French Agriculture and State EstahlisJments. 265 



Sheep Farms. — The sheep farms are three in number, at Ram- 

 bouillet, Perpignan, La Hayevaux. They are devoted to rearing 

 the best breeds of sheep^ and of trying experiments in crosses. 

 The breeds chiefly attended to are the Merino, the Naz, a race 

 with fine wool, but of very small frames, and the English long- 

 wool sheep. 



There is an annual sale of the produce, of the wool, and of 

 rams, &c. A t these sales the results are exposed to the public, 

 who may judge for themselves, and turn them to the best account 

 in their power, under open competition. These sales nearly cover 

 the expences of management, and it is expected that soon they will 

 quite do so. At Rambouillet the sale this year of 41 picked 

 rams, and 49 ewes of the Merino breed, produced J 117/-:, above 

 121. a-piece. Some rams fetched 60?. Of the Naz Rambouillet 

 breed 10 rams sold for ]4Z. each. The object sought in the Naz 

 Rambouillet cross is to ascertain to what point increased weight of 

 carcase and of fleece can be carried, without sacrificing the fineness 

 of the wool. 



The English flock consists of 320 head, and it is proposed to 

 fix them somewhere near Calais or in Normandy, that they may 

 have the advantage of a climate as nearly resembling their own as 

 possible. Of this flock 29 rams fetched 51. 16s. each, 20 ewes 

 41. each. Rambouillet has 715 head of sheep, Perpignan 504, 

 La Hayevaux 312. 



Model Farms. — Of the model farms maintained entirely at the 

 government charge, Grignon is the chief. It was founded in 

 1829, and consists of 1100 acres of land of different qualities, 

 arable, pasture, mxeadow, water meadow, wood. Here the best 

 implements, collected from England and Germany, are put to 

 trial, the best systems followed under the guidance of an able pro- 

 fessor, and theory and practice go hand in hand. 



The pupils are divided under the heads of internal" and ex- 

 ternal ;" the first board and lodge within the walls of the esta- 

 blishment, the second find lodgings for themselves and attend 

 only the courses of instruction. The charges for the first vary 

 from 601. to 30Z. a-year ; for the second, from 201. to 8/. The 

 shortest course occupies two years, after which time, on passing a 

 public examination, a pupil may receive his diploma, taking rank 

 as a sort of Master of Arts of Grignon. 



Veterinary Schools. — There are three chief veterinary schools, 

 at Alfort, near Paris, Toulouse, Lyons. The course of education 

 lasts four years. Botany and chemistry, as well as anatomy, are 

 taught, and strict examinations take place before the students can 

 receive their diplomas. Besides the horses used for examination 

 and dissection in the schools, invalid horses are taken in at a mo- 

 derate rate, and treated in the hospital, so that a large field of 



