Notes on Agricultural Education at Home and Abroad. 43 
In addition to these central schools, the Government are 
endeavouring to encourage the teaching of agriculture in primary 
schools. The first attempt in this direction was made by- 
organising agricultural classes in connection with middle-class 
schools ; but as most of these schools are placed in towns, it was 
found that there was not much personal interest taken in agri- 
cultural matters, and the classes were a failure. The Minister 
of Agriculture has now directed that agriculture is to form part 
of the curriculum of the normal schools, in order that the 
masters of the country primary schools may teach the subject to 
the village children. " Boys over thirteen years of age in the 
country districts have no more time to devote to schooling ; they 
are wanted on the farms, and the only way to reach them is 
through the primary schools." Grants in aid are given accord- 
ing to the proficiency of the pupils. 
"Agricultural education," says Mr. Gosselin, "is still in an 
experimental stage, but there can be little doubt that agricul- 
tural classes attached to the primary schools for the young, and 
experimental fields and lectures for adults, are the best means 
of imparting information on a matter of vital interest to the 
agricultural population." 
As far as education in the primary schools goes, it would 
seem that the Belgian Minister of Agriculture is feeling his 
way very much in the same manner as our educational autho- 
rities at home. There is the same pressure for boys' labour, and 
the school limit of thirteen appears similar in both countries. 
I confess, for my own part, to having very great doubt as to the 
possibility of giving anything like useful technical education to 
boys under thirteen. Up to that period their intellects need 
general training and cultivation, in order to enable them to 
avail themselves of technical instruction hereafter. 
In addition to the means of education offered in the above- 
mentioned colleges and in the primary schools, the Agricultural 
Department of Belgium provides for lectures on agriculture and 
other kindred subjects. There are " Agrononies d'Etat," State 
Agricultural Professors, and " Agronomes Adjoints," with 
salaries varying from 200L to 120?. per annum. These form " as 
it were, a body of nomadic agricultural teachers," whose duty is 
to " popularise, in a practical manner, agricultural science. To 
this end they personally visit the farmers, and give gratuitous 
advice to any asking for it ; they organise each in his own 
district a series of free lectures, so that in at least five districts 
in each province a complete course of instruction should be given 
in one or other branch of the science applicable to the neigh- 
bourhood." At present there are thirteen of these " Agronomes." 
