542 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
they are kept steadily at it and are made proficient in every kind of work per- 
formed on a farm, it is a good professional training as far as it goes. The more 
common one — at least as regards the sons of the larger class of farmers — which 
consists of loitering about, without any stated occupation, attending fairs and 
markets, and. probably the race-course and hunting-field, is about the most 
absurd and pernicious that can well be imagined. Such youths are really to 
be pitied, for they are neither inured to bodily labour, nor afforded the benefits 
of a liberal education. It need not surprise any one that such hapless lads 
often prove incompetent for the struggles of life, and have to yield their places 
to more vigorous men who have enjoyed the benefit of bearing the yoke in 
their youth. Unless young men are kept at labour, either of mind or body, 
until continuous exertion during stated hours, confinement to one place, and 
prompt obedience to their superiors, have ceased to be irksome, there is little 
hope of their cither prospering in business or distinguishing themselves in their 
profession. Owing to the altered habits of society there is now less likelihood 
than heretofore of such young persons as we are referring to being subjected to 
that arduous training to bodily labour which was once the universal practice ; 
and hence the necessity for an appropriate course of study to take its place." — 
" It is also common for such youths to be sent to Edinburgh for a winter or 
two to attend a class of agriculture, and perhaps also of chemistry and the 
veterinary college. This is well enough in its way, but yet there is wanting in 
it an adequate guarantee that there is real study — the actual perfonnance of 
daily mental work." — " After enjoying the benefits of such a course of training 
as we have here indicated, young men would be in circumstances to derive real 
advantage from a residence with some experienced practical farmer, or from a 
tour through the best cultivated districts of the country." 
Again, Mi". Morton, in a lecture which he delivered at the Eoyal 
Agricultural College, laid down these three points as essentials to the 
young farmer : — 1st. That he should have practical skill ; 2nd, that 
he should have business tact ; and 3rd, that he should have a liberal 
and scientific education. Mr. Morton showed that, if a man had mere 
practical skill, he was little better than a labourer ; if he had business 
tact, he might not only be a labourer, but become a manager of a farm ; 
but that, without having, in addition to capital, a liberal and scientific 
education, he was not fitted for holding a large farm in the jiresent 
day. In this I thoroughly agree ; but the difficulty is to induce the 
farmer to spare his sons for additional education after they are con- 
sidered to have left school ; and the only way in which I imagine he 
can be encouraged to do so is by having a portion of the expenditure 
on a lad repaid him by his obtaining a scholarship or prizes that will 
partly support him either at some educational establishment or in 
connection with a large farm. Now there is a want of all this, and it 
is one of the reasons why a committee of this Society has been recently 
appointed. But we must remember that the duties of the committee 
are limited to an inquiry into the manner in which the Eoyal Agri- 
cultural Society of England can assist those who are employed in 
obtaining their living from the land ; it cannot take up the whole 
question of the general education of the farmer. Our discussion, 
therefore, has nothing to do with the operations of the committee, 
although, from what I know of its members, I dare say they will 
more or less take the view which I am advocating, and be very glad 
to make themselves acquainted with the opinions of the gentlemen 
now assembled. • 
