436 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



The question comes up, Will such an education make men 

 better farmers ? It must be their own fault if it does not. There 

 may be some branches of the prescribed course, which may not 

 appear to have a direct practical bearing ; but there is not one 

 without its use ; if not directly, yet indirectly subservient to 

 agricultural improvement ; and if not immediately applicable to 

 practice, yet intimately connected with the agricultural profes 

 sion, adapted to increase its power, utility, and dignity, to elevate 

 and adorn it. 



2. VETERINARY SCHOOL AT ALFORT. I must not, in this 

 connection, pass over the veterinary schools of France. There 

 are three of these institutions in France, and they furnish all the 

 advantages to be expected from such establishments. The three 

 veterinary schools established by the government of France are 

 at Alfort, Lyons, and Toulouse, and comprise 600 students. The 

 average number of horses kept on them is 1332 ; viz., 838 stal 

 lions, 127 mares, 212 colts, 99 fillies, and 56 draught horses.* 

 The one at Alfort is that which I have had the pleasure of 

 inspecting. 



This establishment is beautifully situated on the River Seine, 

 near the village of Charenton, about six miles from Paris. The 

 buildings for the different objects of the institution are spacious 

 and well contrived, and the grounds sufficiently extensive and 

 judiciously arranged. Like other governmental establishments 

 in France which have come under my observation, the institu 

 tion is upon a grand scale, and complete in all its parts. The 

 government of France, in a liberal manner, avails itself of the 

 talents of the most competent men in every department, and of 

 all the advantages which science and art can afford ; and it spares 

 no expense in the perfect execution of whatever it undertakes. 

 It adds to all this, as is every where to be seen, a refinement of 

 taste in the arrangement of the most ordinary subjects, which 

 increases the expense only in a small degree, which does not 

 abstract at all from the solidity and substantial character of the 

 work itself; but relieves that which would otherwise be monot 

 onous, if not offensive, and renders often the plainest subjects 

 attractive. 



The school at Alfort is designed to furnish a complete course 



* Statistical Report. 



