530 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



assured that in this, as in all other cases, where there is a icill there is, or soon 

 will be found, a way to do everything. Time and public anxiety will soon work 

 out the plan. But as Mr. Howard wisely remarks, to prevent miscarriage we 

 should be careful on that point. 



In regard, then, to the plan and course of instruction, it may be of some use to 

 give from the English "Agricultural Magazine" an outline of a course of in- 

 struction adopted in a distinguished agricultural training school, at which it is 

 said are sons of gentlemen from most of the countries in England, as well as from 

 Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The officers are, a Resident Head Master, three 

 Resident Assistant Head Masters, a distinguished Pro/essor of Agriculture 9Xidi 

 Botany, Mr. J. Donalson, author of " British Grasses," " Treatises on Manures," 

 &c. ; together with Professors of Breeds — Maiiagement and Diseases of Cattle — 

 Chemistry — Geology and Mineralogy — Natural and Experimental Philosophy — 

 Practical Surveying and Leveling. 



In the departments of Agriculture and Botany the instructions embrace the 

 practice and the principles of Agriculture in the various counties. The history 

 of all the operations are dwelt on with minuteness, and the effect of each point- 

 ed out on the farm attached to the school. The process of drainage, application 

 of manures, erection of farm buildings, and formation of roads, and these sub- 

 jects are not only examined and explained in the class-room^ but practically car- 

 ried out in the field. 



On Botany, the lectures are not sitnply confined to the distinguishing of one 

 class of plants from another, but embrace their uses, growth, habit, properties, 

 the laws which regulate their distribution, as well as their existence and the 

 laws of vegetation, whereby Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture, whether 

 in the garden, the field, or the forest, are rendered most productive. It is the 

 endeavor to render practical, as well as theoretical, the instruction to the pupils ; 

 especial attention is devoted to a thorough knowledge of the distinguishing 

 characters of the grasses, cereal, natural, and artificial ; their growth and pro- 

 ductiveness, as Avell as the soils and manures suited to them. The Professor, in 

 furtherance of these views, and with the object of rendering his instruction en- 

 tertaining as well as useful, accompanies the pupils occasionally in their botanical 

 excursions. For this department Mr. Gowen, for his Mount Airy College, need 

 go but a little way, if Doctor Darlington, of his State, could be had. 



Breeds, Management and Diseases of Cattle. — In this course of lectures, the 

 external conformation of the ox, sheep, and other domesticated animals, with the 

 internal structure of each, both in reference to the changes caused by disease, 

 constituting Pathology, and the uses to which the various parts of the frame are 

 applied, constituting Physiology, are explained. The treatment and causes of dis- 

 ease, and general management of cattle are particularly dwelt upon. The lectures 

 are illustrated by anatomical drawings and specimens, both morbid and healthy. 



Chemistry. — These lectures comprehend the properties of the most familiar 

 bodies, their bearing upon the economy of Nature, and their useful application ; 

 comprising the elementary substances, oxygen, nitrogen, &c. ; the metals ; the 

 earths ; the properties of heat ; light ; the laws of chemical affinity ; of compo- 

 sition and decomposition; the elements and proximate principles of vegetable 

 and animal substances ; germination ; assimilation ; secretion, Sec. ; fermenta- 

 tion, vinous, acetous, putrefaciive ; soils; fallows; manures, vegetable, animal 

 and mineral. The subjects of the lectures are illustrated by experiments, and 

 instruction in chemical analysis is also given in the Professor's Laboratory. 



(1050) 



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