372 Agricultural Education in the Netherlands [aug., 



beginning their attendance. The subjects taught and the 

 number of hours given to the work per week each winter are 

 somewhat as follows : — 



First winter. Second winter. 



Hours. Hours. 



Elementary natural science (chiefly chemistry) ... 2 1 



Soil knowledge ... ... ... ... ... I — 



Cultivation of soil ... ... ... ... ... — I 



Raising of crops ... ... ... ... ... 2 I 



Manuring .. ... ... ....... ... — I 



Live stock and dairying ... ... ... ... 1 2 



Total hours per week ... ... ... 6 6 



The total number of pupils attending these classes in 

 Holland in the winter of 1907-8 was 2,988, including 237 

 sons of labourers. There were 221 such courses in all, the 

 average attendance being 13. 



Saturday Courses for Teachers. — The teachers' qualifica- 

 tion for the evening classes is obtained by attending courses 

 on Saturdays at Goes and other provincial centres for three 

 winters, and by passing the examination connected therewith. 

 These teachers also become advisers of labourers, and even 

 of farmers; they act as secretaries of local societies, and in 

 other ways assist agricultural organisation. Handy little 

 text-books are prepared, usually by the teachers, for the use 

 of the pupils. 



Courses of Lectures for Farmers. — The teachers who hold 

 the evening classes also give lectures on six to ten evenings 

 each winter to older pupils and farmers. Only those above 

 twenty-one are now admitted, as the farmers did not like 

 attending with young pupils. Different agricultural subjects 

 are treated, and local veterinary surgeons often give lectures 

 on their own subject. Questions are asked and answered. 

 About twenty such courses were given in the Province of 

 Zeeland last winter, and similar courses are given all over 

 Holland. 



Gymnasia and Higher Burgher Schools. — Nearly all the 

 pupils of the winter agricultural schools have attended the 

 elementary schools only, but as a few of them have gone 

 through the Higher Burgher Schools, a short account of 

 these and of the Gymnasia may be given. 



The Gymnasia are the preparatory schools for the Uni- 

 versities. Pupils enter these when twelve years old, and re- 

 main there for six years. In these the education is mainly 



