SWEDISH FAKMING. 125 



in the matter of climate, soil, and bad seasons, especially in 

 the midland districts, it is very clear that agriculture is every 

 year making good head, for into Wermland alone (which can 

 certainly not be called a farming province) in 1848, as much 

 as 227,254 cubic feet of corn, or about 18,000 quarters, 

 were imported, and the export was about 5116 cubic feet, 

 whereas in 1860, the export of corn from that province 

 exceeded the import by 200,000 cubic feet, or nearly 

 16,000 English quarters. 



Government does much to forward the science of agri- 

 culture here, and the farming schools which are established 

 in every province are most excellent institutions. The 

 farming school at Gardsjo is a good type of the class. 



The manager, Mr. 0. B. Stenstrom, is the proprietor of 

 the estate, which is about 2500 English acres, 250 of 

 which are under his own cultivation. He receives from 

 Government 4000 rqr. yearly, for which he has to keep and 

 educate in agriculture twelve free pupils, peasants' sons in 

 the province, nominated by the directors of the school. Each 

 of the free pupils remains on the farm for two years, has to 

 give his work for nothing, and in return receive his food, and 

 instruction in the practical, as well as theoretical part of 

 the business. There is a head overseer who overlooks the 

 work, and the principal gives lectures every evening during 

 the winter. There is a veterinary surgeon attached to the 

 school, and workshops for the manufacture of agricultural 

 implements. The pupils live together in a large house, 

 and are kept under strict regulations. Before leaving they 

 are publicly examined by the directors as to their capabilities, 

 and after receiving their certificates, have no difficulty in 

 obtaining situations as working bailiffs on the neighbour- 

 ing estates. There is one of these schools in every pro- 

 vince, and it must be clear that these lads who are nothing 

 but raw peasants when they first come to the school, 

 are sent out into the country after two years* discipline, very 

 different men than they would have been, had they stayed 

 at home. 



And no better proof of this can be given than the an- 



