154 Report on Agricultural Education. 
down by the Statute in the class to which they belong, whilst 
those who do succeed in obtaining their final certificate, which 
carries with it the title of garde general des forets, are entitled 
to payment by the State, and may either be placed in the army 
as unattached ; in the reserve ; in the territorial army ; or in the 
auxiliary service. 
A garde-gendral, either probationary or of the second or 
third class, is equivalent in military rank to a sub-lieutenant 
of the reserve or of the territorial army, whilst one of the first 
class is of the same rank as a lieutenant of the reserve. It will 
thus be seen that considerable importance is attached by the 
Government to the study of forestry at this school. The 
normal number of students is 60, of whom 30 go out 
and as many come in every year. A certain number of 
foreigners are allowed to attend the classes as free students, 
on proper application through the diplomatic representative of 
their nation, and many English students have qualified for 
service in India since the establishment of the College. 
The course of instruction during the first year is on economic 
forestry, political economy, natural history, applied mathe- 
matics, including topography, roads, and constructions ; Ger- 
man language, military instruction, riding, &c. Many of these 
subjects are given by oral instruction during the winter term. 
In the summer term the number of days spent on the land 
is greatly in excess of those devoted to lectures. The nature of 
the work at this period consists of tree-planting and forestry 
excursions, plant-collecting during such excursions, land sur- 
veying, topography, and forest constructions and rtiilitary 
reconnaissances. During the second year the teaching adopted 
is of a somewhat higher description, principally upon the same 
subjects, but agricultural chemistry is also brought into the 
course. 
The other special schools in France, though somewhat varied 
in character, are scarcely of sufficient general interest to detain 
us for any length of time. They include some veterinary 
schools, a rather important school of horticulture at Versailles, 
established in 1873, and utilising the magnificent gardens 
formed there by Louis XIV., and which cover about 24 acres 
of land. This horticultural school costs the State no less than 
3000Z. per annum. There are also establishments for the 
teaching of drainage and irrigation, shepherding, and dairy 
work. 
Depautmental Professors. 
An important institution in the agricultural education of 
France is that of departmental professors, which, although 
