1909.] Agricultural Education in the Netherlands, 373 



on the classical side, and, although it forms an excellent pre- 

 paration for an Arts degree or a degree in Law, it is not 

 suitable as a preparation for a course in Science. The six 

 years' work in the gymnasium concludes with an examina- 

 tion which passes the student into the University. 



In the Higher Burgher Schools the pupils also enter at 

 twelve years of age, and usually remain for five years. In 

 these the course of instruction is scientific and modern rather 

 than classical, and it is through these schools that science 

 students pass to the Universities, and agricultural students 

 to Wageningen. They have, however, to do some addi- 

 tional private work in languages before they can enter the 

 Universities. 



A few of the better-class farmers send their sons to the 

 Higher Burgher Schools, one being situated at Goes, where 

 the tuition fees are ^,3 6s. 8d. a year. From them they can 

 go direct to the Army and Navy, and to the Universities 

 for a Science course. 



Winter Agricultural Schools in the Netherlands. — 

 There are seven winter agricultural schools, situated at 

 Groningen, Leeuwarden, Schagen, Dordrecht, Goes, Sittard, 

 and Zutphen. These are usually open from about October 

 1 st till April 1 st, and have an average attendance of about 

 thirty pupils each winter, about half being in the first 

 and half in the second year. The buildings themselves 

 are provided by the town and province in which they are 

 situated, and generally include a few lecture-rooms, with 

 small laboratories and a museum. The farm winter school 

 buildings at Groningen cost just over ^2,300. The State 

 makes an initial grant for the equipment of these schools, as 

 well as an annual grant of about ^90 for the same purpose. 

 The salaries of the teachers are also provided by the State. 

 Each Director receives about ^250 a year, and has from five 

 to seven assistants, most of whom only give part of their 

 time. At Goes the Director also acts as superintendent of 

 field experiments in Zeeland, and advises the State on all 

 agricultural questions. The Directors of the other schools 

 also do other work connected with agricultural education. 



The pupils either live in rooms in the town, where they 

 pay from 12s. 6d. to ^1 a week and upwards for board and 



