182 
Farming and Agricultural Training in 
situations you find for a tomi-boj% he will ultimately, with certain exceptions 
of character and temperament, drift back to the town. My idea, therefore, has 
been that the one thing to be aimed at is to inculcate habits of steady 
industry, and to get rid, if possible, of the boys at such ages as they may be 
able to take up a trade. But I can well conceive the great advantages to a 
country lad who has no hankering after the flesh-pots of a town, and to whom 
the idea of 18s. per week is riches, being benefited by technical instruction in 
the use of engines and tools ; also, perhaps, more by being under a good bailiff 
for 6 hours a-day, seeing how to handle and feed stock, &c. 
" I should say there was no diead that elementary education would suffer 
in the least from its combination with practical work, if human nature were 
non-existent. But the testimony of all bailiffs is, if they get a half-time 
pig- or cow-boy, to keep him when he is useful to them, and it cannot be 
controlled. But I am sure that the work done intellectually by Bradwall boys 
is on an average equal to the worli done by those in other schools in quantity 
and quality. Boy for boy, a lad who works in the open air from 10 a.m. to 
12.30 P.M., and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. will know more at the end of the day 
than one who has been at school. 
" George W. Latham, 
"Manager of the Bradwall Eeformatory School, 
" Sandbach, Cheshire." 
It is unnecessary for me to add anything to Mr. Latham's very- 
full and interesting description of this school, which I visited 
on June 5th. I can, however, testify to the cleanliness of the 
land and the promising appearance of the crops. H.M. 
Inspector has certified to the satisfactory nature of the edu- 
cational condition of the boys, 14 having been in the Sixth 
Standard, 6 in the Fifth, 12 in the Fourth, 15 in the Third, &c. 
" All getting on and doing well." 
III. — Devon and Exeter Reformatory Farm School. 
"There are 30 boys, whose ages on admission are from 11 to 15 or 16; 
on discharge, 15 to 18. Boys are admitted who have been at least ttvice 
convicted of crime, or are known to have been companions of thieves.* About 
85 per cent, of the boys discharged have turned out well, and many more 
have done well after having been re-convicted once. 
" All the inmates are employed in gardening and farming. A little tailoring 
and carpentering are also taught. Boys also work for the neighbouring 
farmers, the manager's aim being to develop the boys' physical powers, 
and to fit them for continuous and hard work. Boys are classed according 
to conduct, and receive : 1st class, 6d. ; 2nd class, 3^. ; and 3rd class, nothing 
per week. Extra money is given at harvest time for working for farmers. 
Being always at garden work, boys do not care for plots well enough to 
work in them over hours, and tlierefore plots are not now given. 
" There are 2J acres of grass, 14 acres of arable land, li acres of trifolium, 
&c., and 7 acres of garden, 'i'hc rent of the land is 351. 10s. per annum. 
The payments to boys, dl. to 12/. lO.s. ; to a labourer, 401. ; and to a bailifl', 23Z. 
The superintendent has the supervision of all the work. One horso is kept, 
and about 30 pigs ; also fowls. 
