1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



341 



stated that indications of decay were already per- 

 ceptible in most of the unprepared timbers, both 

 at the bottom of the posts, and in those arris 

 edtres and ends of paling wliich were placed, or 

 had come, at all, in contact with the earth, while 

 those limbers which were marked as havmo; 

 passed throuirh the sokition, were quite Iree from 

 any such symptoms. I now beg leave to state, 

 that I have this day, after a lapse of two years 

 and a quarter from my previous survey, again ac- 

 curately examined several of the same posts and 

 paling, diirging away the earth from the founda- 

 tions 7br that purpose, and find that the symptoms 

 of decay mentioned in my precedinij report as 

 having commenced in the unprepared timber, 

 have so considerably increased, as to have render- 

 ed the bottoms of the posts completely rotten, to 

 a depth of from one to two inches, and that, in 

 several instances, fungi have been the conse- 

 quences of the decay; while [ find the prepared 

 limbers which are in the earth sound and in the 

 same state, with the exception of mere discolora- 

 tion upon the surli:ice, probably arising from the 

 damp state of the earth at the time of its removal. 

 As a farther proof of the difference existing be- 

 tween the unprepared and the prepared timber, 

 we could cut with the greatest ease large pieces 

 from the former with the spade, without using 

 any force, while it required great exertion to chip 

 off very small pieces from the latter." 



From the Farmers' Magazine. 

 TEMPLEMOYLE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. 



Any one who duly reflects upon the infinite 

 importance of giving to the youth of our country 

 an education wisely adapted to their prospects in 

 life — to the peculiar character of an American citi- 

 zen — to the nature of our institutions, — to our 

 social polity and republican habits — must, we think, 

 regret the failure of the bill so favorably introduced 

 into the legislaiure, and so ably supported, of esta- 

 blishing a School of Arts under the supervisions 

 and management of the Franklin Institute. It 

 might be difficult to add much to the arguments 

 so forcibly urged by the principal advocates of the 

 bill ; and we cannot but believe, that extended 

 observation and maturity of reflection will even- 

 tually satisfy every parent and guardian that he 

 could make no better provision for the prosperity 

 of a son or a ward, destined to fill an active and 

 productive sphere of life, than to place him in a 

 school where, in addition to the requisite amount of 

 literary instruction, he may acquire a knowledge 

 of those practical sciences, to which his time and 

 energies must necessarily be devoted. Such a 

 school as that whose outlines and objects were 

 presented to the legislature, would furnish incal- 

 culable advantages to those who have in prospect 

 an engagement in any of the arts, trades and 

 manufactories which are becoming so immensely 

 important to the wealth of our country. To those 

 whose views are more exclusively agricultural, 

 such establishments as the one described in the 

 subjoined article would be worthy of all imitation. 



G. 



principal resources, by giving a place in your 

 widely circulated pages to the following account 

 of an establishment now in opcraiion lor ten years, 

 the extension of which, and the formation of similar 

 schools elsewhere, arc the sfile rewards aimed at 

 by the noblemen and gentlemen who were the 

 iounders of it, of whom many are still zealous, as 

 ilie committee of management, in promoting it8 

 success. 



1 have the lionour to remain, gentlemen, your 

 ob't. humble scrv't. 



One of the Committee. 



The Agricultural Seminary of Templemoyle 

 originated at a very numerous meeting of the 

 N orth-west of Ireland Farming Society at London- 

 derry, and it was at first intended that it should 

 consist of two establishments, taking Mons. Fel- 

 lenberg's Institution at Hofl'wyll in Switzerland in 

 some degree as the model: the first to be a school 

 affording instruction in every science and accom- 

 plishment aimed at by the children of the higher or- 

 ders; the second lor the education of the sons of 

 respectable farmers and tradesmen, in the hope 

 of disseminating the advantages of^ an improved 

 system of farming with greater certainty by com- 

 bining the practice and theory of it in the in- 

 struction of those who were afierwards to make 

 agriculture their pursuit, it was hoped, that the ex- 

 tended scale of the institution would have allowed of 

 a greater variety of masters and lecturers, and that 

 the profit derived from the superior school would 

 have contributed towards the maintenance of the 

 secondary one ; but a short experience convinced 

 the subscribers that such a scheme was impracti- 

 cable without much larger and more certain funds 

 than they could rely on ; they then gave their 

 undivided attention to the agricultural seminary, 

 which through their increasing exertion has at- 

 tained such eminence as may justly entitle them 

 to look forward with confidence to its increasing 

 usefulness, and to its becoming a model for esta- 

 blishments of a similar nature in other parts of 

 Ireland. 



The school and farm of Templemoyle are situ- 

 ated about six miles from Londonderry; about a 

 mile distant from the mail-coach road leading from 

 Londonderry to Newtowlimavady. The house, 

 placed on an eminence, commands an extensive 

 and beautiful view over a rich and highly cultivat- 

 ed country, terminated by Lough Foyle. The 

 base of the hill is occupied by a kitchen and orna- 

 roented garden, cultivated by the youths of the 

 establishment, under an experienced gardener. 

 The ground between the garden and house is laid 

 out in beds in which all the different grasses, clo- 

 vers, &c., are cultivated with the greatest care. 

 The house is in the form of an ||=:||, with 

 ranges of farming offices behind, containing spa- 

 cious, lofty, and well ventilated school-rooms; re- 

 fectory, dormitories, apartments for the masters, 

 matrons, servants, &c. 



Each pupil occupies a separate bed; the house 

 can accommodate seventy-six, and the number of 

 pupils amounts to sixty. They receive an excel- 

 lent education in reading, writing, and arithme- 

 tic; book-keeping, mathematics, land-surveying, 

 and geography. This department is managed by 

 an excellent head master and assistant master, 

 both resident in the house. The pupils are so 



To the Editors of the Irish Farmer's and Gardener's Magazine. 



Gentlemen — You will render a service to Ireland, 

 and advance the interests of that branch of her 

 industry (agricultural) whence she derives her I classed that one-half are receiving their education 



