Aug 1, 1900 ] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTUmST. 
79 
irrigation, has been, however, closed for some time, 
bat it seems to have been only a temporary measure, 
for I believe it is now again ready to receive students. 
It was originally intended, I believe, to found two 
more colleges one in the south-eastern and the other 
iu the south-western districts, but this intention 
has not been carried out. The great feature in the 
colleges controlled by the Couucil of Agricultural 
Education in Victoria is that the instrucriou ia 
free, the only charge being for maintenance. It is 
optional with students to remain one or more ses- 
sions at the colleges, but before a student can obtain 
his diploma be must have been iu attendance for 
at least two years, while the maximum term of 
attendance permitted is three years. The course of 
instruction is the same in both colleges, and com- 
prises elementry chemistry, botany and geology, 
some agricultural chemistry and economic entomology, 
advanced iSnglish to the understanding of technical 
expressions, arithmetic, mensuration, surveying, book- 
keeping, practical work on ti e farm, instruction in 
field operations, the use of farm implements and 
machinery, and the management of stock. Very 
special prominence is given to practical work at these 
colleges, and half of the students' time is devoted to 
field work. All stuJenta must be over the age of 
fourteen on admission and each college has accomo- 
dation for forty students. 
A new school of viticulture has recently been es- 
tablished at Rutherglen in the northeastern district 
and is directed by an exoert from the college of 
viticulture at M^uipelier, France. A school of horti- 
culture has also been in operation for many years 
at the Government Horticultural Gardens at B irn- 
ley, near Melbourne. Here the number of students 
are limited to '25, and the term is also restricted to 
one year, the instruction being free. A Government 
scent farm was also carried on for some years to 
give instruction in scent flower farming, but is now 
cloied for the time bBing, as sufficient i. terest was 
not taken in the industry. A small experimental 
tobacco farm has, however, been recently established 
near Wangaratta by the Government tobacco ex- 
pert, who was engaged from the United States 
and for the past two years has been giving ins- 
truction to growers. It is now proposed, I am in- 
formed, to still further extend the scope of agri- 
cultural education by the establishment of a dairy 
and cheese school, and a large sum of money has 
recently been voted for the purpose, so that these 
institutions will probably be established shortly. Like 
the other colonies, Victoria also employs experts to 
give instruction in dairying, fruit growing, viticulture 
tobacco grow ng, and the cultivation of fibre and 
oil-producing plants, and issues bulletins. 
Next I note what has been done ia respect of 
agricultural education in the adjoining colony of 
South Australia. Though this colony extends through 
the continent, and within its boundaiies you find 
tropical, subtropical, and temperate, cultivation, edu- 
cation in agriculture is limited to the southern por- 
tion of the colony. In reply to ray enquiries, the 
Agent-General for the colony, who when in South 
Australia was mainly instrumental in introducing 
the teaching of agriculture into the State schools, 
was good enough to advise me that — 
"(1) Agriculture is taught as a specific subject in 
the elementry state school, in the country. (2) There 
are no farm schools, but several secondary agri- 
cultural schools for lads of 12 or !3 years. (.3) We 
have the Koseworthy Agricuhural College, and one 
high technical school of agriculture. (4) The study 
is encouraged in primary schools, where teachings 
can rise the percentage of their results by teaching 
agriculture and similar subjects." 
The te hnical school of agriculture mentioned was 
opened in 1898 in Adelaide. At this school the 
subjects taught are Englsh literature, composition, 
advanced arithmetic, algebra, plane geometry, men- 
suration and land surveying, mechanical drawing 
agriculture (theoretical and practical) fruit culture,, 
SiUd viticulture. For instruction iu chemistry, physics 
and carpentery, the scholars attend the School of 
Mines. Students from the Teachers' Training College 
also attend this school to get from the master a 
practical insight into the methods of teaching agri- 
culture, so that in due course they might be appointed 
to schools where instruction in agriculture is to form 
an important feature of the work. From the report 
of the South Australian Minister of Education for 
1898, it seems tliat the Board of Inspectors in the 
colony are in favour of the teaching of agriculture 
in the schools. This deserves notice , for a study 
of the reports of the Departments of Education 
in the other colonies will show that a good de«l 
of opposition to the introduction of agricultural 
teaching in these colonies has come from members 
of the Inspectorate. 
Passing next to the technical schools in South 
Australia, their curriculum also ijicludes wool sorting 
and dairy work as subjects of instruction. Turning 
now to purely agricultural education, like the other 
colonies a'leady mentioned, South Australia has an 
Agricultural College, located at Roseworlhy, about 
3.} miles from Adelaide. This college was opened 
iu 1880, and the course of instruction includes prac- 
tical agriculture, chemistry, botany, geology, survey- 
ing, levelling mensuration, book-keeping, entomology, 
and veterinary science, and also viticulture, oeaology, 
fruit culture, and wool sorting. The course is a two 
years' one but students who fail to obtain a diploma 
may remain a third year. The age for admission is 
14, and ail students are reqrired to take part 
in farm work; but only half the time con- 
sidered necessary in the Victorian colleges to be 
devoted to practical farm work is insisted upon at 
Reseworthy. The laboratory and science teaching 
generally is however recognised to be at Roseworthy 
in advance of that at the Victorian institutions. 
Again, like the other colonies, South Australia 
employs experts to give instruction in viticulture, 
horticulture, and dairying, and publishes a journal. 
The last colony on the Australian continent yet 
to be mentioned is Western Australia, the Agent 
General of which advises me that : — 
"(1) Agriniulture ia partially taught in the State 
schools of Western Australia. (2) There are no farm 
schools in the colony. (3; At present no agricultural 
school exists, but the desirablity of establishing such 
a college has been brought before the Government. 
(4) The BJucational Department encourages agri- 
cultural training in the State schools " 
I have been unable, however, to learn in time or 
this paper how agricultural training is encouraged, 
and what methods of teaching agriculture, in the 
State schools of this colony, are employed. 
Coming now to Tasmania, this colony has what 
is termed a "Practical School of Agriculture" at 
Ulverstone, on the north-west coast. This school ia 
under the patronage of the Tasmanian Government 
and baa been aelected by that Gjvernment to afford 
technical instructions in agriculture in the colony, 
and is subsidised also by the Government in order 
that special classes may be held at a low fee open 
to farmers and others in the district. Unlike the 
other Australian agiicultural schools or colleges, it; 
is not a Government institution. The basis or foun- 
dation of school is the Ulverstone Grammar School 
to which first an agricultural side has been added 
for boys, and then a further addition of a distinct 
and separate branch, including a farm, for grown 
up students. Agriculture is not taught in the elemen- 
tary schools of this colony, but theoretical tuition 
in agricultural chemistry is sometimes given in the 
higher gnde schools or colleges, though nothing of 
a very definite nature is taught. Occasionally lecturers 
are engaged to travel through the country and give 
instruction on agricultural subjects. There is also 
what is practically a department of Agriculture, 
which issues publications, and can command some 
scientific advice. 
In New Zealand the circumstances are different, for 
agriculture can be taught ia the elementry schools in 
