AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2559, 4 December 1888, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

TO THK KISITOR. Sir,—ln a previous letter I mentioned that the various Governments of Continental Europe were paying preat attention to this important siibjc t, and whilst not only the powers that be in the Old Country, but also the various administration in these colonics, have as it were systematically ignored the importance of agricultural training. Not only have the people on the continent but those residing in the United States been blessed with rulers having exercised foresight in this particular, to their great advantage as seen by large exports of all kinds of agricultural and dairy produce, Denmark aloue exporting many millions of dairy produce per annum. That agricultural education has teen neglected none can deny. In the past we have beard of commercial education, of scientific training and the like, but to bring up our sons, even those to be engaged in farming pursuits was, and even is now, considered by most as "Next to nothing," by ftivint; them any extra education. But as Sir Frederick Brainwell in bis late address before the British Association at the last meeting at Bath clearly showed, when lie took "Next to Nothing" for his text, and from which be clearly showed that it was from the small things of science that great results were achieved. So in agriculture, it is from the hitherto neglected but yet small thing of proper training that we shall be able to compete with these natives who have been working in earnest whilst we have been grumbling at the weather or the hard times? England, last year, voted the magnificent sum of £5000, and talks of creating a Minister of Agriculture, for which purpose Professor Long is said to be the coming man. Comparisons are odious, yet, at the same time, are instructive. Franco has a professor for each county, in which 300 Government experts are working, training the people in iiL'iicultural knowledge, the agricultural vote being £15,000,000, £3,000,000 (francs?) for agricultural schools, £24,000 for the purchase of stock for breeding and instruction purposes. Not only are there Agricultural Colleges in France, but schools throughout the land. By prizes of all kinds—medals, honours and money prizes—are the young encouraged to pursue t'icir studies in agiicnl u c Also a large number of farm schools where lads aio put, paying io per annum. Dairy schools too are very numerous. Germany is to the fore with eleven agricultural colleges, 16 agricultural schools, 43 special schools, and numerous dairy schools as well. Throughout the various states of that empire we find numerous schools established. Each college receives £3000. At Berlin £10,000 with £5000 for practical purposes ; the 16 agricultural schools, £800 each, lower ones receiving 200 guineas each along with other grants, besides schools win re fruit culture is taught, receiving £12,000. In Italy £215,000 per annum is voted, of which £03,000 goes to support agricultural schools and experimental stations, viz., 2 superior schools, 8 experimental stations, 8 schools of fruit culture, 22 schools of practical agriculture, with Government grants of from £350 to £500 each, in addition to local support given, also sums from £14 to £320 paid to 71 institutions connected with agriculture, viz., station, botanical and chemical laboraories and Agricultural Colleges," also aid given to 106 ordinary schools. Hungary, too, is not behind in agricultural schools, etc. Belgium and Holland spend large sums too, the latter grants £44,000 per annum to one College, a.one. The United States has its Agricultural Department, with its Dairy Commission, and pays upon its various schools, etc., £7000 per annum. Sums p-iid by Government for agricultural purposes. Per 1000 Per sq. kilo, inhabitants. of land. Fnincs. Franco ... 113 4(i Pruw a . 411 4S S-ixony ... 200 03 Havana ... 106 21 Wurtcmljcrß 205 ' ll Baden ... 423 1; Austria ... 2110 »=> Italy Hi u Value of land and buildings eight agricultural colleges in the United State?, averaging £90,000 : — Value t> i a «.,,i p , Permanent Annual State. of Brounds, endowment interest. Illinois Ul ,£8o!o00 e C " £6t,000 £5,300 1™ CoioOO 63,000 3.400 lowa 200.000 127.000 l),(K10 Kansas 22 000 72 000 5.700 Michigan 07,000 (is.ooo 4,700 Mississippi 35,000 22.000 1,130 Ohio 200,000 107,000 0,300 Texas 52,000 42,000 2,800 Average 00,000 72,000 5,000 After perusal of the facts and figures above given, for whom I am indebted to the Yorkshire Post, the London Weekly Times, Chamber's Journal, and other sources, it can be hardly said that our agricultural education is far behind the times. Some time since, in speaking to a former Premier of this colony, I brought before him the desirability of technical education, the importance of which he at once acknowledged. "But," replied he'-where is the money to come from." Where else has the money of the people gone ? Nearly three-quarters of it spent by the same Government upon defence, just thrown away at least. Had one tenth of it been spent upon Agvicnltur.il Education it would havebornealittlefruitlthink. But we are slow to learn and only little experience it seems can teach us those lessens which are for some good. Settlkr. Raglan, November 25th, 1888.