70 Report of Committee on Agricultural Education. 
collating the results, comparing them with the results of 
similar work conducted in other countries and extracting and 
publishing such facts as may have a direct bearing on the 
practice of agriculture in this country.” There can be little 
doubt if this were done, and done well, the educational value 
of such experimental work would be greatly increased. 
We may now consider the various types of institutions 
providing agricultural instruction. 
Institutions op the Highest Grade. 
The most advanced type of agricultural institution is the 
agricultural department of a university or university college, 
and the next is the agricultural college. The essential 
difference between these two grades is that whereas at the 
latter institution instruction is given only in agriculture and 
allied subjects, at a university or university college, side by side 
with the agricultural department, are departments dealing with 
every branch of education. 
The Committee emphasised the value and importance to 
agriculture of universities and university colleges, and noted 
“ with satisfaction that agriculture has now received recognition 
in all the leading universities in this country,” To those who 
remember the attitude of the universities some thirty years ago 
towards “ utilitarian education,” it must be a matter for 
congratulation that no less than five universities and five 
university colleges sent representatives to explain to the 
Committee their existing or projected agricultural work. 
Particularly pleasing to hear was the evidence respecting 
the agricultural developments brought about during the past 
sixteen years at the University of Cambridge. The agricultural 
department has been fortunate in its benefactors. It has been 
equally fortunate in its staff. Indeed, the importance of the 
results of recent research conducted at Cambridge has been so 
great, and so widely recognised, as to overshadow the very real 
value of the more purely educational work. Still further 
developments are in prospect. When these are effected, the 
great University, many of whose colleges are themselves large 
owners of land, and educate a high proportion of the sons of 
our landed classes, will occupy the first place, not only in 
research, but in the practical training of future land-owners 
and land agents for their very responsible duties. 
The Committee welcomed the prospect of instruction in 
agriculture being provided in the Universities of Manchester 
and Birmingham, and recommended that “ in view of the 
strong support now given to agricultural education by the 
University of Oxford, the State should make an annual grant 
