Mr. W. Cook, the well-known chicken breeder, and
originator of the breed named "Orpingtons," of Orpington House, St. Mary
Cray, Kent (since deceased). These lectures created the greatest
interest; the audiences were crowded, at one lecture there being 127
present; and as he visited many farmyards to give advice, and several
farmers bought valuable chickens from him, his visit may be said to have
materially improved the breed of fowls in the neighbourhood.

In May of this year, 1897, it was decided at head-quarters to make a
change in the process of operations. Hitherto instruction in the country
parishes had been provided through the Committee of the Science and Art
School, at Horncastle, but from this date each parish was to have its own
Technical Education Committee, elected annually, with the other parish
officials; and these were to apply direct to the Head Secretary, at
Lincoln, for such instruction as they might think desirable, parishes
uniting for this purpose if they chose to do so. More money than
heretofore was now being expended on the Science and Art School in
Lincoln, and the grants for the country lessons were now greatly reduced.
Of this country instruction no record was henceforth kept at Horncastle,
and no detailed account can therefore be given here; the lessons have
been mainly confined to hedge plashing, ploughing, under-draining, and
such other practical subjects as suited the farmer, or agricultural
labourer.

In conclusion it may be said that although it is yet too early to
prophecy, it would seem that a great future lies before us in the
development of education. Co-ordination of work between (as we have at
Horncastle) the endowed Infant School, the National Schools, Technical
Schools, and the "secondary" Grammar School, with higher-grade colleges,
should furnish a kind of educational ladder, by which the child of the
artizan, or rustic, may rise from the humblest position to the highest,
if he has the ability, and the will, to avail himself of the
opportunities thus placed within his reach. It is hardly too much to say
that the result may well be, that in the keen rivalry of nations, which
characterizes the present age, England should thus be enabled to more
than hold her own in the struggle of industrial life.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE DISPENSARY

May well be said to be the most important charity in the town, not only
from the valuable services which it has, through many years, rend