540 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
we must remember that there arc three classes connected with the 
hind : the landlord, the labourer, and the occupier. Now the reports 
of different public officers in this country show that the intermediate 
class — that of occupiers— has been sadly neglected. Mr. Bcllairs, one 
of the Inspectors of Schools appointed by the Privy Council, says :— 
" I am afraid that iu my district (that is Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, 
and "Warwickshire), there arc few instances of schools for farmers, small trades- 
men, artisans, and others of that class, and yet it would be difficult to mention 
any description of school that is more important. There is no class of society 
so imperfectly educated, or whose opinions are so crudely formed." 
Mr. Brereton also, speaking of the wants of the same class, says : — 
" The comparative deficiencies of middle-class education in England may be 
attributed to the single fact, that neither in the development during this 
century of the higher system" (that is, the system of public schools, colleges, 
and Universities for the wealthier classes), " nor in the establishment of the 
lower " (which has reference to the State education given to the poorer classes, 
of which, by the way, the large body of occupiers of land, as well as the 
middle classes, are the chief supporters through having to pay the rates), " has 
there as yet been provision made for the large intermediate class who can 
neither aspire to the former nor condescend to the latter. There .arc, indeed, 
many advocates for so extending these two systems as to embrace all the upper 
middle class in the educational system of the gentry, and to absorb the 
remainder in that formed by the help of the State for the labourer. It is also 
still an open question, though lnot likely oug to be so, whether public opinion 
will acquiesce in the permanent establishment of those subsidiary examina- 
tions which the Universities have recently undertaken for the middle class, or 
whether it will adopt the proposal to establish, in connection with the different 
counties, a new educational system with its own public schools, colleges, and 
University." 
The great mass of the middle class are without any means of 
obtaining an education commensurate with their wants. Preferring to 
this, Mr. Brereton continues : — 
" In either case we may hope that a standard will be gradually fixed both 
for general knowledge and for special studies, which will remove the existing 
uncertainty of object and irregularity of method, which are equally injurious 
to the teacher and the taught, to the school and the home." 
Then, alluding particularly to the farmer, he observes :— 
" The effects of such a definite standard upon the English farmer's family 
can hardly be overrated. When once it becomes recognised as the rule, that 
all the sons of the family should complete their education by obtaining a 
degree, the habits of the household would be regulated accordingly ; and the 
mere necessary arrangements for study would open in the seclusion and fre- 
quent leisure of the farmer's home prospects of domestic order and happiness 
hitherto almost unknown. Such an object alone, without reference to the 
means of its attainment, would insure this. For equally the holidays of the 
schoolboy, the vacation of the collegian, or the daily pursuits of the home 
student would have this effect, extending also indirectly to the female members 
of the family." 
Such is the farmer's connection with the large middle class ; and 
the section of that class to which immediate reference is now made is 
the agricultural section, in dealing with which the great difficulty 
