Notes on Agricultural Education at Home and Abroad. 39 
Departmental Committee, a sum of 5,000?. was placed at the 
disposal of the Agricultural Department of the Privy Council 
during last year ; and the same sum has been continued to the 
new Board of Agriculture for the purpose of assisting agricultural 
education and research. 
The Government aid, so far as yet distributed, has been 
mainly devoted in Scotland to subsidies in aid of classes for 
training of rural schoolmasters, and in England to fixed or 
moveable dairy schools and lectures, while grants have been 
given also in aid of such experiments as those carried out by the 
Bath and West of England Society or the Norfolk Chamber of 
Agriculture. 
The Committee suggested the establishment of a central 
normal school of agriculture, and of other subsidiary schools, 
under the direction and at the expense of the State. Wisely, 
as it seems to me, the Department has abstained from attempt- 
ing to establish State schools, and has hitherto confined its 
operations to assisting local efforts. I am not so dissatisfied with 
the position of British agriculture, nor so fearful of the com- 
petition of the foreigner, in so far as it arises from his superior 
knowledge of rural affairs, as to be desirous of seeing our 
new Department of Agriculture undertake the business of esta- 
blishing agricultural colleges and schools, and taking out of the 
hands of voluntary associations the education of agriculturists 
and the improvement of agricultural knowledge. 
If there be a real demand for such teaching, I think we have 
resources of our own from which we may obtain it. Cirencester, 
Downton, and Hollesley Bay, are instances of what may be done 
for higher teaching by private effort. Aspatria, under great 
difficulties, has provided successfully for a younger and less 
wealthy class of students. 
At the present moment two schemes are before the Endowed 
Schools Commissioners for the purpose of establishing schools for 
the teaching of the principles of agriculture. One of these 
schemes, which is being promoted by the Mercers' Company, 
will provide for an agricultural school to be placed at West 
Lavington, in the county of Wilts, and for the education of forty 
foundation boys paying for board and education 30?. a year. 
It is also proposed to receive ordinary boarders at a higher rate. 
At this school instruction will be given in — 
(«) Geography and History ; English Composition ; Mathematics, 
including Mechanics, theoretical and applied ; French or Ger- 
man. 
(b) Chemistry, Agricultural Chemistry, Geology, Botany, Animal 
Physiology, Entomology ; Veterinary Medicine and " Surgery ; 
Mensuration, Land-surveying, Book-keeping. 
