218 
Farming and Agricultural Training in 
once to the Leicester market. The remaining 10 cwt. were 
made into jam for the use of the school. As a rule, about 
30 bojs are employed in the garden every morning as half 
timers, and another 30 similarly every afternoon ; but for about 
a month in the summer school-work is abandoned, and all the 
boys are employed on the land. This school is under the 
Leicester School Board, the majority of whose members have 
succeeded in starving the agricultural part of the establish- 
ment, so that the farm-buildings, being constructed of old 
sleepers, present a great contrast to the substantial school-house 
and its appurtenances. H.M. Inspector visited the school in 
1884 just after the month's holiday from school work, and 
so found the boys rather out of practice. Still, there were 
15 in Standard Six, 24 in Standard Five, 50 in Standard Four, 
47 in Standard Three, 32 in Standard Two, and 22 in Standard 
One. 
V. — Middlesex Industrial School, Feltham, Middlesex, 
" An average of 760 boys are maintained. No boy is received under 
10 years of age, nor retained after 16 years of age. These are boys sent 
under the provisions of the Acts of Parliament * as being either vagabond or 
entering upon a vicious career. When they leave they become, as a rule, 
agriculturists, soldiers, or sailors. A boy on first admission is always placed 
in a field squad, and employed at digging; this both inculcates industry, and 
is a good physical exercise. When larther advanced (if he is to become an 
agriculturist), he is placed on the farm under the bailiff. Rewards are given 
in the form of good-conduct badges, which carry various privileges. Plots of 
garden are not given to individuals. 
" The farm consists of 9 acres of permanent grass for hay and stock grazing, 
and 9 acres of rye-grass to cut green for stall-fed cattle, 84 acres of arable 
land for corn, potatoes, and wurzel, and 5 acres of kitchen garden. Of the 
whole, 43 acres are leasehold, at Al. per acre, and the rest freehold. The wages 
of ordinary labourers and also of bailiff amounted to 459?. 15s. 4c^. in the 
year 1884. Boys ])lant, hoe, set out, and gather in all the crops on the farm, 
milk and tend cows, horses, &c., under the charge of men. A rotation of 
crops is arranged so as to leave a produce as varied as possible for the 
instruction of the boys. The live-stock consists of 4 horses, 23 cows, 14 young 
stock, and 1 bull ; 80 pigs are hrtd every year, and 100 poultry. 
" The buildings consist of a bailiff's house, stable for 6 horses, good* cow- 
house, piggeries, detached cow-house for sick cows, poultry-house, cart- 
shed, &c., all well adapted to the requirements of the school. 
" Nothing is so conducive to the physical and moral development of a 
boy as agricultural labour, when combined with a limited amount of school 
instruction, on the " half-time " system. The great mass of disorderly and 
vicious lads come from cities. Their removal to schools in the country, 
where agriculture is used <is a means of industrial training, fits them for 
following an honest career either as colonists or labourers if removed well 
away from their former haunts and associates, thus converting them into 
useful members of the community. In our dairy the boys learn to churn"; 
they are also taught to milk, and generally to look after the cows. 
* (1) 17 & 18 Vict. cap. 169; '2^1 29 & 30 Vict. cap. 118. 
