TecKnidal Education in AgricuthifS. l09 
that have been previously referred to, but for instruction in such 
important matters as practical dairpng, including butter and 
cheese making. As already intimated, the County Councils 
have something to look to as a type, or guide ; but it will, no 
doubt, be prudent to hasten slowly, and not to adopt any scheme 
until it has been well threshed out. 
The State axd Agricultural Education. 
A subject of first-class importance is the relation of the State 
itself to these schemes of agricultural education. With regard 
to the Board of Agriculture, it is necessary to remember that it 
has only recently been called into existence. In the Act by 
which the Board was estabUshed occurs the following clause : — 
The Board of Agriculture shall also undertake the collection and pre- 
paration of statistics relating to agriculture ajid forestry, and may also 
undertake the inspection of, and reporting on, any schools which are not 
public elementary schools, and in which technical instruction, practical or 
scientific, is given in any matter connected with agriculture or forestry, and 
the aiding of any school which admits such inspection and in the judgment 
of the Board is qualified to receive such aid, and the aiding of any system 
of lectures or instruction connected with agriculture or forestry, and the in- 
spection of and reporting on any examinations in agriculture or forestry. 
From this it is apparent that the functions of the Board, with 
reference to any kind whatever of agricultural education, are of 
a very extensive nature. The Board may even go so far as to 
assist such education, which means to furnish funds. But the 
Board has hitherto had only 5,000?. per annum at its command for 
this purpose. If the Board is to do more work in this direction, 
Parliament must be asked to sanction the grant of a much larger 
sum of money to be placed at the disposal of tlie Board. ^ More- 
over, the granting of a yearly sum to the Board of Agriculture must 
no longer be a matter of uncertainty. It should be a recognised 
regular occurrence. It is too much to expect those who are 
managing institutions to raise large sums of money by means 
of local subscriptions, while each year the Board of Agriculture, 
if it makes a grant, is compelled to say that it is only a tem- 
porary one, and that no claim for its continuance can be based 
thereon. 
It is also specially to be noted that the Board has the power 
of inspecting and reporting upon every kind of agricultural 
education in this country. Any body or corporation then, 
including County Councils, should be required, before spending 
' In the Estimates for 1891-2, a sum of S.OOOZ. has been set down for the 
purpose indicated. 
