Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-09-30

ZION 10 MS SJuuy VI aHC means N
in France to finance the farm
ers of that country, Myron Herrick
has submitted to the Department OF
State a report upon the education
work done by the French Govern
and the French agricultural
associations for the promotion OF agi
r-culturel finances in France in con-
nection with Presidents Taft's effort
to introduce some form of coopera-
tive-credit or mortgage-bond system
in the United States for the benefit
of the American farmer. 1t is in con-
nection with this investigation that
he has submitted his report on the
educational work done for the French
farmer in order that the complete
system may be shown TO the American
public.
The interests of agriculture in
France, reports Ambassador Herrick
are advanced by two methods-oh-
cially, by the Ministry of Agricul-
ture, and nonofficially, by the great
agricultural societies.
The action of the Ministry Of Ag-
riculture is threefold-legislative
educational, and financial. In its leg
islative work it is assisted by the
grand committees of the Chamber OF
Deputies and the Senate, and keeps
constant touch with the agricul-
tural societies. 1t is, however, in az
ricultural education that the Minis
try Of Agriculture has done most.
At the head Of the Agricultural De-
partment stand the Institut Agron-
ONE, which corresponds to the French
Academy, the Academy of Sciences,
and the other great academies OF
learning which go to make up the In
stitut de France.
The Institut Agronome consists OF
6 members, chosen for their emin-
ence in the science of agriculture,
and 40 associate members. Election
to this body is the crown of the ca
reer of any man of eminence in
French agriculture. From it are turn
ed out the professors Of agriculture
of the highest class.
Next below the Institut Agronome
come the three great schools of ag-
riculture-those of Grignon, Mont.
pellier, and Rennes. These schools
have each large farms attached e
them, the one at Grignon, for in
stance, consisting of some 800 hec-
tares (say. 700 acres). They are pro-
vided with live stock Of the best class
for bree ding purposes and fitted with
the latest machinery and chemica'
.laborities on the most elaborate scale
Every student carries out a large
amount of theoretical work, but al
the same time the practical side i:
by no means neglected.
There are at each of these great
schools from 100 to lao pupils. Thu
full curriculum at all the schools /.
to two and one-half years, divided
into three sections. From 40 to 81
pupils join these schools each year
The students live in the college ai
boarders. TIE fees paid by each pu
Pill at Grignon amount to 1,20t
francs (say. $3.50 a year; at Mont
pellier, 1000 francs (s200) and a
Rennes, 500 francs (s100). At Rem
mes, however, the pupils do not boarC
at the college. Pupils enter at the ag'
of Is.
Next below these great colleges o
agriculture come the Ecoles Pratt
ques de l~'Agriculture, of which ther'
are eight in France. The course Of in
struction is much the same, in man.
respects, as that given at the highe'
schools already referred to. but NOR
attention is paid to the practica
side. Each of these practical schools
of agriculture consists of about IA
pupils. The fees vary from 500 L
500 francs (s120 to s160) per an
mum, including board.
Next comes a yet lower grade o
school. which is called the Farm
school Ties Ecoles Fermes.) Thes
consist of private farms on which
a certain number of pupils are train
ed under Government supervision. !
appears, however that this method o
agricultural education is showing
tendency to die out.
In addition to these various schools
devoted entirely to giving instruc
|tion in the subject, agriculture !
also taught in every lycee and su
perior primary school in France. Thu
teaching is in the hands of a verl
efficient corp of professors. Teey arr
divided into two classes-the depart