912 



Agricultural Education 



[FEB., 



The University College, Reading, has recently issued the 

 report of a deputation appointed by the Council to visit 

 Canada and the United States with a 



countries. The deputation consisted of Mr. S. Sutton, Mr. 

 E. A. Mansfield, Principal Childs, Professor Keeble, and 

 Mr. Hart Synnot. The report merits the attention of all 

 who are interested in agricultural education in this country. 



The deputation confirmed what many previous observers 

 have stated as to the superior efficiency and organisation of 

 the agricultural colleges in Canada and America. 



Many accounts of these institutions have been published, 

 but some of the outstanding facts will bear repetition. For 

 •example, the single State of Ontario subsidises the Guelph 

 College of Agriculture to the extent of ,£25,000 annually. 

 The material return for this outlay is officially stated to be : — 

 "The application of scientific principles to the practical 

 operations of the farm, and the interchange and dissemina- 

 tion of the results of experiments conducted at the College, 

 and the practical experience of successful farmers, have in- 

 creased the returns from the farm far in excess of the ex- 

 penditure on account thereof. The direct gain in yield in one 

 class of grain alone has more than covered the total cost of 

 agricultural education and experimental work in the Pro- 

 vince." 



In relation to the College buildings, a novel feature is 

 described, but one which distinguishes nearly all the trans- 

 atlantic colleges, a stock-judging pavilion with accommoda- 

 tion for 300 persons. The need for a better knowledge of 

 the points of good stock seems to be generally recognised in 

 Canada and the United States, and experts are employed 

 to demonstrate on the subject in these pavilions. At the 

 Guelph College the staff numbers about fifty, many members 

 being exclusively employed in demonstrating to parties of 

 visitors. One of the chief functions of the College is to be 

 "an aggressive distributor" of the best agricultural ideas 

 and methods, and that this function is gratefully appreciated 

 by farmers is shown by the fact that some 40,000 visitors are 



Agricultural Education 

 in the United States 

 and Canada. 



view to examining and reporting on 

 the systems of agricultural research 

 and education in operation in those 



