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District No. 21. - Christopher Graham, Esq., Athy.

Co. Kildare-Baronies of Clane, Connell, Kilcullen, Kilkea and Moone, Naas North, Naas South, Narragh and Rheban East, Narragh and Rheban West, Offaly East, Offaly West, and Salt South.

King's Co.--Baronies of Coolestown, and Philipstown Upper. Queen's Co. Baronies of Ballyadams, Cullenagh, Maryborough East, Maryborough West, Portnahinch, and Stradbally.

Co. Carlow-Barony of Carlow.

District No. 22. - Timothy Sheahan, Esq., Parsonstown.

Co. Tipperary.--Baronies of Ikerrin, Ormond Lower, Ormond Upper, and Owney and Arra.

King's Co. Baronies of Ballyboy, Ballybrit, Clonlisk, Eglish, and Garrycastle. Queen's Co.-Baronies of Clandonagh, Tinnehinch, and Upperwoods.

District No. 23. - Frederick F. O'Carroll, Esq., Waterford. Co. Waterford-Baronies of Gualtier, Middlethird, Upperthird, and Waterford (County of City).

Co. Kilkenny--Baronies of Ida, Iverk, and Knocktopher.

Co. Wexford-Baronies of Bantry, Bargy, Forth, Shelburne, and Shelmaliere.

District No. 24.-H. L. Darcy, Esq., Kilkenny.

Co. Carlow-Baronies of Idrone, and St. Mullins Lower.

Co. Kilkenny-Baronies of Liberties of Callan, Crannagh, Fassadinin, Galmoy,

Gowran, Kells, Kilkenny (County of City), and Shillelogher.

Co. Tipperary-Barony of Slievardagh.

Queen's Co. Baronies of Clarmallagh and Slievemargy.

District No. 25. - Michael Hickey, Esq., Cashel.

Co. Tipperary-Baronies of Clanwilliam, Eliogarty, Iffa and Offa East, Kilnemannagh, and Middlethird.

Co. Limerick-Baronies of Clanwilliam, Coonagh, Coshlea, Liberties of Kilmallock, Owneybeg, and Small County.

District No. 26. - Patrick Quinlan, Esq., Cappoquin.

Co. Waterford-Baronies of Coshmore and Coshbride, Liberties of Clonmel,
Decies within Drum, Decies without Drum, and Glenahiry.

Co. Cork-Baronies of Condons and Clongibbons, Fermoy, Imokilly (part of),
Kinnataloon, and Liberties of Youghal.
Co. Tipperary-Barony of Iffa and Offa West.

District No. 27.-P. J. Keenan, Esq., Cork.

Co. Cork-Baronies of Barrets North, Barrets South, Barrymore, Carbery East (part of), Cork (City of), Courceys, Imokilly (part of), Kerricurrihy, Kinnalea, Liberties of Kinsale, Kinalmeaky, and Muskerry East.

District No. 28. - Michael Coyle, Esq., Dunmanway.

Co. Cork-Baronies of Bantry, Bear, Carbery East (part of), Carbery West, Ibane and Barryroe, and Muskerry West.

Co. Kerry-Barony of Glenarought.

District No. 29. --John Dee, Esq., Tralee.

Co. Kerry-Baronies of Clanmaurice, Corkaguiny, Dunkerron, Iveragh, Magunihy, and Trughanacmy.

District No. 30.-F. W. Newell, Esq., Rathkeale.

Co. Limerick-Baronies of Connello Lower, Connello Upper, Coshma, and
Kenry.

Co. Cork-Baronies of Duhallow, and Orrery and Kilmore.
Co. Kerry-Barony of Iraghticonnor.

District No. 31.-E. W. Birmingham, Esq., Limerick.

Co. Limerick-Baronies of Limerick (County of City), and Pobblebrien. Co. Clare-Baronies of Bunratty, Clonderalaw, Ibrickane, Islands, Moyarta, and Tulla.

District No. 32. - William Savage, Esq., Galway.

Co. Galway-Baronies of Ballinahinch, Clare, Dunkellin, Galway (County of the Town of), Kiltartan, Moycullen, and Ross.

Co. Clare-Baronies of Burren, Corcomroe, and Inchiquin.

District No. 33.-J. A. Macdonnell, Esq., Ballinasloe.

Co. Galway-Baronies of Athenry, Ballymoe, Clanmacnowen, Dunmore,
Kilconnell, Killian, Leitrim, Longford, Loughrea, and Tiaquin.
Co. Roscommon-Baronies of Athlone, Ballintober South, and Moycarn.

District No. 34.--Arthur Davitt, Esq., Wicklow.

Co. Wicklow-Baronies of Arklow, Ballinacor North, Ballinacor South, New-
castle, Rathdown, Shillelagh, Talbotstown Lower, and Talbotstown Upper.
Co. Wexford-Baronies of Ballaghkeen, Gorey, and Scarawalsh.
Co. Carlow-Baronies of Forth, Rathvilly, and St. Mullens Upper.

XXX.-Suggestions for the Establishment and Government

of Agricultural Schools.

In the present alarming and calamitous state of Ireland, and with the many causes of anxiety for the future which are crowding around us, the prosperity and extension of our National Schools is, to me, the most hopeful incident in the condition of the country. The new and educated generation will, I feel confident, be un measurably superior in morals, in regard for social duties, and in their intellectual acquirements, to those who have preceded them. The difference, both in manners and appearance, between the young, in villages where good National Schools have been supported, and the inhabitants of less favoured districts, must strike even the least attentive observers. It is with a full conviction of these results, and with a most grateful feeling of respect for the distinguished and excellent men to whom the public owe so much for their conduct as Commissioners of Education, that I venture to call attention to one branch of the great system which they direct and control, and which seems to me capable of a wider extension, and of more practical usefulness.

I allude to the system of Agricultural Instruction. It is wholly unnecessary to dwell on the importance of this branch, but I may be allowed to observe, in passing, that what before the blight of the potato crop was a matter of undeniable usefulness, is now, by this casualty, made a matter of indispensable necessity. We are called upon in some districts, under the penalty of famine, to teach our people modes of cultivating better crops; and even in the less afflicted districts, if property is to be continued as such, by yielding any surplus produce, this requires more skill and knowledge than the Irish peasant as yet possesses.

The obvious advantage of Agricultural knowledge has been so often and so very recently admitted by the Commissioners (see Eleventh Report, § 8, p. 262,) that further observations from me are unnecessary.

Although it is uncalled for to argue on the usefulness of Agricultural Education, it is not unfitting to consider the best mode of promoting it, and removing the obstacles which at present retard its progress. This subject has been forced on my attention, not only by my knowledge of the present condition and wants of Ireland, but by my inspection of the School at Larne, conducted, under the guidance of Dr. Kirkpatrick, by a most able teacher, Mr. Donaghy. The first head of observation has shown me what is required; the second, what may be effected, and by what means.

§ 1. I am sorry to observe that a deficiency of the annual vote has hitherto retarded the establishment of the proposed thirty-two Model District Schools (Thirteenth Report, p. 348). But it appears that sites are already selected, and establishments are in progress in six districts. I do not find in the Circular of June, 1846, that the subject of Agricultural Instruction is proposed to be connected with these Model Schools. Yet it is obvious that an example may here best be set, and practical instruction given. These Schools will be more directly under the control and management of the Commissioners than such as are built and supported by ordinary patrons. The Teachers will be of a higher class, and it will be much easier to erect houses for boarders (the richer farmers' sons), whose annual payments will go far to reduce the expenses of the establishment. I should, therefore, most earnestly submit for consideration, the propriety of ingrafting, on each of these intended Model Schools, an Agricultural system of teaching. If the country gentlemen and landed proprietors were invited to contribute towards an object of such importance to themselves, and were permitted to nominate scholars in proportion to their contributions, I feel little doubt that private funds would be forthcoming in aid of the public vote. The farmers would also, in many cases, pay gladly for the education of their sons, as has been proved to some degree by the class of pupils educated at Templemoyle.

§ 2. The legislature has most wisely encouraged a connexion between the Workhouse Schools and the National system, and it appears (Thirteenth Report, p. 341,) that 99 Unions out of 130 are already placed under the Board.* About one-half of the inmates in the workhouses consist of children. This fact is deserving of the greatest consideration. The number of children is a rapidly increasing number, and if unchecked they will year by year occupy a larger space of workhouse accommodation, and thus gradually lessen, and ultimately engross, that which has been relied on as the only safe test of destitution. Nor is this all. Not only will the workhouse test be thus lost, but the children so brought up from infancy in the workhouses will be rendered incompetent to the struggles, the trials, and rough industry of the world at large. For what pursuit will a being be fitted who has been brought up for sixteen or eighteen years in a workhouse? Looking back to the experience derived from the endowed Board ing Schools, the Foundling Hospitals, and establishments of that nature, we must conclude that children reared in the artificial system of a public establishment will, whether male or female, be unable to stand the vicissitudes, or to withstand the temptations of ordinary life. It has sometimes been suggested that these children would furnish subjects for emigration; but brought up as paupers in the ordinary workhouses, how will they meet the hardships of the backwoods of Canada, or the labours of the bush in Australia? They will be as unfitted for the Colonies as for home, and vice and misery seem to await them. It may have been from a conviction of the deficiencies of the present system of workhouse education that the § 24 of the 10 Vict. c. 31, was passed. By this Act, § 21, provision is made for the Union for educational purposes of the North and South Dublin Workhouses, and a power is given to purchase twenty-five statute acres of land, and to erect thereon schools for the pauper children of both Unions. This principle is extended by § 24, to all Ireland, though the enactments are not very complete. The effect of this statute and its object, seem to be, to provide industrial training for pauper children; and the extent of land permitted to be acquired marks the proposed application of this instruction to Agriculture. I cannot but hope that this intention will be realized, and this without delay. Supposing every three Unions to be consolidated for education, and each district to be provided with an Agricultural School, we might hope to see from forty to fifty great establishments of this kind created and scattered over the face of Ireland, and an industrial education offered at once to 50,000 or 60,000 children. These schools would naturally fall under the management of the Board of Education. These children would no longer be the miserable, inexperienced, useless beings which workhouse education can hardly fail to form, but would constitute

* The legislation of the last Session has given a new importance to this branch of Poor Law administration.

a class eagerly sought for as farm servants, agricultural stewards, or for similar offices. If they went to the Colonies they would be equally useful there, and would give a new spring of industry to our most distant possessions.

§3. Great and manifest as are the advantages attendant on the two steps I have described, I admit that they are still insufficient. On the principles already laid down by the Commissioners, it may be assumed that the State should, as far as possible, encourage Agricultural Instruction, and the annexation of Agricultural Schools and gardens to the National Schools. Many causes some of them capable of removal, have hitherto impeded this important object. I think the annual reports of the Commissioners, if more distinct, full, and explanatory, on the subject of Agricultural Schools, might be made more useful. The schools already in operation should be accurately described; plans of the farm, houses, and buildings, should be given; specifications and estimates should be provided; and the accounts of progress stated from year to year. I doubt whether this can ever be effectually done without a special report on the Agricultural Schools made by an Inspector really conversant with the principles on which they should be conducted. No one estimates more highly than I do the valuable labours of the Inspectors already appointed-I value, because I know them. But the most able Inspector for literary purposes may be, and in most cases is, entirely incompetent to examine or to report on Agricultural teaching. More detailed reports, exclusively applicable to Agricultural Schools, and a special inspection of those schools, I consider indispensable, if we wish the system to take root and to extend.

Another great impediment to the progress of Agricultural teaching will be found in the exaggerated estimate formed of the outlay required for such an establishment. This has been proved to be a mistake by the experiment so successfully tried at Larne: four acres of land, buildings of the greatest simplicity and cheapness, farm-houses, out-offices for feeding cows, rearing calves and pigs, a small dairy, are all that are required in addition to the National Schools erected on the usual plan for males, females, and infants. The whole scheme seems to have been worked out: apprentice pupils, agricultural scholars, instructed well in literature; literary pupils, practically informed in agriculture; neither branch of study sacrificed to the other, but each giving strength and effect to the course of instruction with which it is combined; the tendency of the whole being towards a self-supporting principle, and even at present depending on an annual local contribution under £50; this is shown at Larne, in a model easy of imitation, and therefore deserving the greater praise. I should also remark, that this is done on land subject to a rent of £5 an acre; that I saw there three cows in house, two calves in process of rearing, that there was saved a pre-eminently good crop of wheat, fair oat and root crops; the whole raised without the purchase of one pound

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