History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...

SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN
WILTSHIRE
1902-1922. During this period Agricultural Education in Wiltshire consisted
of instruction and demonstrations in the basic skills:-hedge laying, land
drainage, horse ploughing, thatching, milking, poultry, beekeeping etc.
Travelling schools were introduced whereby part-time instructors travelled
from district to district demonstrating on selected farms. "On the farm
training" is an efficient method of teaching and it is interesting to find the
Agricultural Training Board adopting somewhat similar methods in 1976.
A typical example of a travelling school was conducted in butter and
cheesemaking by Mrs Ida Bull, who travelled from farm to farm instructing the
housewives. When the Committee discontinued the travelling schools, Mrs Bull
continued her work on a voluntary basis and. formed the "Wiltshire Association
of Dairy Students" with branches scattered throughout the County. Mrs Bull
was a unique and dynamic personality and devoted the whole of her retired life
to the well-being of the Association Following her death in 1973, the W.A.D.S.
changed the name of the Association to the "Wiltshire Farmers' Club".
There was no systematic theoretical training in Agriculture in the County
except at Dauntseys School, West Lavington, where the subject was included in
the school curriculum. Scholarships were awarded by the Wiltshire County
Council to suitable candidates to attend such courses and in 1976 many
progressive Wiltshire farmers are seen wearing the Old Boys' School tie.
In 1922, Mr R Boutflour was appointed full-time Agricultural Organiser for
Wiltshire with Headquarters at Polebarn House, Trowbridge. He lectured to
large audiences of farmers on Animal Nutrition, with special reference to the
feeding of dairy cows. He advocated less roots and more concentrates
(according to yield) in the cow's daily winter ration. His theory met with great
success, at the same time breaking a long tradition. In 1926, he left Wiltshire
to direct research work on the feeding of livestock for the Ministry of
Agriculture. Later in 1931, he became Principal of the Royal Agricultural
College, Cirencester, and during the War, he served as County Agricultural
Executive Officer for Gloucestershire.
During Mr Boutflour's term of office, several assistants were appointed:-Mr W
T Price in 1924, Mr H Tomlinson in 1926, Mr J F H Thomas and Ralph Whiteman
in 1928. Mr Price succeeded Mr Boutflour as County Agricultural Organiser in
1926.