AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
Sta,—I read with great interest Mr. John Murray's letter Your readers may be interested to hear of an experiment which has been carried out in a public school of 15o boys (all boarders), not only with the object of providing food in war-time, but also of teaching scientific farming. Many of the boys will inherit estates in Ireland, and many more will probably live in the lonely parts of the Empire, where a knowledge of farming methods may be of great help. During the past four years a school farm has gradually been built um—most of the work being done by the boys, who now till 42 acres—providing vegetables, wheat and oats (which are ground in the college mill). A few carefully selected paid hands are kept to carry on the farm work during the school holidays and to supervise some of the boys' work during term. The farm now has its own T.B. tested dairy herd, and also provides the college with beef, mutton, and pork, and hopes shortly to extend its activities to the production of soft fruit.
Financially the farm pays its own way, and has been able to buy its own equipment out of the sale of its produce, and also to rent arable land near to the college. It was started by a loan from the bank and sells its produce'to the College at current market prices. By courtesy of the Department of Agriculture, a lecturer from the Albert College, Glasnevin, visits the college weekly. One of the assistant masters has full charge of the farm and gives the more advanced " farmers" a course in farm management. They help to plan out the work ahead and also attend sales. Biology and botany are taught. The boys who farm do so during their spare time and also do the full School Certificate Course. The Irish Department of Education, which has shown great sympathy and interest, will next year include agriculture as a subject in its Intermediate and Leaving Certificate Examinations.
In conclusion, those who have watched this experiment agree that its success is due to the fact that the practical work was done before the theoretical was introduced. During the last few years a considerable amount of work has been done _in the reconstruction by the boys of half a mile of road in concrete, cleaning out ditches, cutting hedges and also in planting trees. It is interesting to know that since this work has been done, the standard of education in the school, as judged by the results of the public examinations, has .risen in a very significant way— obviously the boys are much more alert and keen than before.—I Warden of St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin.
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