440 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



mode, the government provides, in respect to horses, cattle, anu 

 sheep, for the propagation through the kingdom of the most 

 valuable races. The minimum price was fixed upon the animals 

 as they were brought forward, and they went into the hands of 

 those who made the highest advance, and who were required, 

 under certain conditions, to keep them for the purposes of breed 

 ing.* Besides these sales, the best description of horses and neat 

 cattle, studs, and bulls, owned by the government, are at the 

 service of the farmers upon the most liberal terms, for the im 

 provement of their stock. 



In England, the veterinary establishments are maintained by 

 private subscription. Perhaps, in general, that which is left to 

 private management under the stimulus of personal interest is 

 better cared for than that which is wholly public property; but 

 as in this establishment there is no want of liberality on the part 

 of the government, so there seems to be no want of fidelity and 

 diligence in accomplishing its objects. The students are numer 

 ous, and the professors eminent for their scientific and practical 

 acquirements. 



3. AGRICULTURAL COLONY AT METTRAY. There are two other 

 institutions for agricultural education in France, which I visited 

 with great interest, and a notice of which will not, I hope, be 

 unacceptable the one at Mettray, near Tours, about 150 miles, 

 the other at Petit Bourg, about 20 miles, from Paris. 



The colony at Mettray was founded in the spirit of the good 

 Samaritan, which succors the wounded and forsaken traveller by 

 the way-side, takes him home, and there nourishes and cherishes 

 him. This establishment grew out of the compassion of two 

 gentlemen of high rank and fortune, w T ho were moved to essay 

 what could be done for the rescue of unfortunate, condemned, 

 and vagabond boys, to save them, if possible, from destruction, 

 and give them the pOAver of obtaining an honest living. It is 

 not consistent with my plan, in this place, to go further into the 

 account of the institution, than as a school of agriculture, though 

 the directors propose three objects of instruction to qualify their 

 pupils for farmers, sailors, or soldiers. The discipline of the 



* The expense to the government of supporting the three veterinary schools 

 is said to be about 492,000 francs, or 100,000 dollars, per annum. 



