xc 
Monthly Council, June 4, 1890. 
The establishment of a Central Normal 
School of Agriculture was, of course, 
a serious matter. If it were well done, 
arid thoroughly good people placed at 
the head of it, and a farm established 
at which different methods of agri- 
culture could be shown to the students, 
and the students could take a prac- 
tical part in it and get practical know- 
ledge, it would bring out some good 
teachers, and it would enable young 
farmers of some education and young 
agents to spend a couple of terms for 
the purpose of improving their theo- 
retical knowledge and adding to the 
practical knowledge that they already 
had. On the other hand, if satisfac- 
tory persons were not placed at the 
head of the school, and if the details 
were not carried out satisfactorily, 
then it would prove a gigantic failure 
and do a great injury to agriculture. 
He did not like the appearance of the 
Society being behindhand, or not 
appearing to take sufficient interest 
in a question which was being con- 
sidered by the new Board of Agricul- 
ture. He therefore moved that the 
Society should agree in the recom- 
mendations of the Joint Committee. 
The Duke of Richmond and 
Gordon, whilst agreeing in the im- 
portance of the first recommenda- 
tion, said he should be sorry to see 
it adopted by the Council on the 
present occasion, or until they had an 
opportunity for its further con- 
sideration. He suggested that the 
further discussion of the recommen- 
dations of the Joint Committee 
should be adjourned until the next 
meeting, and they would possibly 
be able to acertain meanwhile 
whether the Board of Agriculture 
would be likely to take any steps in 
the matter and, if so, what steps. It 
seemed to him a very large question. 
The last recommendation, " that 
ample facilities should be afforded 
by the State to enable children in 
rural elementary schools to acquire 
knowledge of their future work, 
either as agricultural labourers or as 
tenants of small holdings," would be 
remarkably difficult to carry out in all 
the elementary schools of the country. 
He moved that the paragraph in the 
report upon this subject be referred 
back to the Committee for further 
consideration. 
Earl Cathcaet seconded this pro- 
posal, remarking that he thought if 
any mistake were made now it 
would seriously throw them back. 
If they went to the Agricultural 
Department with half- considered re- 
commendations, when they went with 
a really momentous matter they 
would be received as was the cry of 
" wolf." 
Mr. Dent, on the part of the 
Education Committee, agreed that it 
was not satisfactory to discuss hastily 
so important a matter, and though 
it would be inconvenient for many of 
the Committee to attend at a later 
period, it was better that the subject 
should be referred back. He pro- 
posed that a copy of the report of the 
Joint Committee of the Central 
Chamber and the Farmers' Club 
should be sent to each member of the 
Council, who would then be able to 
see upon what grounds the Com- 
mittee based their recommendations. 
The motion that the subject be 
referred back to the Committee was 
then agreed to. 
Dairy. 
The Hon. Cecil T. Parker (Chair- 
man) reported that seventeen entries 
had been received for the Butter- 
making Competition at Plymouth, viz. 
eight in class 1 and nine in class 2. 
The final arrangements for the Dairy 
in the Plymouth showyard had been 
discussed and settled. 
Hunter Stallion. 
The Duke of Richmond and 
Gordon (Chairman) presented the 
report of this Committee as to the 
services of the Society's premium 
stallions during the present season. 
The thanks of the Society were or- 
dered to be sent to the "Royal Com- 
mission on Horse-breeding for a bound 
copy of the reports which the Com- 
mission have presented to Parliament. 
Steward of Forage for Doncaster 
Meeting. 
On the motion of Sir Jacob 
Wilson, seconded by Mr. FRANKISH, 
it was resolved that Mr. Charles Clay, 
of Walton Grange, Wakefield, be ap- 
pointed Steward of Forage for the 
Doncaster Meeting. 
Mr. Clay expressed his sense of the 
