212 Farming and Agricultural Training in 
to be dealt with, namely, the condition of the boys on their 
admission. Reformatory boys have all been convicted, gene- 
rally twice, of grave offences, and many of them are hardened 
criminals when admitted into the schools ; they are also for the 
most part as ignorant of what is termed book-learning as a 
block of wood. Most of the boys sent to Industrial Schools are 
on the verge of crime, if not actually criminals of a minor 
stamp ; but at this school no boys are admitted who are not 
"destitute from misfortune." With boys of a higher moral 
order and some elementary book-knowledge, work of a higher 
class can be done ; therefore this farm, situated on the verge of 
a fairly populous suburb of London, can be cultivated so as to 
produce articles, such as milk and butter, which are always in 
demand. The result is that in the year ending December 31st, 
1884, the total value of the farm-produce sold and of that sup- 
plied to the school amounted to no less than 21Z. 7s. hd. per acre 
— a result which is surpassed only by the Feltham Industrial 
School. I can testify from personal knowledge that the most 
is made of the circumstances under which the school is placed, 
and to show how the head-master (Mr. Bowden) keeps abreast 
of the times, it is sufficient to remark that a silo has been two 
seasons in operation. 
In conjunction with this high agricultural result, the Report 
by Colonel Inglis, on the educational state in 1884, is worth 
quoting verbatim: — "In few schools are greater pains taken 
with the boys than in this, and the results were very satisfactory. 
The boys entered into the spirit of the place and exerted them- 
selves to do justice to their instructors : 10 in Seventh Standard ; 
a very superior set of boys, well instructed and informed, and 
intelligent enough for any position : 12 in Sixth Standard; a 
well-instructed class, and of superior intelligence to that gene- 
rally met with : 17 in Fifth Standard ; very fair results ; a few 
failures in dictation and arithmetic : 27 in Fourth Standard ; 
an intelligent class, a few failures, 8 rather weak in arithmetic : 
10 in Third Standard, and 10 in Standard Two ; all promising 
well and pushing on. A fine intelligent school. Gootl pro- 
ficiency. Much interest in the work carried on and excellent 
order." To this I may add that I have looked through the 
agricultural note-books of some of the boys, and have been sur- 
prised at the intelligence and knowledge which their contents 
displayed ; and it is gratifying to add that Mr. Bowden feels 
that he and his most advanced pupils are strong enough for the 
commencement of a system of preparation for the South Ken- 
sington Examinations in the Principles of Agriculture. 
