Advancement of Agricultural Science. 377 



I must not, however, forget to notice the various schemes of 

 agricultural improvement, of which that active-minded lady, the 

 widow of my lamented friend, the late distinguished President of 

 the Royal Society, Mr. Davies Gilbert, is now making trial on 

 her estates at Eastbourne, in Sussex, and by which she states that 

 the number of paupers in the workhouse had been reduced from 

 220 in July, 1840, to 130 in July, 1841 ; for although there may 

 be some parts of her practice from which we may dissent, and 

 others which are open as yet to reasonable doubt, yet few per- 

 sons, I am convinced, would fail to reap instruction, and derive 

 materials for thought and speculation, from an inspection of the 

 changes which she has been instrumental in bringing about. 



I will first state very briefly the principal peculiarities of her 

 system, and afterwards offer my opinion respecting those points 

 in it, on the merits of which I feel myself in any degree compe- 

 tent to pronounce. 



First, then, I may allude to the village -schools she has been 

 the means of instituting, which proceed on the principle of com- 

 pensating the master for his trouble in instructing the boys com- 

 mitted to his charge by the profits he derives from their labour. 

 The only remuneration in cash which the master receives is Id. 

 a-week from each boy — the same amount which is paid at the 

 national schools : but the time of the scholars is divided into two 

 equal portions, during one of which they are employed in 

 cultivating his land, whilst during the other he devotes his time 

 to their instruction. So far as the scholars are concerned, it 

 would appear that a sufficient number of hours is allotted to im- 

 part to them an adequate knowledge of reading, writing, and 

 arithmetic ; and that the arrangement proved a profitable one to 

 the schoolmasters was evinced by the thriving appearance of the 

 little farms attached to their cottages, each of which was cultivated 

 by the joint labour of himself and his pupils. 



The Willingdon schoolmaster, in January, 1842, writes as 

 follows : — 



" I have nineteen scholars, to whom I teach reading, writing, and 

 accounts, the church catechism, collects, and psalmody, on the national 

 plan, without any salary, for Id. per week from each boy, from nine to 

 twelve o'clock ; and, from two till five in the afternoon, cultivating the 

 land. I have not lost one from dissatisfaction, but am glad to say they 

 willingly assist me : and the Rev. Julius Nouaille, who recommended 

 me, has applied to me for a master, to take a school at Pevensey of the 

 same kind, for which he has obtained the bishop's and the vicar's con- 

 sent ; and a great farmer has willingly agreed to give up four acres of 

 land for it. 



" I am satisfied that I can keep two cows on the same quantity of 

 land, stall-fed, where I could keep but one if allowed to graze. I have 

 no grass-land, and all last winter my cows had only straw, turnips, and 



VOL. III. 2 c 



