ON AGRICULTURE TO IRELAND 81 



grow more interesting, and will be, from an educational point of 

 view, much more important as these agricultural stations, only 

 recently established and not yet fully equipped, get into proper 

 working oixler. 



Agricultural Colleges 



When the Department of Agriculture was created there were 

 two intermediary schools of Agriculture in Ireland, schools that 

 stand midway between the local agricultural schools and the 

 Eoyal College of Science. The Department resolved to make 

 these as serviceable as possible, leaving the establishment of other 

 schools of a similar kind for the future. These schools were the 

 Albert Institute, Glasnevin, and the Munster Institute, Cork. 

 They gave instructions both to men and women. The Department 

 altered this. They turned the Albert Institute into a school of 

 agriculture and horticulture for men only, and they turned the 

 Munster Institute into a school of domestic and rural economy for 

 women only. These schools take up the work of agricultural 

 education where the local schools and agricultural stations have 

 left it, providing such instruction as will enable the young men 

 and women of Ireland to be thoroughly qualified to do all the 

 work on an Irish farm on the best and most up to date principles. 



I. The Albert Institute 



Tlie resident staff of the Albert Institute consists of the 

 Principal, who is responsible for the conduct of the College in 

 all its branches ; a house matron, who looks after the general 

 welfare of the students, all of whom are resident students ; and a 

 farm manager, who teaches agriculture. The other teachers are 

 visiting masters. 



At the time of our visit there were 34 students. 25 of them 

 held scholarships from the Department of Agriculture, con- 

 sisting of free board and instruction. These scholarships are 

 awarded by competition to the best educated farmers' sons. The 

 ages of the pupils vary from 17 to 32, the average being about 

 22. The course is limited to one year or session of twenty weeks, 

 and is of necessity of an elementary nature, as the standard of 

 education was found at first to be low, but it is satisfactory and 

 hopeful that it is gradually being improved. Sons of farmers are 

 admitted without scholarships on payment at the rate of 10s. per 

 week. Students from the city have to pay more. 



The College Farm 



While there is everything indoors that could be desired for 

 successful teaching, there is the great advantage to both students 

 and teachers that the work is carried on in what we may call a 

 most practical atmosphere, for the College farm, extending to 176 

 acres, on which the students work 15 hours every week, is un- 

 equalled by any similar institution. The excellent use to which 

 F 



