Report on Agricultural Education. 159 
But these advantages do not end here ; there are afterwards 
three grades of theoretical study open to the enterprising young 
man who is anxious to improve himself. He can receive (1) a 
course of 5 or 6 months' instruction at one of the agricultural 
schools attached to some of the primary schools (Folkeskoler) ; 
(2) a more complete course of 9 or 10 months at other specially 
devoted to this kind of instruction {Landboskoler) ; (3) a course 
I of either 21 or 27 months at the Royal Agricultural College at 
I Copenhagen. It will thus be seen that the essential principle 
i of the Danish system is the complete separation of practical 
i from theoretical instruction. As a matter of fact, " farm schools " 
,! and " practical schools of agriculture," in the sense in which 
I those terms are used in France, have never succeeded in 
! Denmark. 
The information given about primary schools (Folkeskoler) 
, is too vague for me to devote any space to it. These schools 
" seem on about the same footing as our own primary country 
schools, and the complaints of the teachers are that, owing to 
the children being frequently employed in agriculture, they often 
leave the schools very deficient in theoretical knowledge. 
Agricultural Schools. — At the agricultural schools the pupils, 
■who are mostly the sons of well-to-do farmers, pay something 
less than 21. per month for board, lodging and instruction. 
! The Government assists these schools with a subvention, but in 
other respects they are private institutions. Practical schools 
I have been such entire failures, that only one farm-school now 
exists in the kingdom. 
Theoretical Schools. — The theoretical schools, however, are 
I characteristic of the country. Information regarding one of 
? them, that of Odense, is given in the Report. This school was 
founded in 1855 by a society which simply styled itself "The 
i Patriotic Society." The object of the school is to continue the 
education of young men who intend to become farmers. Each 
class is of six months' duration, namely, from October 1st to 
March 31st, and in the summer the pupils are either sent to 
farms to continue their instruction in practical agriculture, or 
return to their own homes. In the first session their studies are 
partly of a general educational character and partly technical, 
but during the second session entirely technical. Those who 
pass satisfactorily at the end of the second session receive their 
final certificate, and after leaving the school most of the pupils 
complete their practical education on well-known farms. The 
plan of studies comprises almost all the subjects taught in the 
higher German schools, with the exception of foreign languages. 
The fees paid by the students are about 4/. 10s. for the first 
session, and nearly 4Z. for the second. About 60 or 70 pupils 
have generally been on the books at one time. 
