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INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE 
Lectures on some of the leading divisions of agriculture are 
now delivered at the Universities of England, Scotland, and 
Ireland, and schools are establishing in various parts of the 
country for the instruction of young men in the various branches 
of agricultural education. The institution near Romford is one 
of the earliest of these, and we heartily wish it success. 
The instruction of the young farmer commences with Botany — 
the structure and uses of plants, especially of those which are 
most connected with the interests of the farmer — the nature and 
causes of the diseases of vegetables — the means of prevention, 
and the ease or difficulty of the assimilation of the food of plants. 
Chemistry follows next; and its connexion with agriculture is 
of deep importance, whether we regard the composition and 
nature of soils, the value oT different manures, and their adapta- 
tion to different purposes. 
Mechanics will pleasingly unfold the principles on which 
machines are constructed — their comparative value for different 
purposes, and embracing all the difficulties and all the improve- 
ments of horse and manual labour. 
Hydrostatics and Hydraulics will bring home to him the com- 
position and uses of water, and the principles of drainage and 
irrigation — and connected with these will be the nature and 
agency of light and heat, and meteorology — the theories of 
winds, and clouds, and rain. 
The Veterinary Art will not be neglected, but means will be 
taken to obtain from some competent person, and to a certain 
extent, instruction respecting the various animals that will here- 
after constitute one of the most interesting divisions of the pro- 
perty of the farmer — their usual and most profitable nutriment — 
the indications of health and of disease, and the means of meet- 
ing ordinary cases when the veterinary practitioner may not be 
at hand. 
Whether we regard the young farmer or the veterinary prac- 
titioner, there is no way in which a year or two could be more 
pleasantly or profitably employed, and we trust that the time 
is not far distant when this course of early and useful study will 
be generally adopted. 
