FRANCE. An elaborate system of agricultural education is maintained under the auspices of the national government. At the head of this system stands the Institut National ..4gronomique at Paris, in which instruction of university grade is given in agricultural science, supple mented by laboratory and field practice. Next in order are the national schools of agriculture. in which theoretical and practical instruction are combined. These are located at Grignon, Rennes, and Montpellier. A third class includes the secondary agricultural schools for the chil dren of farmers, who receive theoretical and practical instruction under competent agricul turists, and at the same time perform all the work necessary to carry on the school farm. In many of these schools general agriculture is taught, but some are devoted to special lines, such as viticulture. dairying, or irrigation. An other and older kind of agricultural schools comprises those in which a system of apprentice ship is employed. On the completion of his term, the student receives a small sum of money as compensation for his labor. These schools are no longer popular, and have materially decreased in number.
Since 1879, instruction in the elements of agri culture, horticulture, and natural history has been obligatory in the normal and primary schools of France. In each department of the country a professor of agriculture is appointed to prepare a course of instruction in agriculture for the normal school, to hold farmers' meetings for the dissemination of information regarding improved agricultural methods, and to main tain model fields of demonstration. Besides,
chairs of agriculture have been established in many lyceums and colleges throughout France. Important special schools are the dairy school at Jlaunirolte, the school of agricultural indus tries at Douai, the school of horticulture at Ver sallies, and the school of horse breeding at Le Pin.
has a system somewhat similar to that of France. Ind in some par t hada rs more thoroughly organized. At the bead of this system are the Agricultural Insti tute of Gembloux and the University of Louvain. Neutral and special agricultural schools of sec ondary grade have been established for young men and young women. and courses of instruction in a7riculture are given in pulolie and private schools of secondary grade. Courses in agricul ture are given in the normal and primary schools also: numerous courses of lectures are provided for adult farmers in various parts of the coun try, and a corps of government agriculturists is charg,ed with disseminating information, and in various ways promoting the hist ruetion of farm ers in improved methods of nrioiture.