flotc8, Communications, anb 
1Rcv>iews. 
TECHNICAL TRAINING OF STOCKMEN. 
As a practical farmer I feel that our agricultural labourers and 
stockmen would be more useful did they possess fuller technical 
knowledge of the different matters upon which they are employed. 
They would not only be worth more as workers, but it would then 
be in their power, if not to prolong the lives, at any rate to render 
the existence of many animals of the farm more enjoyable and at 
the same time more useful. 
No one engaged upon the farm can help being interested in the 
livestock with which lie comes in daily contact. Even putting aside 
all feelings of kindness and humanity, there must of necessity arise 
both thought and anxiety about those animals through which is ob- 
tained, in a great measure, the income derived from the soil. Yet 
to my mind it has always appeared that the interest and care 
bestowed upon them is by no means all that can be desired, and I 
have, before this, affirmed that not half the stock in the country are 
managed or cared for as they ought to be. The tenant, ha’vdng the 
largest interest, has also the greatest responsibility, but to carry out 
his part to a successful issue he must be backed by intelligent, care- 
ful servants, who need to be taught that their interest is bound up 
with tlie well-doing of the animals under their charge. Amongst 
tlie members of a farmer’s own family, if one suffers from cold, in- 
digestion, or aches or pains of any kind, he can speak and make his 
complaints known at an early stage, and remedies may be at once 
applied. Not so, however, with his large family out of doors, in the 
stable, tlie cattle-shed, or the sheep-fold. Tlie master by close at- 
tention has to find out their ailments, and lias to Vie ever on the 
watch for symptoms. As, moreover, it is impossible that his eye 
can be on all his stock at once, it is of vital importance that those 
employed by him should be educated and instructed in technical 
matters relating to their respective occupations. 
Take, as a case in jDoint, the Cart Horse. How much depends 
upon his groom ! How essential it is that the groom should recognise 
the importance of, and know the best manner of giving him, a good 
mouth \ of gaining his confidence by kind and gentle usage ; nnd of 
