Agricultural Education. 
541 
comes in that wo hardly know whether the machinery exists for 
bringing into play all that can be requisite as speedily as the present 
generation requires. That thero is a demand for it, I think there 
can be no doubt ; but how is the demand in this section of the great 
middle-class to be met ? During the period boys arc at school 
general education of a public nature is all that is required. The 
difference between a public and private educational system is this, 
that the public system, being, as it were, public property, lays itself 
open to the approbation or disapprobation of the class requiring it 
for its own benefit ; and at the same time, in connection with 
public education, a certain amount of stimulus is applied in the 
shape either of scholarships, prizes, or some particular mode in which 
honours arc bestowed, giving to the individual receiving them a 
certain status, and, if the examinations be what they ought to be, an 
opportunity of displaying what thero is in him. I think myself that, 
in the case of the children of agriculturists the nature of the educa- 
tion ought to be public, like that of the children of other sections of 
the middle classes, but that something more is also wanted. While 
at college there ought to be some connection between the practical 
working of the laud and the future farmer. And here is one of the 
difficulties with which wo have to contend. Mr. Grey, of Dilston, in 
the course of a speech which he made in the north some time ago, 
said : — 
" The time lias gone by with too many of us to profit by the improved 
education which the present state of society requires and affords ; but allow me 
to remind such of you as have the responsibility of being parents, of the duty 
incumbent upon you to educate your families so as to fit them for taking a 
respectable position in life. It is the best patrimony which you can bestow 
upon them. A liberal and judicious course of education is the foundation of 
future acquirements ; it opeus up the sources of knowledge, and gives vigour 
and opportunity of expansion to any peculiar tendency of intellect which the 
mind is disposed to. Without it no man need expect to keep pace with the 
movement of society, or to make his way in arts, manufactures, or even agri- 
culture — to which some knowledge of chemistry and the natural sciences is 
indispensable." 
Having done with education as connected with agriculture, wo have 
next to consider agricultural education, based upon the broad founda- 
tion of general education which is to be obtained at one of the public 
institutions, of which I hope, through the exertions of Mr. Brereton 
and others, and the example set us in the county of Devon, wo shall 
soon sec many scattered over the country. Mr. Wilson, of Edington 
Mains, the author of ' British Farming,' gives his opinion with regard 
to the rising young farmer in the following terms : — 
" The mere possession of capital docs not cpualify a man for being a fanner, 
nor is there any virtue inherent in a lease to insure his success ; to these must 
be added probity, knowledge of his business, and diligence in prosecuting it. 
These qualifications are the fruits of a good education in the fullest sense of 
that term, and are no more to be looked for without it than good crops without 
good husbandry." — " But the great difficulty at present lies hi finding appro- 
priate occupations for such youths between their fifteenth and twentieth years. 
In many cases sons of farmers are during that period put to farm-labour. If 
VOL. XXV. 2 P 
