THE CHIEF GRIEVANCE OF THE FARMERS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The farmer at this moment has many advisers who would advise him to waste breath in urging impracticable claims. Let me suggest to him a cry to which no such objection can be taken. Let him demand cheap, technical education for his sons.
This has been always needed; but in these days of scientific manures, delicate machinery, and extensive raising and fatten- ing of stock, he more than ever needs increased knowledge as to the adaptation of manures to different soils, together with improved mechanical and veterinary training. It will not do for him to continue, as before, to do everything by the rule-of-thumb. I would counsel him, therefore, to ask aid from the State in estab- lishing good and cheap technical schools, with farms attached, in different parts of the country.
Hurstpierrepoint, Denton, &c., are schools within his means, but they do not give the education he requires. Cirencester is much too dear for him. Let him demand a Cirencester sys-
tem at Hurstpierrepoint price, i.e., a good practical training at, say, £30 per annum. It will be money well spent which is laid
out in satisfying such a want. And I submit that the farmer has a right to ask for it, on the following grounds :—Look at the enormous endowments of our Universities, which go in great measure to cheapen education for the rich. Look at the Govern- ment grants to our National Schools, which cheapen educa- tion to the poor. Look at the endowed grammar-schools in. our great towns, which provide the tradesman with an educa- tion suited to his requirements at a very moderate cost. Why, amid this general shower of benefactions, should not some few drops fall upon the British farmer P If he will only make himself sufficiently troublesome, he will get what he wants. Hitherto, his grumbling has been vague and inarticulate. I suggest to him a definite object, and above all, that he should make himself troublesome to parties and
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