The Eddy current., 1899-03-11
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS or INTEREST TO
AoRicuLTuRisTS.
someUp.to-Date tIints About cot.
tivation os the soil and Yields
Thereof -IIorticuiture. vitleuituse and
Fi0ricuiture.


Agricultural Education IN Russia.
A report sent out by the United
States department Of agriculture
says: The government OF Russia n
planning for the establishment OF
quite extensive system of agricultural
education. AZ recent meeting OF the
agricultural council. an advisory body
Of which the minister Of agriculture
Il chairman. an outline presented by
the minister was considered at length
and a general plan Of agricultural ed-
hcatlon was elaborated The intro
ably inferior soils OF western Europe.
Almost everywhere In Russia the
primitive processes OF farming are
duction TO this document states that
Notwithstanding the fundamental Inn
portance OF agriculture to Russia and
tho great fertility OF some Of the Rus
sian soils, the crops obtained even
on the chernozem (blnck soiD are on
ly onethlrd to one-halt as large as
those harvested from the lncompar-
/ perslstently followed hy the farmers,
whAe the number OF persons who are
: fitted by education and training TO
/ disseminate Information on the ra-
/ tional methods OF agriculture is COM
| paratlyely insignificant" The scheme
outlined for q higher education, fur
aished by independent agricultural In
/ stltutcs located In the chief agrlcul-
4 tural zones OF Russia. and by chairs OF
/ agricultural and allied sciences In the
universities. (2) agricultural high
schools. which arc IN the nature OF
| technical schools and schools with
courses In agriculture; 90 lower ag-
. rlculturai schools; and (D the dinu-
sion OF general agricultural informa-
tiou. The schools for the so-called
Z lower education include (al secondary
agricultural schools. (b) primary ag-
ricultural schools. tcl agricultural
classes. and cd practical agricultural
courses.
These lower schools are TO be under
/ the Jurisdiction OF the minister OF ag-
/ riculture and imperial domains. They
are to he maintained at the expense
OF municipalities. local communities.
associations. etc. but may receive n
part OF their support from the govern
ment. They are TO have the franking
/ privilege for official mail matter and
packages not exceeding 80 pounds In
weight. The secondary schools are to
DO established en- government land or
lanh donated for that purpose, The
other lower agricultural schools may
be established on private estates. The
secondary schools are open 20 young
men OF all conditions who have com
pleted the course In the primary pub
lie schools The course OF instruction
covers four years. and includes In ad-
dltlon TO the general studies the ele-
ments - the natural sciences. agrl-
cultural and rural economy cattle rails
ing, veterinary. agricultural law, hor-
tlculture. gardening etc. together with
carpentry and blacksmlthing IN their
application 10 agricultural machinery.
The primary agricultural schools
are open 10 all who can read and write
and have a knowledge OF arithmetic
as far as fractions The courses last
from one 10 three years They include
aside from general studies, instruc-
tion IN the elements OF agriculture.
with practical exercises. Tho classes
In agriculture are intended for the in
structlon o! young men OF the peasant
class Tho course does not last longer
than two years, and consists In the
study OF the rudimentary principles
OF agriculture aud their Application "a
the local conditions. The successful
completion OF the course IN these three
grades OF the lower agricultural
schools carries with Il certain redue'
tions In the military requirement, de-
pendent upon the grade.
The practical agricultural courses
are designed to impart popular lnfor
nation IN particular branches Of agri
culture. The instruction does no
continue for more than year, apt
consists IN demonstrations. talks. ans
practical exercises IN dlneren
branches OF agriculture IN their appli
cation 10 local conditions, and espe
clally 20 the conditions Of the peas
ants The diffusion Of general agri
cultural information Is to be provides
for by u) the ora iization OF public
readings or lectures on agriculture
questions for the benefit OF difieren
classes Of the population; CD instruc
ti9n OF the teachers in the publ
schools In agriculture. horticulture
gardening. apieulture, etc, and pro
. yldlng the public schools with smal
! piats OF land and means for cultlynt
ing the same; (S) the teaching OF az
riculture IN the normal schools, m
co the introduction OF supplementary
courses In agriculture In the villag
schools There are now In Russl
three schools for higher agriculture
Instruction nine agricultural hig
schools. s3 lower schools. and 90 aps
, cial courses, Steps have already bee
taken for tho establishment OF abou
!. so additional agricultural schools.
blackberry Crops.
2 Nn hfafkharrY can he brought