Report on Agricultural Education. 
127 
in France, Germany, Denmark, Holland, and the United 
Kingdom. 
Few persons will be disposed to deny the eminent fitness of 
Mr. Jenkins for the post in question. His previous labours on 
the Agricultural Commission, and the numerous reports which 
at various times, since he became Secretary of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society, he has made for this ' Journal ' on matters con- 
nected with foreign agriculture, together with his linguistic 
attainments and his great industry, marked him out as in every 
respect fitted for this inquiry ; whilst his position in this Society 
has given him great opportunities of acquainting himself with 
the means which have been adopted in this country for 
furthering Agricultural Education. It is no small credit to 
Mr. Jenkins that the separate nominations of Lord Spencer, 
then Lord President of the Council, and Mr. Dent, President of 
the Royal Agricultural Society, both fell on him. 
In December, 1882, Mr. Jenkins's Report was completed, 
and, with its Appendix, forms the major portion of the second 
of the two volumes issued by the Commissioners. 
Now if there is one thing which mere than another the ordinary 
English reader dreads to tackle, it is the ponderous volumes 
issued in such variety by the Government printers for the 
instruction of our legislators, the blue covers and general aspect 
of which are in themselves sufficient to frighten away at first 
sight all but industrious students. The volumes in question 
are for this reason too likely to remain sealed books to the 
majority of agricultural readers, especially as they are, as a rule, 
difficult to obtain except through second-hand booksellers. It 
has therefore been thought desirable that some account should 
be given in this ' Journal ' of such portions of the work in 
question as are likely to prove most interesting to English 
agriculturists, and that at least the opportunity should be given 
ol instituting comparisons of our own and foreign educational 
institutions. Agriculture in this country is yearly becoming 
invested with greater difficulties and responsibilities. If, there- 
fore, anything is to be learned from our neighbours in the 
matter of technical instruction, it is the duty of this Society 
to make its members acquainted with the circumstances under 
which agricultural education is conducted on the Continent ; 
and it is with the feeling that Mr. Jenkins' labours were likely 
to remain partially neglected by agricultural readers, that I have 
undertaken to prepare for the ' Journal ' an epitome of the more 
important points brought before the public in the Report in 
question, and briefly to summarise the conclusions arrived at 
by the Commission. The estimation in which the Report has 
been held, since its publication, both at home and abroad, may 
