Development of Formal Agricultural Education in Canada (Based on the Analysis of Scientific Periodicals of the 19th – Early 20th Centuries)

The article states that one of the world leaders in agricultural sector training is Canada, which has gained a great scientific and practical experience. The paper examines the role of periodicals of the 19th – early 20th centuries, preserved in the Canadian book funds for the establishment and development of formal agricultural education of this country and for the popularization of the scientific information among the general public. The impressive work of the Canadiana project on preservation of periodicals of the given period, launched by Canadian library collections has been emphasized. These periodical materials have been analyzed and an attempt of old agricultural publications classification has been made. The importance of comprehensive informational analysis of the existing periodicals roles for better understanding of the transformations and changes that have occurred in Canadian formal agricultural education has been outlined as well as the need of researching the role of universities in the scientific community of the past and of our time has been stressed. The importance of a detailed study of the saved periodicals for an objective analysis of contemporary formal agricultural education and its role in the society in order to improve the training of agricultural sector specialists in the country according to the best historical examples has been noted as well as the need in the retrospective analysis of higher education development in Canada for further implementation of the results into the national educational system has been indicated.