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Dunstan Times, Issue 846, 5 July 1878, Page 3

Since the war, says an exchange, Franco has not been devoting all her energies to strengthen the military power of the country. The developments of agriculture set afoot with liberality by the late Emperor havo been followed up closely by the country. In no part of Europe is agricultural education more earnestly taught than France ; in no country is a taste for agricultural pursuits more systematically developed in the young. The instructions issued to village as well as town schoolmasters are First, aim at fitting your pupils for citizens ; next, imbue them with a taste for rural pursuits ; above all, obliterate that growing evil, the tendency of farmers’ sons to leave tho country for the town. Decided success has followed these precepts in the village schools. Tho practice there is for the teacher to read, expound, and experiment in a familiar manner with the rudiments of agricultural operations ; there are special schools where the science can be followed up. Successful teachers receive bonuses fiom the General Government, aid in many cases from looal societies. Tho testing of seeds is becoming a special avocation of the school teachers, and specimens of improved fowls, pigeons, and rabbits flow in upon them. Tho girls in the country schools are taught their departments of tho life of the farmhouse—the dairy, conking, account keeping, rules of of health, Ac , It is from such sources that the extraordinary vitality of France is making itself felt, and the country Is becoming wealthy In men and material to an extraordinary degree. Judging by the Agricultural Department reports that reach Us, the France of to-day is actually proud of her agricultural advancement. May it long conlinue so I