Report on Agricultural Education. 
163 
description of agriculture. The course of cropping extends 
over six years, namely, (1) sugar-beets, (2) wheat and clover, 
(3) clover, (-4) wheat, (5j sugar-beets, (6j wheat. With the 
exception, therefore, of straw and beet-root pulp, which seem to 
be consumed upon the farm, the produce of five-sixths of the 
land is annually sold off. The highest system of farming has 
thus to be adopted to maintain the productiveness of the soil ; 
and as the farm is cultivated with a view to profit more than 
for experimental purposes, the greatest care must be taken in 
the purchase of fertilising ingredients and in the sales of 
produce in order to achieve such a result. The farm is 
debited with a rent of 575. M. per acre (180 francs per 
hectare). 
The course of instruction extends over three years, and 
students who pass their final examination receive the diploma 
of " Agricultural Engineer." As this diploma is made by the 
State a necessary qualification for persons desirous of being 
employed in the forestry, drainage, and irrigation of the 
country, it should be much sought after ; but with a total 
number of students averaging 70 for the last three years in 
which returns have been made, only 40 have attempted to pass 
this examination, and only 26 have succeeded in obtaining it. 
Students may be either resident or non-resident. The former pay 
28Z. per annum, if Belgians, and 40?. per annum, if foreigners ; 
the latter pay 12/. per annum, if Belgians, and 16Z., if foreigners. 
Candidates for admission must be 16 years of age, and must 
pass an entrance examination, in case they have not taken some 
academic degree : practical instruction takes a large place in 
the teaching, although if the programme of theoretical instruc- 
tion is carried out, the College in that respect resembles many 
of the higher schools already described. It is unlike most of 
them, however, in this particular, that the students of the third 
year are required to participate in the daily work of the farm, 
and to take notes thereon. The cost of this Institute to the 
State is about 60Z. per head per annum. It is interesting to 
learn that an average profit has been made upon the farm of 
300Z. per annum, at least such was the case up till 1879. 
There is a school of veterinary medicine at Cureghena ; there 
are practical schools of horticulture at Vilvorde and at Ghent ; 
and there is a superior school of agriculture at Louvain, which, 
however, owes its origin to the Catholic University there. 
Religious teaching here forms part of the curriculum. 
Numerous agricultural stations have been founded in dif- 
ferent parts of the country, and that of Gembloux seems to 
have been fully as successful as our own in Hanover Square. 
Wageningen. — The school of VVageningen is situated close 
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