the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland having undertaken, by the sanction of a special general meeting on the 12th April 1848, to conduct the chemical department of agriculture under its own direction and control.

525. During its existence, the Agricultural Chemistry Association has laboured very assiduously in its vocation. It has made elaborate analyses of plants, especially of the oat and potato,—of numerous sorts of grasses-of clays-of manures-of the refuse of manufactories, and of many other substances, consisting altogether of considerably above 2000 analyses; and all these have been ably and correctly conducted by Professor Johnston.

526. Besides undertaking the chemical department, the Highland and Agricultural Society propose to issue diplomas or degrees to young men whose aim it is to become the managers of farms and estates, and who have acquired a knowledge of practical agriculture, and have also followed such a course of education at any institution or institutions which teach the branches of science having more immediate relation to agriculture, and who have undergone a searching examination by a competent board of persons appointed for the purpose.

527. This will form a new feature, and give a fresh stimulus to the agricultural education of Scotland, and cannot fail to imbue the young agriculturists of Scotland with enlightened ideas, and elevate their character much more than any course of education they can just now pursue.

528. In enumerating the means of obtaining knowledge befitting the agricultural student, I must mention the Veterinary Colleges. Their great object is to teach the veterinary science, in which the anatomical structure of all the domesticated quadrupeds-horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, and poultry-the diseases to which they are subject, and the remedies proper to be applied for their removal, are investigated and demonstrated; in order that, by their means, enlightened practitioners of liberal education, whose whole study has been devoted to the veterinary art in all its branches, may be gradually

dispersed over all the kingdom. The Veterinary College of Edinburgh had its origin in 1818, in the personal exertions of the present Professor Dick, who, after five years of unrequited labour, obtained the patronage of, and a small endowment from the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 1823. Since then his exertions and success have been equally extraordinary, not fewer than from seventy to one hundred pupils attending the college every session, of whom fully twenty every year, after two years' study of practical anatomy, pharmacy, and chemistry become candidates for diplomas to practise as veterinary surgeons. Their qualifications are judged of by examination by eminent medical and zootric practitioners. At the request of the Highland and Agricultural Society, permission has been obtained for the graduates to enter as veterinary surgeons into her Majesty's cavalry regiments, as well as those of the Honourable East India Company.

529. Some suspicious attempts have lately been made by the Veterinary College of London to obtain an uncalled-for control over the veterinary college in Edinburgh; but I hope the Highland and Agricultural Society will retain the management of their own school in their own hands. Of all institutions this college has given less cause for interference than any other; and there is no man who has elevated the character of a profession, by dint of professional ability, in so short a time and to so high a position, as Professor Dick has done that of veterinary science in Scotland. By his prelections and demonstrations, a number of young men from every quarter of the globe are annually qualified to practise the veterinary art. He is assisted by competent lecturers in chemistry, pharmacy, and the practice of physic.

530. The Veterinary College of London was instituted in 1791, according to the plan of Mr Sain Bel, who was appointed the first professor. Parliamentary grants have been afforded at times to aid this institution, when its finances rendered such assistance necessary. It is supported by subscription. Every subscriber of the sum of £21 is a member of the society for life. Subscribers of two guineas annually are members for one year, and are equally

entitled to the benefits of the institution. A subscriber has the privilege of having his horses admitted into the infirmary, to be treated, under all circumstances of disease, at 3s. 6d. per night, including keep, medicines, or operations of whatever nature that may be necessary; likewise of bringing his horses to the college for the advice of the professor gratis, in cases where he may prefer the treatment of them at home.*

531. In regard to attending lectures on agriculture and veterinary science, I should say, from my own experience, that more benefit will be derived from attending them after having acquired a practical knowledge of husbandry, and the treatment of live stock, than before; because most of the operations of farming cannot be understood unless described where they are performed.

532. Other means of obtaining a scientific education in connexion with agriculture exist in the kingdom. The The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, founded in 1845, admits both in and out students on the nomination of proprietors. The college fee is £50 a-year for resident, and £30 a-year for non-resident students, and the college course extends over two years. The college is situate in the middle of a farm of 400 acres, where an improved system of tillage, consistent with the purposes of the college, is carried out. In addition to practical agriculture, the various sciences connected with it-chemistry, botany, geology, natural history, natural philosophy, surveying, &c., are taught by resident professors. A well appointed laboratory, conducted upon the Giessen system, gives every facility for chemical manipulation.

533. The Agricultural Training School for agriculture and civil engineering was established at Hoddesden, Hertfordshire, a few years ago. An extensive philosophical apparatus, library, museum, laboratory, and a farm, are attached to the school; and the charge for board, lodging, lectures, laboratory, &c., is so arranged by the committee of management as to include every expense, except for washing

and books, at 25 guineas the term, the school session being divided into two terms. The course of education embraces the classics, mathematics, mechanics, physics, chemistry, botany, mineralogy, geology, practical land-surveying and levelling, drawing, book-keeping, the French and German languages, practical agriculture, and lectures on the breeds, management, and diseases of cattle.

534. Dr Daubeny holds the agricultural chair in one of the colleges of Oxford University.

535. An agricultural seminary has existed at Templemoyle, in the county of Londonderry, for some years. It originated with the members of the North-west of Ireland Farming Society, and in it the sons of farmers and tradesmen are taught agriculture. "The formation of this establishment has caused its founders an expenditure of above £4000, of which about £3000 were raised at its commencement by shares of £25 each, taken by the noblemen, gentlemen, and members of the North-west Society. The Grocers' Company of London, on whose estate it is situated, have been most liberal in their assistance, and have earned a just reward in the improvement of their property, by the valuable example the farm of Templemoyle presents to their tenantry. sending a pupil to Templemoyle, it is necessary to have a nomination from one of the shareholders, or from a subscriber of £2 annually. The annual payment for pupils is £10, and for this trifling sum they are found in board, lodging, and washing, and are educated so as to fit them for fit them for land-stewards, directing agents, practical farmers, schoolmasters, and clerks. From fifteen to seventeen is the age best suited to entrance at Templemoyle, as three years are quite sufficient to qualify a student possessed of ordinary talents, and a knowledge of the rudiments of reading and writing, to occupy any of the above situations." t

In

536. On the Continent are several institutions for the instruction of young men in agriculture, among which is the farfamed one at Hofwyl, canton of Berne,

Switzerland, founded by the late Fellenberg. "This establishment is not intended so much for a school of agriculture, as that of education and moral discipline. All the pupils are obliged to remain nine years, at least until they attain the age of twentyone, during which time they undergo a strict moral discipline, such as the inculcation of habits of industry, frugality, veracity, docility, and mutual kindness, by means of good example rather than precepts, and chiefly by the absence of all bad example. The pupils are divided into the higher and lower orders, among the former of whom may be found members of the richest families in Germany, Russia, and Italy. For these the course of study is divided into three periods of three years each. In the first, they study Greek, Grecian history, and the knowledge of animals, plants, and minerals; in the second, Latin, Roman history, and the geography of the Roman world; and in the third, modern languages and literature, modern history to the last century, geography, the physical sciences, and chemistry. During the whole nine years they apply themselves to mathematics, drawing, music, and gymnastic exercises. pupils of the canton of Berne only pay 45 louis each, and do not cost their parents above 100 louis or 120 louis a-year. Strangers pay 125 louis, including board, clothing, washing, and masters.

The

"The pupils of the lower orders are divided into three classes, according to their age and strength. The first get a lesson of half an hour in the morning, then breakfast, and afterwards go to the farm to work. They return at noon. Dinner takes them half an hour, and after another lesson of one hour, they go again to work on the farm until six in the evening. This is their summer occupation; and in winter they plait straw for chairs, make baskets, saw logs and split them, thrash and winnow corn, grind colours, knit stockings: for all of which different sorts of labour an adequate salary is credited to each boy's class, until they are ready to leave the establishment. Such as have a turn for any of the trades in demand at Hofwyl-wheelwright, carpenter, smith, tailor, or shoemaker-are allowed to apply to them. Thus the

labour of the field, their various sports, their lessons, their choral songs, and necessary rest, fill the whole circle of the twenty-four hours; and, judging from their open, cheerful, contented countenances, nothing seems wanting to their happiness. Hofwyl, in short, is a great whole, where one hundred and twenty, or one hundred and thirty pupils, more than fifty masters and professors, as many servants, and a number of day-labourers, six or eight families of artificers and tradesmen-altogether about three hundred persons-find a plentiful, and in many respects a luxurious subsistence, exclusive of education, out of a produce of one hundred and seventy* acres; and a money income of £6000 or £7000, reduced more than half by salaries, affords a very considerable surplus to lay out in additional buildings."

537. It seems that, since 1807, two convents-one in the canton of Fribourg, and the other in that of Thurgovie-have formed establishments analogous to those of M. de Fellenberg.t

538. An institution for teaching agriculture exists at Möeglin, near Frankfort on the Oder, under the direction of the celebrated M. Von Thäer. There are three professors besides himself— one for mathematics, chemistry, and geology; one for veterinary knowledge; and a third for botany, and the use of the different vegetable productions in the materia medica, as well as for entomology. Besides these, an experienced agriculturist is engaged, whose office it is to point out to the pupils the mode of applying the sciences to the practical business of husbandry -a person difficult to be found in this country. The course commences in September, the best season in my opinion for commencing the learning of agriculture. During the winter months the time is occupied in mathematics, and in summer the geometrical knowledge is practically applied to the measurement of land, timber, buildings, and other objects. Much attention is paid to the analysation of soils. There is a large botanic garden, with a museum containing models of implements of husbandry. The various implements

used on the farm are made by the smiths, wheelwrights, and carpenters residing round the institution-their workshops being open to the pupils. As the sum paid by each pupil is 400 rix-dollars annually, nearly £60 sterling, and they provide their own beds and breakfasts, none but youths of good fortune can attend at Möeglin. Each has a separate apartment. They are from twenty to twenty-four years of age, generally well behaved young men ; and their conduct to each other, and to the professors, is polite even to punctilio. The estate of Möeglin consists of twelve hundred English acres.

539. "A number of men distinguished for their learning, and zeal for the prosperity of France, and convinced of the utility of teaching agriculture, formed an association of the nature of a joint-stock company, with 500 shares of 1200 francs each, forming a capital of 600,000 francs (£25,000.) The first half of this sum was devoted to the advancement of superior culture, and the second half to the establishment of two schools-one for pupils who, having received a good education, wish to learn the theory and the application of agriculture, and of the various arts to which it is applicable; and the other for children without fortune, destined to become labourers, instructed as good ploughmen, gardeners, and shepherds, worthy of having confidence placed in them." This society began its labours in 1826 by purchasing the domain of Grignon, near Versailles, in the valley of Gally, in the commune of Thiverval, and appointed manager M. Bella, a military officer who had gained much agricultural information from M. Thäer, during two years' sojourn with his corps at Celle. Grignon was bought in the name of Charles X., who attached it to his domain, and gave the society the title of the Royal Agricultural Society, for a period of forty years. The statutes of the society were approved of by royal ordinance on the 23d May 1827, and a council of administration was named from the list of shareholders, consisting of a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and directors. The domain, which occu

pies the bottom and the two sides of the valley, is divided into two principal parts: the one is composed of a park of 290 hectares (387 acres,) enclosed with a stone wall, containing the mansion-house and its dependencies, the piece of water, the trees, the gardens, and the land appropriated to the farm; the other, called the outer farm, is composed of 176 hectares (234 acres,) of unenclosed land, to the south of the park. The course of education at Grignon is divided into theoretical and practical - the course to continue for two years. In the first year to be taught mathematics, topography, physics, chemistry, botany and botanical physiology, veterinary science, the principles of culture, the principles of rural economy applied to the employment of capital, and the interior administration of farms. The second year to comprehend the principles of culture in the special application to the art of producing and using products; the mathematics applied to mechanics, hydraulics, and astronomy; physics and chemistry applied to the analysis of various objects; mineralogy and geology applied to agriculture; gardening, rural architecture, legislation in reference to rural properties, and the principles of health as applicable both to man and beast. There are two classes of pupils, free and internal. Any one may be admitted a free pupil that has not attained twenty years of age, and every free pupil to have a private chamber. The pupils of the interior must be at least fifteen years of age. The fee of the free pupils is 1500 francs, about £60 a-year; that of the pupils of the interior 1300 francs. They are lodged in the dormitories in box-beds; those who desire private apartments pay 300 francs more, exclusive of furniture, which is at the cost of the pupils.†

540. It appears to me, from the best consideration I have given to the manner in which agriculture is taught at all these schools, that as means of imparting practical knowledge to pupils, they are inferior to the mode usually adopted in this country, of boarding with farmers. In reference to the results of the education obtained at Möeglin, Mr Jacob says-" It appeared to

541. It seems to be a favourite notion with some writers on agriculture, that one of the best institutions in which for young men to learn farming is an experimental farm; and they go the length of recommending all the field operations and experiments to be conducted by the pupils. They are nearly unanimous in conceiving that 200 acres, or less, would be a large enough extent for an experimental farm; and that on such a farm 100 pupils could be trained to become farmers, stewards, and ploughmen. A very slight acquaintance with an experimental farm will serve to show how unsuitable a place it is for learning farming. The sole object of an experimental farm is, to become acquainted with the best properties of plants and animals by experiment, and to ascertain whether or not those objects are worthy of being introduced into an ordinary farm. It is, therefore, obviously needless to follow the ordinary modes of cultivating the ordinary plants, and of rearing the ordinary animals on an experimental farm. Either new plants, and other modes than the ordinary ones, should be tried on an experimental farm, or, if ordinary modes are adopted, it is no experimental farm at all. In witnessing new or unusual modes of culture, the pupil would learn nothing of ordinary farming. Extraordinary modes of cultivation, which are necessarily attended with the risk of failure, only serve to impress the mind of a pupil with experimental schemes, instead of instructing him with the most approved mode of cultivation. To confound the mind of a beginner thus, would do it a lasting injury. Were a pupil, trained on an ordinary farm, to have opportunities of witnessing varieties of experiments on an experimental

one, he might benefit by the numerous hints and suggestions he would receive; and, on the other hand, were an experimental farm wrought by inexperienced pupils it would be injured. So far from pupils being able to conduct experiments, the most experienced cultivators are baffled by unforeseen difficulties; and were it known that the experiments on such a farm were conducted by pupils, their results would inspire no confidence in farmers.

542. Model farms.-Model farms have been recommended to be established with a view to promote the teaching of practical agriculture. I do not comprehend

what such a model farm is-for a farm which is laboured by pupils can show a model of farming to no one; and any farming practised by a body of men having the management of a school, will be greatly eclipsed by that of many a single farmer, and it, therefore, in justice to farmers, cannot be recommended as a model. Schools established for teaching agriculture to young men, or boys and girls, should have attached to them what may be termed instructive, not model farms. There is much meaning in an appropriate name. Thorough draining, for example, indicates any system of draining which renders the land thoroughly dry in all circumstances; whereas the term furrow, frequent, parallel, shallow, or deep draining, though intended to convey the same idea, only conveys the idea of the specific mode of draining implied in the term.

ON THE EVILS ATTENDING THE NEGLECT OF LANDOWNERS AND OTHERS TO LEARN PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE.

543. There would be no want of pupils of the highest class for such institutions as we have been considering, did landowners learn practical agriculture. The usual succession of young farmers to fill the places of those who retire, would afford the largest proportion of the pupils; but were every son of a landowner, who has the prospect of being an owner himself, to become an agricultural pupil, the number of pupils would not only be increased, but