388 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug, 



opportunity to obtain information upon every 

 branch of the business of farming, including 

 dairy husbandry, the fattening of cattle, the breed- 

 ing of stock, the various operations of field cul- 

 ture, and the permanent improvement of the soil. 



The new buildings erected in 1853 comprise 

 dormitories, dining-hall, lecture and school-room 

 for seventy-five resident pupils, museum, library 

 and laboratory, a comprehensive range of farm 

 offices and apartments for the superintendent, 

 matron, land steward, literary teacher and ser- 

 vants. Everything was, at the time of my visit, 

 in the nicest order about all these apartments, 

 as also about the stables and other farm build- 

 ings. The superintendent has general charge. 

 The agriculturist, assisted by an efficient land 

 steward, carries out the practical working of the 

 farm, under the direction of the superintendent. 

 The literary instruction of the pupils is conduct- 

 ed by two competent teachers, and a gardener of 

 practical experience has charge of the horticul- 

 tural department. The course of instruction in- 

 cludes surveying, levelling, and mapping. 



Two classes are admitted into the institution. 

 The first consists of two divisions, one of which 

 is composed of young men who intend to become 

 land stewards or farmers, and who are boarded, 

 lodged and educated, at the public expense. For 

 admission to this division the applicant must 

 pass the proper examination, be seventeen years 

 of age, of sound constitution and free from dis- 

 ease, and produce satisfactory certificates of good 

 character. The period of training for this divi- 

 sion is two years. The second division of this 

 class consists of teachers who are qualifying 

 themselves for conducting agricultural schools. 

 These are also supported like the others at pub- 

 lic expense, and are admitted on satisfactory evi- 

 dence of character, and of having been properly 

 trained in the literary department. The instruc- 

 tion in this division extends only to one year. 



The second class Is composed of young men 

 who board and lodge at their own expense in the 

 immediate neighborhood of the farm. They are 

 admitted on condition that they engage In the 

 ordinary farm work, attend punctually all the 

 lectures, be amenable to the regulations, and pay 

 an entrance fee of two guineas, or about ten dol- 

 lars and a half. This class remain as long as 

 they choose. 



The general regulations provide that all shall 

 attend punctually all recitations, shall "wear 

 slippers always within doors, and school-coats 

 when at study, and never to wear them out of 

 doors," that they shall not smoke or use spiritu- 

 ous liquors, nor become a member of any politi- 

 cal society, nor take part In any meeting of a 

 sectarian character. 



Both classes are required to engage In all de- 



scriptions of farm labor, to take due care of im- 

 plements, &c., and are liable to be called on for 

 extra work at any busy season of the year. Yard 

 officers are appointed from the pupils, in their 

 turn, to feed, clean, and otherwise attend to the 

 live stock, and to keep the farm-yard and offices 

 clean and neat. Each pupil is required, in his 

 turn, to take charge of a horse, which he is to 

 clean and litter. The entire classes are divided 

 Into two divisions, which are so employed, that 

 while one is at work, the other Is, In turn, at 

 study. 



The farm at Glasnevin appears to be under the 

 highest order of cultivation. The finest crops of 

 wheat, oats, and of roots were upon the ground 

 when I was there. The mangold wurtzel crop 

 appeared to be the finest I had ever seen. This 

 crop, by the way, is becoming a favorite In Great 

 Britain, and all agree that it Is one of the most 

 valuable that can be cultivated. 



They are fed to horses, sheep, cattle and 

 swine. I visited one milk establishment, where 

 in June, 'three hundred and fifty cows each re- 

 ceived a bushel per day. The longer they are 

 kept the better they become. It is a crop well 

 suited to our hot, dry summer, and is easily cul- 

 tivated. Mr. Boyle, who, I think, is the agricul- 

 turist of the establishment, partly promised to 

 furnish me with a statement of his mode of cul- 

 tivating the mangold. II. F. F. 



P. S. Months ago, this letter was left unfin- 

 ished. Since then, Mr. Boyle has redeemed his 

 promise, and furnished me with a valuable trea- 

 tise on the culture of mangold wurtzel, which 

 hae been, in part, laid before the public in Amer- 

 ica. Experiments are In progress all about us, 

 with this crop the present season, and by another 

 seed-time we shall be able to judge correctly of 

 Its value. This letter is already too long for ad- 

 ditional remarks. 



PRESEKVING GRAPES. 



Charles Campbell, of Aurora, Cayuga county, 

 N. Y., communicates to the American Agricultu- 

 rist, the following method of preserving grapes : 



"When they are fully ripe, suspend the basket 

 by a strap or cord passed around the neck, there- 

 jby giving liberty to both hands for picking : with 

 ;one hand hold the cluster, and with the other re- 

 move It from the vine ; remove from the clusters 

 all unripe or decayed fruit, and deposit them in 

 the basket until it is filled. (I use a market bas- 

 jket that will hold about a half bushel.) Carry 

 jthe grapes thus gathered to the place for pack- 

 ing. I use boxes about two feet square by six 

 I inches deep in the clear, with covers made to 

 shut tight. In packing, lay a newspaper on the 

 bottom of the box, then a layer of grapes, then a 

 paper and second layer of grapes, which, when 

 closely packed fills the box ; set in some dry, airy 

 place, witlt the cover off and let the box remain 



