64 Report of Committee on Agricultural Education. 
Brief Historical Sketch. 
Although considerable space is devoted in this Report to 
setting out the important stages in the history of the progress 
of agricultural education, it is unnecessary here to review this 
chapter at any length. It is interesting, however, to note that 
among the earliest dates mentioned is 1840, as being the year 
in which the Royal Agricultural Society of England was 
incorporated by Royal Charter. The Committee later acknow- 
ledge the educational work of the Society, which since 1868 
has held examinations in the science and practice of agriculture. 
But to trace the origin of the present provision of agricultural 
instruction one need go back only twenty years. In 1887, a 
Committee, presided over by the late Sir R. H. Paget, inquired 
into “Agricultural and Dairy Schools which might properly 
receive Government grants, and to advise as to the Department 
which should be charged with the administration of such 
grants.” 
At that time the only Agricultural Colleges in England were 
those at Cirencester, Downton, Aspatria, and Hollesley Bay ; 
while the Worleston Dairy School had lately been established 
in Cheshire. 
From the publication of the Paget Report 1 dates the present 
system. In the estimates for the year 1888-89 the Agri- 
cultural Department of the Privy Council were provided 
with a sum of 5,000Z. for giving effect to such of the 
recommendations of the Committee as might be adopted by 
the Government. 
This was the first sum set apart by Parliament for 
the promotion of definite agricultural education. In 1890, 
the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act was passed 
under which the Residue Grant provided County Councils 
with a source of income distinctly applicable to agricultural 
education. 
Readers of this Journal will be familiar with the methods 
by which these two authorities — the Privy Council and 
subsequently the Board of Agriculture, on the one hand, and 
the County Councils on the other — have increased the provision 
of agricultural education. Many counties from the first 
appointed itinerant instructors, who, by means of lectures, 
demonstrations, and personal advice have been the real 
pioneers of subsequent work. It is important to re- 
member that such work has until within the last two or 
three years been carried out entirely at the expense of the 
counties without any financial assistance whatever from any 
Government Department. The work has, however, been 
1 C.— 5285 and C.— 5313. 
