Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-04
AMERICA MAY LEARN OF FRANCE
Study Of Credit System for Benefit oi
EarmerS

Study Of Credit System for Benefit oi
Farmers.
In addition to his study Of the means
employed in France to finance the
farmers Of that country, says Wash
ington dispatch, Ambassador Myron
Herrick has submitted to the depart
ment Of state a report upon the educa-
tional work done by the French gov
ernment and the French agricultural
associations for the promotion Of agri-
culture. Ambassador Herrick is max
ing an exhaustive study of the ques-
tion of agricultural finances In France
in connection with President Taft's ef-
fort to introduce some form of co-op-
erative- credit or mortgage bond sys-
tenn 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 educa-
tional work done for the French farm
er in order that the complete system
may be shown to the American public
The interests Of agriculture in France
reports Ambassador Herrick, are ad-
vanced by two methods-oficially ',y
the ministry of agriculture, and non
officially, by the great agricultural So
cieties.
The action Of the ministry Of agri-
culture is threefold-legislative edu-
cational, and financial. In its legisla-
tive work 1t is assisted by the grand
committees Of the chamber OF deputies
and the senate, and keeps in constant
touch with the agricultural societies
It is, however, in agricultural educa-
ton that the ministry Of agriculture
has done most.
At the head of the agricultural de-
partment stands the Institut Agronome
which corresponds to the French acad-
emy, the academy of sciences, and the
other great academies Of learning
which go to make up the Institut de
France.
The Institut Agronome consists OF
fifty-six members, chosen for their
eminence in the science Of agriculture,
and forty associate members. Election
to this body is the crown Of the career
Of any man Of eminence in French ag-
riculture From 1t are turned out the
professors Of agriculture Of the highest
class.
Next below the Institut Agronome
come the three great schools Of agri-
culture-those Of Grignon, Montpelier,
and Rennes. These schools have each
large farms attached to them, the one
at Grignon, for instance, consisting OF
some 300 hectares (say, 700 acres.)
They are provided with live stock OF
the best class for breeding purposes
and fitted with the latest machinery
and chemical laboratories on the most
elaborate scale. Every student carries
out a large amount Of theoretical
work, but at the same time the prac-
tical side is by no means neglected.
There are at each Of these great
schools from 120 to 140 pupils. The full
curriculum at all the schools Is OF two
and one-half years, divided into three
sections. From forty to fifty pupils
Join these schools each year. The stu
dents live in the college as boarders
The fees paid by each pupil at Grignon
amount to 1000 francs (say, $250)
year; at Monepellier, 1000. francs
($2O0), and at Rennes, 500 francs
(s1OO). At Rennes, however. the pupils
do not board at the college. Pupils en-
ter at the age Of Is.
Next below these three great COL
leges Of agriculture come the Ecoles
Pratiques del pAgriculture, Of which
there are eight in France. The course
of instruction is much the same, In
many respects, as that given at the
higher schools already referred to, but
more attention is paid to the practical
side. Each Of these practical schools
of agriculture consists Of about lao pu-
pills. The fees vary from 600 to sOo
francs ($12O to $500 per annum, In
cluding board.
Next comes a yet lower grade OF
school, which is called the Farm School
Ges Ecoles Fermes.) These consist
of private farms on which certain
number of pupils are trained under
government supervision. 1t appears
however, that this method Of agricul-
tural education is showing a tendency
to die out.
In addition to these various schools
devoted entirely to giving instruction
in the subject, agriculture is also
taught in every lycee and superior pri'
mary school in France. The teachine
is in the hands of very efficient corps
of professors. These are divided into
two classes-the departmental profes-
sors. each of whom is at the head oi
the agricultural instruction in his de-
partment, and the assistant professors
one of whom Is attached to each ar
rondissement, or parliamentary elec-
toral district.
This systematic organization OF ag'
ricultural education is one OF the great
est works of the third republic. 1t mas
given astonishing results. The value
of the annual crops in France during
the fifteen years that have elapsed
since this educational system was IN
troduced has increased by 2,5OO,OOO,oo'
francs (s5OO, ,OOO,OOO.) This remarkable
result is entirely due to improved
methods Of cultivation resulting from
the educational advantages now en-
joyed.
So much for the official side of agri'
ricultural instruction in France. The
non-official organization Of agriculture
in the republic is in the hands OF two
great institutions known as the So
ciete des Agriculteurs and the Societe
Nationale Encouragement de rAgri'
culture.
The Societe des Agriculteurs d.
France, which Is the more important