220 Farming and Agricultural Training in 
" With reference to the education of children who will afterwards have to 
maintain themselves by manual labour, it is of the first consequence that 
they should be taught to use their hands as well as their heads at an early 
age, or else they will acquire a dislike to physical labour, which will render 
it difficult for them afterwards to acquire it. 
" I also believe that the syllabus of elementary education will quite admit 
of a combination of mental and technical instruction without in any way 
impeding the scholar from passing through a standard of education each year, 
at all events that is found to be the case in this institution, where only a 
portion of time daily is given to mental instruction. Possibly up to 12 years 
of age children might be on the whole-time system, but between 12 and 14, 
the application of the " half-time " system would tend to prepare them far 
better for a useful career in life by accustoming them to manual labour, 
" J. EowLAND Brookes, 
" Superintendent, 
" Middlesex Industrial School, Feltham." 
This school is on such a very large scale, and includes so 
great a variety of industrial training in combination with 
general education, that it is impossible to give any correct idea 
of it without exceeding the limits of this Report. As, however, 
the money value of the produce of the land (22Z. 10s. per acre 
in 1884) exceeds that obtained at any Reformatory or Industrial 
School with which I am acquainted I have preferred to give the 
statement of Farm Accounts for 1884 in extenso. Of course it will 
be borne in mind that Feltham is not only within a short dis- 
tance of London, but that it is on the threshold of some important 
suburbs, which are generally quite as good markets as the 
Metropolis itself. Captain Brookes has assured me that the 
physical and mental debility and the appalling ignorance of 
many of the London boys sent to this school are something 
incredible to an outsider. The first thing to be done is to 
strengthen their muscles and give a tone to their system by 
out-of-door work. This having been accomplished, the future 
industrial training of the children is settled after due con- 
sideration. Notwithstanding this initial difficulty, the education 
in 1884 is reported upon as "solid and individual, and well 
attended to in each class," and the Inspector " had very, good 
reason for satisfaction." Having to do with so many London 
" Street Arabs " and lads of worse character. Captain Brookes 
may be congratulated upon his success, but it is doubtless 
owing to the fact, which the Inspector records, that " the 
organization of the establishment is very complete." 
VI. — Stafford County Cektified Industrial School, 
Weruington, Stoke-on-Trent. 
"The average number of boys is 112. We do not admit them under 
10 years of age, and they are sent until 16 years of age. lu many cases 
