656 The Education of the Farmer's Son. [nov., 



"certificates of having spent one year at work on a farm," 

 and similar requirements exist in the agricultural colleges of 

 Denmark, the winter schools of Holland and many of the 

 agricultural schools of Prussia. 



The best type of agricultural institution for the lad who 

 has been to a secondary school will vary with the circum- 

 stances of the individual. Farmers' sons should, as a rule, 

 spend the summer months at home, and they are, therefore, 

 likely to benefit most by winter courses given either at col- 

 leges or winter schools ; but town-bred lads who are studying 

 agriculture should attend institutions having a summer term, 

 during which practical agriculture may be studied on the 

 college farm. Even for the sons of farmers, study during 

 the summer term offers advantages which in a good many 

 cases may outweigh the advantages gained by spending the 

 summer months in farming. 



Education after Attending a Primary School. — Two courses 

 are open in the case of those future occupiers of land whose 

 circumstances do not permit of attendance at secondary 

 schools, they may either obtain their agricultural instruc- 

 tion between the ages of fourteen and eighteen in connection 

 with evening continuation schools, or they may do so later, 

 when from seventeen to twenty-three, at winter agriculturaJ 

 schools and classes conducted by special instructors. 



Evening Continuation Schools. — The recommendation that 

 a young farmer should not study agriculture until some years 

 after leaving the primary school does not mean that he is to 

 have no education at all between the ages of fourteen and 

 seventeen, nor does it mean that no reference to agriculture 

 should be made in ordinary evening schools. On the con- 

 trary, it is of the highest importance that there should be 

 good continuation schools in country districts, and that full 

 use should be made in them of any agricultural facts or 

 principles which the teacher may be able to handle effectively 

 and which may be adapted for pupils of the age under 

 instruction. 



The mistake which must not be made is that of supposing 

 that if the circumstances of the lad compel him to begin work 

 at fourteen the only further education he can, or should have, 

 must take the form of technical instruction. While it is the 



