366 HIGHER AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, 



there are forty-three in operation in various localities. These- are 

 established by decree of the minister of agriculture designating the 

 name, location, number, and age of pupils or &quot; apprentices,&quot; the 

 length and character of the course of study, the personnel and sala 

 ries of the board of instruction, etc. In the pastoral regions schools 

 are allowed to receive one apprentice for every four or five hectares 

 (10 to 13 acres) in the cultivable domain attached; in the regions 

 where grain-culture is pursued thirty pupils are allowed for each 

 100 hectares, (247 acres.) Each school must accommodate at least 

 twenty-five. Great care is exercised to make the number of pupils 

 proportionate to the work to be performed. The age of admission 

 varies from fifteen to thirty years. The government pays the direc 

 tor 270 francs per annum for the board of each apprentice. Ap 

 prentices perform the labor of cultivation, and receive regular wages. 

 They also pursue a prescribed course of study, and are at regular 

 intervals examined thereon. The director, who is either owner or 

 tenant holder of the domain, receives for his remuneration a salary 

 of 2,400 francs per annum besides the profits of cultivation. 



The course of study, which generally lasts but two years, is of the 

 most practical character, though some schools enlarge their theoret 

 ical and literary instruction. The board of instruction consists of 

 the director, who is also professor of agriculture, horticulture, zoot- 

 echny, etc. , a superintendent of accounts, whose office is to supply 

 the lack of primary instruction and to teach proper methods of keep 

 ing farm accounts, etc. ; a gardener and nursery-keeper, whose duty 

 is to teach practical horticulture; an overseer of laborers, and a 

 veterinary surgeon. Each school has a farm varying from 100 to 

 1,100 acres, generally well stocked with farm-animals, and furnished 

 with the most approved farm-implements. Every facility is offered 

 for thorough practical instruction in agriculture, horticulture, viti 

 culture, stock-raising and management, business management, etc. 

 Each school aims to suit its instruction and cultivation to the re 

 gions in which it is located. A complete record of the operations of 

 these schools would afford facilities for a most satisfactory general 

 study of French agriculture. 



Besides the foregoing schools, several institutions for instruction 

 in special branches have been established. Among these are the 

 three veterinary schools at Alfort, Lyons, and Toulouse. These are 

 under the supervision of the departmental prefects. The course of 

 study embraces four years, and comprehends physics, meteorology, 

 chemistry, botany, geology, zoology, anatomy, physiology, hygiene, 

 zootechny, special and general pathology, medical and surgical 

 therapeutics, pharmacy, sanitary police, medical jurisprudence, etc. 

 The board of instruction consists of a director and five professors, 

 with a number of tutors necessary to give proper instruction to all 

 the pupils. 



There is also a school of shepherds located at the Bergerie of Ram- 

 bouillet, the national sheep farm of France. It is intended to train 

 young men in the management of flocks. It is open to pupils from 

 all parts of France. Their course of instruction lasts two years, and 

 no charge of tuition is made. The chief shepherd exercises them in 

 the management of all operations of sheep husbandry, lambing, 

 weaning, castration, pairing, gestation, parturition, shearing, fold- 



