190 
Farming and Agricultural Training in 
Standard One. Still, what the boys learn, they appear to learn 
thoroughly. 
VIII. — Liverpool Reformatory Farm School. 
" The average number of hoys, is 135 ; their average age on entering is 
13 years, and on leaving, 17 j^ears old. The majority have lieen previously 
convicted for theft — some several times. According to the last report, 79 per 
cent, of those discharged were doing well. Farm and garden operations are the 
sole occupations of about one-third of the boys. Marks are given for their 
work, and remuneration accordingly. Garden plots were once given to the 
boys, but the result was not satisfactory. 
" The land consists of 5 acres of permanent grass and meadow, 15 acres of 
arable land, and 8 acres of garden land ; the rent of all the land being at the 
rate of Zl. per acre. The payments for labour to the imnates are about 10s. 
per week, the labourers' wages are lAl. per annum, and the bailiff gets 70?. 
per annum. The rotation of cropping consists in the arable and garden land 
being interchanged constantly. The live-stock consists of 1 horse, 5 cows, 
and 12 pigs. Cows and calves sold off the farm last year (1884) realised 
42Z. 19s. 4cZ., and pigs were supplied to the school to the value of 63?. lis. M. 
The farm-buildings consist of barn, stable, shippon, piggeries, sheds for stack 
and carts, and a corn-mill (water). 
" Farm-labour being a healthy out-door occupation, it is not without a cor- 
responding influence on the mind. As nearly all oiur bo3-s are sent from Liver- 
150o!, they make their way back when free of the school. Some are licenced 
to live with the farmers ; but when their time has run out their friends 
entice them back to Liverpool. Many are engaged by the day to farmers in 
the neighbourhood at certain seasons. One great advantage (and a most 
important one) which farm and garden work has over other emj^loyments — 
such as joinery — the material worked upon is not lost in the working. It is 
economical employment for juveniles. 
" The receipts from the farm in 1884 and 1885 were : — 
1884. 1885. 
£, s. d. £ s. d. 
Vegetables (potatoes, &c.) .. .. 107 18 8 .... 137 10 9 
Live-stock and wheat 81 9 4 59 3^ 0 
For supplies to School : — 
Vegetables, &c 5G 4 0 .... 62 11 0 
Milk, butter, &c 112 10 11 99 8 10 
Meat and horse-hire and boys .. 128 16 9 .... 176 13 1 
Total ,. £486 19 8 £535 6 8 
" You are aware that Reformatories and Elementary Schools are under dif- 
ferent Departments ; the management differs, and the object aimed at is, I take 
it, hardly the same ; lleformatories ])artakc of a penal character. Here, when 
Board scholars arc in bed the Reformatory boys are in school. When Board 
scholars are in school the Reformatory boys arc at work. The time given to 
Elementary Education in Reformatories is about three-fifths of that iu the 
Board Schools. Can they fairly be compared with each other? 
" My impression is (an ojiinion lield by the Kev. Sydney Turner, the first 
Inspector of lleformatories) that the children of labourers in the rural districts 
would greatly gain if industrial work, such as farm and garden and rural 
carpentry work, could be combined with elementary education. Such an 
education and training would fit lads for the Colonies and for home work 
better than elementary education alone. In illustration of this opinion, I 
