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also superintend their dormitory, refectory, and other arrangements. (2.) The garden-nurseryman must give the apprentices general notions of kitchen- and market-gardening, particularly in pruning and grafting. He must also instruct the garden-apprentices in the principal branches of horticulture, both by practice and precept. (3.) The farm-bailiff must teach the apprentices how to handle and keep in working order the several implements and machines of the farm, and generally must direct their work both in the field and the farm-buildings. These three members of the staff are resident on the farm, and the director has them under his immediate orders, both as regards the work of the farm and the instruction in the school. (4.) The veterinary surgeon has under his care the animals of the farm, and by explaining facts and demonstrating simple operations he shows the apprentices how to give them in sickness the most necessary relief whilst waiting the arrival of a skilled practitioner. The whole establishment is under the control of a committee of supervision, who determine what candidates are eligible for admission. They especially insist upon the candidate's possessing a good elementary education, and sufficient strength to perform the manual work of the farm. The Inspector-General of Agriculture is also charged to keep a watchful eye upon the general conduct of the farm, and report to the Minister his views upon the subject. The description of one of the farm-schools known as " La Pilletiere " is as follows: "The country is very picturesque ; wooded hills and dales, with either vineyards or pasture land on the slopes, meadows in the valleys, and arable land between, afford ample means of instruction in a wide range of agricultural subjects. Owing to the slope of the ground the farm-buildings and the school have a character of their own. The sheep-stables occupy the ground-floor of the lowest aspect, and are succeeded at a higher level by the cow-stalls and horse-stables, which are flush with the surface of the ground at the doorway, looking in the opposite direction. Above these again come the school-buildings, the dormitories, and other offices, which can alone be said to lie 'upstairs.' All the appointments are of the most approved character. The farm consists of 280 acres, a large proportion of which is in pasture, clover, and lucerne, and a certain acreage in vines. Four Charolais oxen and four horses are kept for farm-work. The cattle-stock consists of forty more or less pure shorthorn cows, all the calves of which are reared, the best females being kept to replace the cast cows, and the rest fattened for the butcher. The sheep-stock consists of 150 head of all ages and sexes, the breeding flock being sixty crossed Leicester-merino ewes. The pigs have long flap ears, and are chiefly of the native blood, with a certain, or, rather, uncertain, infusion of the large Yorkshire breed. The course of instruction extends over three years, and the ordinary apprentices are the sons of small proprietors and tenants in the neighbourhood. They have to undertake the different departments of farm-work in rotation—for instance, three are employed in the cattle-sheds for a month, and one in preparing the cattle-food ; and the next month these are replaced by the apprentices next in rotation for these duties. The school is designed for thirty-six pupils, twelve of whom are expected to go out and come in every year." Having described the farm-school of " La Pilletiere," I may mention the practical work done at Preston, Cheshire, and Bedfordshire. At Preston the Harris Institute undertakes the theoretical portion of the agricultural work, whilst the practical work is carried on at Hutton, about four miles from Preston. The farm consists of about 200 acres, with model buildings, which have recently been added to in the form of a dairy-school. A fine herd of cattle is available for this work. At the time of my visit the operations for the morning had just been completed, the students, eight in number (boys), being engaged in washing and cleaning the dairy appliances. Steam-power is attached for dairy purposes, but hand-churning is also practised. The course of instruction lasts eight weeks, boys and girls being received alternately. During this period the students are boarded and lodged free of expense, receiving instruction in butter- and cheese-making on the most approved principles, and lectures on the chemistry of milk and the science of dairywork. Experimental plots are provided for the testing of seeds and manures, something like fifty plots being available, in addition to ordinary crops. There is also a special department for poultry, where feeding, breeding, incubation, cramming, and every other form of instruction is given. Students from the Harris Institute attend the farm from time to time in order that they may see the practical operations carried on upon the land. The Bedfordshire School Farm consists of 274 acres, placed at the disposal of the County Council by the Duke of Bedford, to which have been added school-rooms, dormitories, and livingrooms. About twenty boys who have passed the Fifth Standard or have attended evening classes are received. The age is usually about fifteen or sixteen years. The time required to be spent at the farm is two years, board, residence, and instruction being free. A small wage is paid to each student, but this is subject to certain fines imposed in case of breach of school rules, &c. There is a farm-master, who manages the work, a dairy-mistress, a home-master, and a matron. The homemaster instructs the boys in school every alternate day in agricultural subjects, and in arithmetic, mensuration, surveying and land-measuring, botany, animal physiology, geology of the district, and other subjects likely to be of practical use to them. The boys perform all dairy operations : milk, weigh the milk, and keep a register of each cow, make the butter and cheese, and cleanse the dairy and appliances. The management of poultry, bee-keeping, and market-gardening are also part of the ordinary course of study. Everything, in fact, connected with this farm of 274 acres is done by the twenty boys, assisted by one or two labourers. Cheshire County Council. Agricultural, Horticultural, and Dairy Schools. The Agricultural and Horticultural School at Holmes Chapel is a commodious building. The farm consists of about 100 acres, of a rich loam, upon a subsoil of sand and clay, and has accommodation for about sixty students. Adjoining the school are extensive gardens, with greenhouses, frames, &c, and a considerable portion specially devoted to fruit culture. B—E. sb.