SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AT METTRAT, ETC. 
79 
kettle or in an iron or tin one with our common 
copper coins. 
Vinegar. — This well-known condiment is pre- 
pared either from sugar and water or the saccharine 
juices,. or sap, of trees and plants, the infusions of 
malt, malt liquors, wine, and cider; and, lastly, hy 
the destructive distillation of wood, in cast-iron 
cylinders. 
The ordinary vinegars of commerce are frequently 
adulterated with sulphuric acid, to give them more 
acidity, and with different acrid vegetable sub- 
stances to produce an apparently stronger article. 
Among these, the most common are the grains of 
Paradise, spurge flax, and capsicums. Much of the 
vinegar sold under the name of " white-wine*' con- 
sists of strong acetic or pyroligneous acid, diluted 
with water. A similar mixture is also sold for dis- 
tilled vinegar. And finally, several salts are found 
in vinegars, as those of lead, copper, acetate of lime, 
chalk, and common salt. The latter are generally 
added for the purpose of increasing the density of 
the vinegar, where its strength is liable to be ascer- 
tained by means of the hydrometer. In some cases, 
however, the salts of lead, copper, and of zinc, 
found in vinegar, are derived from contact with 
leaden and brass vessels in which it is kept, and 
from the taps employed in the apparatus made use 
of in its manufacture. 
Anchovy Sauce and Paste. — Not only are the 
sauce and paste, prepared from anchovies adulter- 
ated, but even the fish themselves are imitated; and 
in fact, very many bottles sold under the name of 
anchovies, are nothing but prepared sprats. This, 
however, is easily detected, for the appearance of 
the two fish is very different, and an attentive ex- 
amination of the form of the two will suffice to 
point out the distinguishing characteristics of each, 
in so marked a manner that the fraud will at once 
be detected. 
The falsification as regards the fish, however, is 
unimportant, when compared with the deleterious 
nature of the substances employed in manufacturing 
anchovy sauce and paste. For, the red color of 
both these preparations is due to an admixture of 
Venitian red, which, in itself, is comparatively 
harmless, but which, when taken in quantity, might 
occasion serious obstructions in the bowels. This, 
however, is not the worst; for Venitian red is 
sometimes mixed with red lead to heighten its color, 
and it is to be feared, that the more unscrupulous 
of the manufacturers of these articles purposely add 
this poisonous substance, which results in much 
sickness and even the loss of life itself. 
Anchovy sauce and paste are also adulterated by 
bruising up sprats and other cheap fish into a pulp, 
mixed with flour and the necessary seasoning for 
anchovy sauce ; and even a very large percentage 
of flour with plaster of Paris and chalk is fraudu- 
lently introduced to the exclusion of a correspond- 
ing proportion of fish. When chalk and plaster 
are added, red lead is substituted for Venetian red, 
in order to make up for the decrease of color the 
white admixture occasions. 
A Large Horse will eat 10 lbs. of oats, 4 or 5 
lbs. of hay, and about 60 lbs. of carrots in a 
day. 
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AT METTRAY. 
The colony at Mettray, near Tours, about 150 
miles from Paris, was founded in the spirit of the 
good Samaritan, which succors the wounded and 
forsaken traveller by the wayside, takes him home, 
and there nourishes and cherishes him. This es- 
tablishment grew out of the compassion of two 
gentlemen of high rank and fortune, who were 
moved to essay what could be done for the rescue 
of unfortunate, condemned, and vagabond boys, to 
save them if possible from destruction, and give 
them the power of obtaining an honest living. It 
is not consistent with my plan, in this place, to go 
further into the account of the institution, than as 
a School of Agriculture, though the directors pro- 
pose three objects of instruction to qualify their 
pupils for farmers, sailors, or soldiers. The disci- 
pline of the institution is military. They have a 
full-rigged ship of ample size in the yard, that boys 
designed for naval life may here take their first 
practical lessons; and they have a well-stocked 
farm of 500 acres, which is under direction to be 
cultivated by the pupils. The institution is situ- 
ated in a healthy part of the country, and near a 
large market town. They employ an educated and 
experienced agriculturist as director of the farm. 
The first object is to render it productive, that it 
may go as far as it can be made to go towards de- 
fraying the expenses of the institution ; the second, 
to instruct the boys in the best and most improved 
methods of husbandry. 
The institution had its foundation in private 
subscription, and though in its commencement 
it had many difficulties to struggle with, it has 
now a firm establishment. Besides a farm, there 
are connected with the institution a large gar- 
den, an extensive nursery, and a manufactory for 
the fabrication of all the implements, carriages, 
&c, which are used on the farm. The boys 
are likewise employed in the making of the shoes, 
caps, clothes, and bedding, which are required, and 
many fancy articles which serve for sale, and give 
them occupation, when by any circumstances they 
are prevented from out-door labor. The number 
of pupils is at present 450. It is not intended to 
keep them after sixteen, but they are willing to re- 
ceive them at the earliest convenient age. I saw 
several not more than six or seven years old. 
They live in families of forty or fifty, in separate 
houses, under the care of a respectable man > and 
his wife, who give them their whole time. This 
seemed to me a most judicious provision. They 
have a guardian with them in the fields, who 
always works with them. Many of them have 
been condemned at courts of justice for some petty 
offence, and many of them, orphans and friendless, 
have been taken up in the streets in a condition of 
miserable vagabondage. The discipline of the in- 
stitution is altogether moral and paternal. Confine- 
ment, abstinence, solitude, and disgrace constitute 
the chief punishments; but there are no whips, no 
blows, nor chains. It has been so far eminently 
successful. A boy, who had been early familiar with 
punishment and prisons, and now for some time a 
resident at Mettray, was asked, Why he did not run 
away from Mettray ? His memorable answer was, 
"Because there are no bolts nor bars to prevent me." 
