NATIONAL WEALTH IN FRUIT 315 



and see that they are of a good quality and have been 

 properly dried, the dealers not being allowed to send 

 away any that are not considered satisfactory. But 

 much more than this is done, for every arrondissement 

 is required to have a model nursery of fruit-trees, 

 occupying an area of at least 12 acres, where the 

 particular trees best suited to the locality are grown, 

 where practical courses of instruction on fruit-culture 

 are given each commune having the right to send to 

 them two pupils, who are to be maintained, if necessary, 

 at the public expense and where also any cultivator 

 can go at any time and obtain such advice as he may 

 require, together with, at a very low charge, young 

 trees of the particular kind most likely to grow and 

 bear well in his own orchard. The surplus stock not 

 sold to the peasants is planted along the highways, on 

 waste lands, or on river-banks. 



Of these public nurseries there have been established, 

 since 1898, no fewer than fifty-one, ranging in size from 

 the minimum of 12 acres to 57 acres. At most of 

 them will be found, in addition to an orchard, a 

 vineyard, a poultry farm, an apiary, and a silk-worm 

 establishment, all on ' model ' principles, together with 

 a meteorological station. Lessons are, in addition, 

 given in basket-making and other village industries. 



Nominated by the State, but receiving their stipend 

 from the department or the arrondissement, the official 

 agricultural instructors are required, among other things, 

 to give practical guidance to the peasantry concerning 

 the cultivation of the soil, fruit-culture, vine-growing, 

 stock-raising, poultry and bee farming, fisheries, etc. ; 

 to see that the agricultural processes are carried on 

 under right conditions and at the proper times ; to 

 study the local agricultural situation, and advise the 

 Minister of Agriculture thereon ; to watch over, and 



