216 



the heavy gras -crops, for their support. Forty cows are kept, besides a 

 fine flock of white Appenzel goats, a celebrated milk-bearing breed. 

 The board criticised the neglect of making the management of cows a 

 part of the course of instruction, a fault which will be remedied here- 

 after. The programme of studies embraces six lessons per week in 

 summer and ten in winter. 



The school of Saint-Eemy is eulogized as the most effective of the 

 farm-schools, and as having sent forth the largest number of grad- 

 uates — 682. Its board of instruction is also the largest. Its arrange- 

 ment of lauds and buildings is artistic as well as scientific, presenting 

 a fine monumental aspect. The cattle are of the Femeline and red 

 Oignon breeds ; the sheep mostly Dishley merinos, with a few crosses 

 of Dishle.y's and Southdowns. The system of instruction is compli- 

 me^ited as a happy mingling of study and labor, the proportion of time 

 allotted to each being about equal in winter. Shops for special manu- 

 factures in wood, iron, &c., give a wider scope for intelligent industry. 

 The school of Lahayevaux, in process of re-organization, jiromises higher 

 results than formerly, although it has enjoyed a superior reputation. 

 The school of Orme-du-Pout is located in a county of grande culture and of 

 large landed proprietorships. In a six-year rotation, in which cereals 

 regularly alternate with weeded or forage crops, it seeks to produce an 

 immense mass of forage for animals, and, consequently, a large supply 

 of fertilizing material. Too much time is here given to manual labor. 



Inspector-General Malo reports as follows, concerning seven schools 

 iu his fourteen central, eastern, and southeastern departments : 



These schools are in a good condition and present results which the 

 inspector-general regards as satisfactory. The school of Pont-le-Yeyle 

 makes a specialty of fruit- culture, but by energetic fertilization it 

 makes its poor soil bring good crops of grain and grass when the in- 

 undations of the Veyle do not interfere. Its yield of rye reaches 23 

 bushels per acre; wheat or bailey, 27i; beans, 32. The rotation is 

 quadrennial, embracing a large proportion of forage-crops. The school 

 of La Chassagne cultivates fields 3,000 feet above sea-level, the soil being 

 mostly volcanic detritus, partially tli'ained and irrigated. The leading 

 industry is necessarily pastoral, embracing cheese-manufacture. The 

 cattle are a local sub-race derived from the Aubrac breed, which, by im- 

 proved methods of breeding, has been brought to a higher yield of 

 milk. The sheep are the local varieties crossed with the Charinoise. 

 The school Des Plaines is also located on poor soil at a high elevation, 

 2,000 feet. Its most profitable branch is cattle-breeding, especially its 



