18 



their direction the "special" professors of the department, to whom, 

 however, thej- leave the greatest possible latitude and initiative. 



It is the duty of the departmental professor to give a two-years' 

 course of instruction in agriculture at the normal primary school for 

 teachers estal)lished in his department, and if necessary in other estab- 

 lishments of pu]»lic instruction; to deliver at least 2G lectures upon 

 agricultural subjects ea(;h year at meetings of farmers, and to dissem- 

 inate b}' lectures and other means the scientific discoveries and prac- 

 tical' methods which tend toward the intelligent and profitable man- 

 agement of the soil. It is also their duty to stand in close relation to 

 the agricidtural societies and syndicates in order that the}^ may act as 

 advisers to those interested in agricultural (Juestions, and to come in 

 contact as freely as possible with the rural classes. In this way they 

 are expected to keep themselves posted on the current wishes and 

 needs of the agricultural people. Each departmental professor is 

 required to make report at the close of each 3^ear to the prefect of the 

 department in which he resides, to be transmitted to the minister of 

 agriculture and commerce of the Republic. 



There is another feature of the work of the departmental professor 

 that has been of great value in enforcing his teachings, both in the 

 normal schools and in the meetings in the rural districts which he 

 addresses. It is the system of practical demonstration that he con- 

 ducts in fields selected in various suitable locations in which are shown 

 the effects of various manures, modes of culture, and varieties of 

 seeds upon crop production. It is stated that in 1894 there were over 

 3,300 .such fields being conducted for illustration purposes throughout 

 France. 



SPECIAL PROFESSOES OF AGRICULTURE. 



The duties of the special professors are in most respects similar to 

 those of the departmental professors, with whom the}' are expected to 

 cooperate. They are expected to teach agriculture in the superior 

 primary schools, and also to deliver at least 12 lectures annually at 

 rural meetings of agricultural people, the object being to make known 

 to practical farmers the improved methods in use in the management 

 of domestic animals, and which lead to a more profitable production of 

 farm crops. Their salaries vary from $-150 to $580 per j-ear. 



The items in the law relating to departmental and communal instruc- 

 tion in agriculture, and in the decree by the President of the Republic, 

 relative to the departmental and special professors of agriculture, give 

 with great particularity the details of the system of itinerant instruc- 

 tion in agriculture in operation in France. In order that those who 

 are interested in the stud}' of this system may have reliable informa- 

 tion at hand, the law and decree are given in full. 



