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GENERAL AGRICULTUHAL NOTES. 



[Dec. 1894. 



at Grand Jouau, near Nantes — are intended to teach grande 

 culture generally. The Ecole nationale at Montpellier in the 

 south is viticultural, rather than agricultural ; and the National 

 Horticultural School at Versailles, as well as the National Dairy 

 School at Mamirolles, in the Jura, have each a special object as 

 their titles imply. 



The Douai school was established by a law of the 23rd 

 August 1 89 2, " to impart professional instruction, so as to prepare 

 and form a body of men technically capable of directing the 

 various operations connected with sugar factories, distilleries, 

 and other industrial establishments indirectly connected with 

 the farm." 



The school was established essentially to benefit the agriculture 

 of the north of France, where the industries which it represents 

 have attained a great development. It has been accordingly 

 equipped, not only with large laboratories admirably adapted for 

 experimental work, but also with the necessary machinery and 

 plant to enable the students to learn and follow the practical 

 work of each industry. The school, for instance, possesses a 

 beet-root sugar factory, which can deal with more than nineteen 

 tons of raw material every day, a distillery capable of making a 

 daily quantity of alcohol amounting to 220 gallons; and a 

 brewery which can produce over 250 gallons of beer at one time. 



During the summer, the machinery is worked without being 

 supplied with material, and simply as a means of instruction ; 

 in the winter, however, the work is carried on as in commerce. 

 Frequent visits are made to typical farms in the neighbourhood, 

 and arrangements are also made for the students to work 

 temporarily in large private factories. 



In addition to the regular course of instruction, it is the 

 intention to provide further courses, as their need is felt, dealing 

 with several other industries, such as the manufacture of starch,, 

 of various essences and perfumes, and of vegetable oils. 



Independently of the ordinary students who are admitted on 

 passing an entrance examination, the Douai School is also 

 intended to receive men, who, having already passed through 

 any other of the national schools, wish to obtain special technical 

 training. There may also be admitted to the laboratories students 

 who wish to study some particular subject, or to do special work 

 connected therewith. Certain private persons may also be allowed 

 to attend one or more of the courses of instruction. 



The course of study for ordinary pupils lasts two years, but 

 it may be reduced to one year in the case of those students who, 

 as explained above, go to Douai only to complete their studies. 



The ijersonnel of the school consists of seventeeen persons, 

 including a director, eight professors, and four tutors. The 

 students are non -residential, and the fees for instruction are fixed 

 at 20^. (500 francs) per annum. 



