The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-25 00:00:00

THIRD COURSE.

" A general course of farm management during the
year." " The various operations of ploughing (science
of ditto), sowing, harrowing, digging, mowing, reaping,
and housing crops." " Management of cattle, various
breeds of ditto, feeding for milk and flesh, medical treat-
ment of cattle and horses, dairy management, milk,
butter, and cheese, feeding of pigs," &c.
All these subjects are discussed during the time of
training. The men take a deep interest in the matter,
and are extremely anxious to acquire knowledge; being
mostly from country parts, the suns of labourers or
farmers, and having previously some practical know-
ledge, they become very clever before the course is
over, and always excel at the examinations. They ac-
quire this knowledge with much facility, and they agree
in stating that they can teach it to the children with
the same facility, much easier and quicker than the
common branches of a mathematical and commercial
education. As a reward (to the teachers having a few
acres) fur proficiency in the management of their small
holding, and for an efficient manner of teaching the
science in the school, a small premium or gratuity be
given them annually to pay the rent of their holding, or
so, according to merit, upon the report of the agricul-
tural inspector or superintendent; one or more of these
superintendents to be appointed by the Board for the
purpose of looking after such matters, and particularly
the district agricultural schools.
There can be no doubt but agricultural schools and
model farms attached, established on correct principles,
and conducted on a proper system, &c., placed in diffe-
rent parts of the country, would tend more than any-
thing else to accelerate the progress of agricultural im-
provement. The people must have an example before
their managementeyes of superior and modes of money
making, before they will give up their absurd practices,
and adopt an improvement. These schools and farms
would be the central situation and the medium of con-
veying information through an extended district. It is
on such farms that absurd practices can at once be broken
through and exposed, and a new principle carried out
with success. These ought to be experimental as well
ac model farms ; for they ought to be not alone placed
in different situations and localities, but on different soils
and in different heights in the atmosphere, by which the
most valuable and important experiments could be
carried out. In fact they might be an immense and
efficient machine fur disseminating in the shortest
possible time, and at the lowest possible cost, a su-
perior and important education through every part of
the country. The great question next arises, how is this
machine to be constructed in the shortest time, in the
simplest manner, and at the cheapest rate ? for expensive
machinery is entirely out of the question in this country,
and cannot be a proper example.. My own opinion is,
that in establishing such schools and farms in any part
of Ireland, or on any gentleman's property, no portion of
the public money voted by Parliament for the education
of the poor, ought to be expended in making perma-
nent improvements on, or embellishing any private pro-
perty. I should say that a landlord who is to enjoy the
benefits of such an institution among his tenants, and
secured in the due payment of the rental, is entitled to
give a lease at a fair rent, according to the quality and
situation of the land, and construct all the necessary
farm buildings, likewise make, or assist to make, all
permanent improvements, such as fencing, draining, &c.
The Board may be fairly called on to build and furnish
a school-room, but no more. They ought also to train
and prepare a competent teacher at the model farm
establishment. Glasnevin, and give him a fixed salary as
an agricultural teacher. There ought at all such dis-
trict schools to be two teachers, an in-door literary
teacher, and an out-door agricultural head teacher, the
latter to pay the rental and all expenses of the farm, and
to have the produce and income for his use, the same as
the model-farm, Glasnevin, Lough Ash, and Cloghan.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
Very few subscribers were present, and business was
on too small a scale to call for any introductory re-
marks. We subjoin a list of the bets
NEWMARKET HANDICAP.
50 to 1 offered on the field, and give a nomination
The entry closed in town and at Newmarket.
CHESTER CUP.
50 offered on the field
650 to 10 agst Lord Chesterfield's Pam—taken
4000 to 55 ag,st SirC. Cockerell's The Dake of Richmond
300 to 5 taken about Mr. Meiklam's Diomed, with a
nomination.