U2 
Bwpplement to the Trapical Agriculturist'' [Aug 1, 1900, 
Tbete are some, however, who still incline 
towards the belief that it is the black mustard 
plant {Sinapis nigra) that is referred to in 
Scripture, pointing to the fact that this herb 
is found in the holy land growing as high as a 
horse and his rider. The following extract sup- 
ports this view : 
Professor Hackett tells us that crossing the 
plain of Akka, in Palestine, he saw before liiin 
a little grove of trees. On coming near they 
proved to be a grove of mustard plants. Some 
of the trees were full nine feet high, with a 
trunk two or three feet in circumference, throw- 
ing out branches on every side. He wandered 
whether they were strong enough for the birds 
to " lodge in the branches thereof." Just then a 
bird stopped in its flight, alighted on one of the 
limbs, which hardly moved beneath the weight, 
and began to warble forth a strain of sweet music. 
His " doubts were charmed away," the " least of 
the seeds" had actually grown into a substantial 
tree." 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
1. Agricultural education, both theoretical and 
practical, should be entirely in the hands of the 
Department of Public Instruction. An Agri- 
cultural Department should have its own 
work, in assisting the agriculturist with necessary 
advise; the scientific Botanical department will 
undertake investigations and experiments and 
work on purely scientific lines. Where the three 
branches are separated more work and much 
better work will naturally result. In India and 
elsewhere, the Agricultural Department under- 
take general work in assisting the cultivator, 
the Botanical department carries on investiga- 
tions, and the Educational Department under- 
take instruction. 
2. Much benefit would arise by the establish- 
ment of a central Agricultural School on a ver- 
nacular basis as suggested by Mr. Elliott in his 
paper. This sshooi should be a thoroughly 
equipped one, and instructions should be 
given there on all branches of science &c. 
allied to agriculture. 
3. The course of studies in the school should 
comprise three branches : — 
{a.) General education. 
(6.) Sciences, bearing on agriculture. 
(c.) Practical training. 
4. As suggested by Mr. Elliott all the train- 
ing, lodging and board should be provided free. 
Boys admitted to the school should be drawn 
from among t'le following : — 
(rt.) For training as certificated teachers for 
vernacular schools, the present training 
schools to be done away with. 
{b.) For training such students as are 
nominated by Government Agents. 
(e.) And a limited number who seek ad- 
mission on their own account. 
5. All students for admission should be 
between the ages of 15 and 18, should have 
passed the VII. Standard Government Examina- 
tion, or should pass an Entrance test. 
6. To start with, there should be aboa 
admissions for training as teachers under the 
sime conditions under which training students 
are now admitted. 
Fifteen students should be nominated by Go- 
vernment Agents. Their selection should be en- 
tirely left in the hands of the revenue officers 
without imposing any conditions whatever, except 
tlioKe of age and preliminary educational quali- 
fication. 
There are many young men in tlie agri- 
cultural villages who aspire to become the 
headman of the village, and who are wholly 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Very often they 
are the sons of the older headmen, and they 
succeed to the place on the retirement of their 
fathers. These young men will without hesita- 
tion offer them.selves as to be trained at the 
school, were the revenue officers to nominate 
them for headmanship conditionally. 
Five students should be admitted annually 
after a competitive examination. These, when 
trained, will be available for service under 
landed proprietors, or as overseers of experi- 
mental gardens which Governmeut Agents (as an 
Agricultural Deparlmem) will establish. 
7. The course of studies ac the Agricul- 
tural School should extend over at least two 
a id a half years. Each year should be divided 
nto two terms, as the present depurtmentali 
holidays will not suit an agricultural clas.s, 
which should be expected to be in training at 
sowing and harvesting seasons. Of the five 
terms thus available, more than one term or 
six months should be devoted to practical work. 
8. The curriculum of general education should 
be of the same standard as that of the 
training schools. 
The teaching of science should always consist of 
an equal number of practical lessons and 
lectures on eacli subject : the following subjects 
among others should be taken up : — 
{a.) Agricultural 
Science 36 lessons each term. 
{h.) Botany 36 ,, whole course, 
(r.) Chemistry 36 ,, ,, „ 
{d.) Physiology 36 „ 
• .) Sanitation 36 ,, ,, 
(/.) Veterinary .36 „ 
(^g. ) 1st aid (medical) 25 ,, „ ,, 
(h.) Agricultural 
law 25 „ 
(i.) Drawing 36 ,, each term. 
{j.) Mensuration 36 ,, whole course. 
Practical Instruction, 
(«.) Field. 
{b.) Travelling, 
(c.) Workshop. 
There should be land worked in connec- 
tion with the school of about fifty acres, 
say somewhere in the Kalutara district. This land 
should be used not so much as an experimen- 
tal or a model farm, but primarily as a " work- 
shop " to familiarise the students with the various 
operations of cultivation, harvesting, &c., draw- 
ing, levelling, irrigation, ploiigliing, roadmaking, 
lining, holing, and numerous other practical details 
of agricultural work which should be practised 
