66 Report of Committee on Agricultural Education. 
The Committee recorded with pleasure that, whereas in 
1887 there were only some four or five institutions engaged 
in providing courses of instruction in agriculture, they had 
heard evidence from at least twenty-four institutions actively 
engaged at the present time in providing higher agricultural 
instruction. During the twenty years, therefore, which have 
elapsed since the Paget Committee made its Report, the whole 
aspect of agricultural education in the country has changed 
and the foundations of a national system have been laid. 
Attitude of Agriculturists towards Agricultural 
Education. 
By their terms of reference the Committee were to 
consider “the practical results” obtained, and a chapter 
dealing with this important question is placed in the forefront 
of their Report. “ The evidence shows in an unmistakable 
manner that the attitude of farmers on the subject has 
undergone, or is undergoing, a change.” It will be obvious 
to every one who studies the Report that the standard by 
which every class or system of instruction was judged was 
that of “ results obtained.” “ However useful,” says the 
Report, “ agriculture may be as a subject of instruction in 
schools and colleges, it is obvious that unless the farmer 
recognises the value of scientific knowledge to himself, as of 
assistance in the management of his land or of his stock, the 
nation is not likely to derive much direct benefit from 
expenditure upon technical education in agriculture.” That 
farmers in this country have begun to recognise the value of 
scientific knowledge to themselves was acknowledged by many 
farmers and land agents. The fact that opposite opinions 
were expressed by others coming, for the most part, from parts 
of the country affording few or no opportunities for coming 
into personal contact with agricultural teachers of the first rank, 
seems to me to localise, not to negative, this favourable 
testimony. 
Before considering further the appreciation shown in 
Britain of existing facilities for agricultural instruction, it 
will be advisable to summarise that part of the Report dealing 
with the attitude of agriculturists in other countries. 
Comparison with Other Countries. 
No branch of the inquiry was so interesting, and no section 
of the Report will so well repay careful study, as that devoted 
to agricultural education in other countries. The countries 
especially mentioned are those from which it was considered 
that Britain had something to learn. They were Denmark, 
Ireland, Germany, Holland, and the United States of America. 
