take their place. This 

 has not been due to any lack, on the part 

 of farmers, of encouragement to the men 



