AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. 
88! 
dry is practised, or the culture of stock and crop are combined, 
there are farmers well qualified to impart instruction in their 
profession, as well as possessing such cultivated minds as to 
render them valuable companions. A two-years’ residence with 
an agreeable and intelligent farmer, who practises the raising of 
corn, with the breeding and management of cattle and sheep, 
and putting his hand to every kind of work, could not fail to 
impart to young men of ordinary capacity, a competent know¬ 
ledge of farming. 
“ Such a tuition we consider absolutely necessary for the eldest 
sons, and for the greater part of the progeny, of our landed pro¬ 
prietors. 
We are entitled to speak confidently on this subject; for the 
foundation of our practical knowledge of agriculture was laid by 
an intelligent farmer, and most agreeable companion, in, perhaps, 
the best country for farming in Scotland ; and never since have 
we had cause to consider the lime rnis-spent. 
Should these remarks attract the attention of those country 
gentlemen who may feel inclined to profit by them, we can fur¬ 
nish them with the names of some of the most eminent farmers 
who have been in the habit of taking pupils ; and leave it to their 
own discretion to choose the most eligible situation. 
But we think the system of tuition might be beneficially ex¬ 
tended. Most farmers, we apprehend, are not quite competent 
to teach the science of agriculture in connexion with its practice. 
Suppose, then, an extensive farmer has a large house, capable 
of containing a number of pupils, not exceeding twenty. That 
number we conceive to be enough for efficient and successful 
tuition. Let this house be sub-divided into comfortable sleeping 
apartments, a large dining-room, a large dravvdng-room, and a 
room fitted up partly as a library, and useful also as a reading 
and writing apartment. Let a tutor of competent acquirements 
be appointed to take the immediate charge of the pupils, both 
within and without doors. He should be able to teach the appli¬ 
cation of chemistry, although we are not so sanguine as most 
people of the utility of this science to agriculture. He should 
teach the application of the laws of mechanics, in order that the 
principle on which any implement operates may be comprehend¬ 
ed—and of hydraulics, that the principles of draining, embank¬ 
ing, and constructing reservoirs for water, may be easily under¬ 
stood. He should teach botany, to enable young farmers to dis¬ 
tinguish soils by their natural vegetation ; and jjarticularly the 
physiology of plants, that the culture of them of whatever kind 
may be in conformity with appropriate soil and situation. Also 
geology, that the sub-strata or sub-soils may obtain due regard. 
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