Report on the Agriculture of Belgium. 
11 
The institutions for the reception of able-bodied tramps and 
vagrants are termed " Depots de Mendicite ; " to each of them is 
attached a large farm, which is cultivated by the paupers held 
in durance. They are kept there for a few months, and then 
returned to their communes; but if caught " tramping " again 
and identified, they undergo imprisonment and hard labour. 
Ijoys and children are sent to one of the State " Kcoles de 
Keforme," the chief of which are at Ru^ sselede (for boys), and at 
Beernem (for girls). The last report on these institutions was 
published in 1861 ; it embraces the ten years from 1849 to 1858 
inclusive. At the end of 1858 Ruysselede contained 575 boys, 
and Beernem 246 girls. The farm attached to Ruysselede is 
more than 300 acres in extent, that at Beernem is about 150 
acres. A large proportion of the boys work in the fields in the 
summer, and a certain number of girls ; they are also taught 
different trades, the boys being tailors, shoemakers, &c., and 
the girls learning dressmaking, knitting, &c. About 100 boys 
are brought up for sailors, and a certain number of girls are 
specially prepared as domestic servants. The cost of these esta- 
blishments to the State in the year 1858 was in round numbers 
8600/., of which nearly 2000/. was spent in permanent works. 
Deducting the latter amount, the cost per head is about 8/., 
which includes the expenses of the respective establishments. 
The able-bodied and the young being thus provided for by the 
State, the communes have only the care of the aged and infirm ; 
but, as we have already indicated the mode in which they are 
provided for, and made to earn a portion of their own living 
(see p. 23), we need not dilate further on that subject. 
Although there is no poor-rate levied by the State as a regular 
system, certain communes have found it desirable to obtain the 
authority of the Government to levy a rate for the relief of 
paupers, in consequence of the charge made by the " Depots de 
Mendicite." In the parish of Haeltert, containing over 3200 
inhabitants, and comprising 2500 acres, an authority to levy this 
rate is obtained every third year ; the amount raised has been 
about 160/. per annum for the last ten or twelve years, and it is 
devoted chiefly to the purpose of obtaining work for the poor of 
the parish, and partly to the support of the infirm. The schools 
in this commune are admirable, but are not more than a some- 
what favourable type of Belgian communal schools. There are 
separate school-rooms, play-grounds, &c., for boys and girls. 
About 400 children annually attend, 250 gratis, and the re- 
mainder paying 6f/. per month for their education. The children 
are taught, whenever it is possible, ocularhj — a great con- 
trast to the oral system so prevalent with us. In our National 
Schools a boy will tell you at once how many quarts there are in 
