mr. Norton’s letters, etc. 
17 
itlr. Norton’s Cetters-—No. 15. 
Agricultural School of Templemoyle , Ireland.-— 
After my visit to Islay, described in my last letter, 
I made, in company with Prof. Johnston, a short 
excursion to Ireland. The immediate object of our 
going thither at this time, was to be present at an 
examination of the Templemoyle Agricultural 
School, near Londonderry. This school has now 
been established a number of 37 -ears, and is in a 
most flourishing condition. This success, however, 
would never have been achieved, had it not been 
for the indefatigable exertions, and liberal contribu¬ 
tions, of many gentlemen interested in the cause; 
chief among whom must be ranked Sir Robert Fer- 
uson. Living only a few miles from the school, 
e has enthusiastically endeavored to forward its 
interests, and now has the pleasure of seeing it in a 
condition to fulfil his expectations. 
Templemoyle is about nine miles from London¬ 
derry, situated on a beautiful green hill, with a 
most lovely prospect from its front. The buildings 
are plain, substantial, and convenient; the dormito¬ 
ries for the boys scrupulously clean, and everything 
in the highest order. There is the commencement 
of a good agricultural museum, containing seeds, 
roots, tools, models, &c. 
The farm attached to the institution is worked 
entirely by the boys, and is in beautiful order ; we 
saw, I think, but a single weed. The land was 
originally light and thin in some places, but mostly 
a poor thin clay. By thorough draining, deep 
plowing, liberal manuring, and judicious cropping, 
it has now been brought into capital condition for 
the most part; all oi the crops were good except 
the grass in the pasture field. 
The boys are maintained for the very low sum 
of £10, or about $50, per annum, including tuition; 
Of course they live in the most economical manner. 
Examinations first took place in Geography, 
Arithmetic, Reading, and all the ordinary branches. 
They were then brought out upon the green in front 
of the house, in order that all of the great crowd of 
spectators might have an opportunity to hear the 
Agricultural examination. They were first required 
to answer a long list of written questions; this they 
did very well, but it was not perfectly satisfactory, 
as they might be supposed to be beforehand pre¬ 
pared upon them. Prof. Johnston then took up the 
examination, and subjected them to a very severe 
cross-questioning, which they bore admirably. 
Their answers showed that they had not merely 
learned a certain number of answers by rote; but 
that they had thought , and had in some degree ap¬ 
plied the principles taught them, to the circum¬ 
stances in practical experience which each day 
presented. The result was very satisfactory to all 
friends of the institution; and, I believe, satisfied 
every one present that the boys were prepared for 
future usefulness. 
Since the Templemoyle examination, I have at¬ 
tended the Annual Show of the Highland Society 
at Dumfries, and while there, I saw an examination 
of about 25 boys, in Agricultural Chemistry, who had 
been brought together for the purpose from various 
parts of Scotland. I was at a preliminary and a 
public examination. These boys, in their different 
schools, had attended to Agricultural Chemistry for 
half an hour or an hour,' once a week, this length 
of time being that recommended by the Education 
Committee of the Agricultural Chemical Association. 
As a preliminary step they were examined by 
Mr. Davidson, Sector of the Normal School, Edin¬ 
burgh, on the usual branches of education in the 
parish schools, to show that these had not been 
neglected. In conclusion, Mr. Davidson declared 
that in these blanches they seemed equal to the 
children of other schools. Prof. Johnston then 
commenced the part allotted to him, and purposely 
striking away from the beaten track of the Cate¬ 
chism, made his questions unlike, in form to any 
they had before heard. The readiness and the tho¬ 
rough acquaintance with first principles which 
they showed, astonished every one present. Some 
prizes had been offered by the Agricultural Com¬ 
mittee to the boys who acquitted themselves best, 
and the eagerness which they all manifested, was 
most amusing. The different masters also became 
highly excited each for his own boys, and I felt 
myself, when the competition waxed keen, becom¬ 
ing almost as much interested as if I were one of 
the parties concerned. Some eight or ten of the 
boys were so equally matched that it was almost 
impossible to decide which was best, and premiums 
were accordingly given to each of them. I never 
saw anything more entirely and triumphantly satis¬ 
factory than this examination. No person present 
could have remained unconvinced that young boys 
could not only remember, but understand, the prin¬ 
ciples of scientific agriculture, as laid down in 
Prof. Johnston’s Catechism. One of the boys who 
took a premium w r as a little fellow of eleven years, 
and the pertinency of his answers frequentl}' elicited 
bursts of applause. Eight schools were represented 
at this time; but this instruction has as yet been 
introduced into but a small portion of the parish 
schools of Scotland. What has been done there 
and in Ireland is most encouraging, it shows that 
the movement is on safe ground. 
I trust that in America, by the universality and 
completeness of our instruction, we shall be able to 
show the old country an example in this respect. 
Durham , Nov. 12 , 1845. John P. Norton. 
A Superior Yoke of Working Oxen.- —When 1 
was present at the Cayuga County Cattle Show last 
October, I saw a very superior } r oke of working 
cattle. The owner informed me that he had put in 
50 acres of spring and fall crops of grain with them 
the past season; some of the land for which had 
been ploughed three times, and that this 3 'oke of 
cattle had done the whole, besides hauling his hay 
and grain from the field to the barn during harvest 
time. Will not this demonstrate that ox-labor is 
cheaper than that of the horse ? N. 
Curiosity—Grafting. —In the spring of 1844, 
I put two grafts of an early apple, into an old bear¬ 
ing tree. In July or August (the exact time not ie- 
membered) following, I cut off one of the sprouts, 
and put two buds in other limbs. This summer the 
buds bore apples; one of them had four apples on 
it, which came to maturity; the grafts also bore 
apples. The fruit partook of the nature of the 
tree in which it was grafted to some extent. 
Jersey Shore , Pa. Robert Hamilton 
