and can receive a State grant for each course of instruction amounting to 1 800
kronor, the lowest grant made being 1 000 kronor. In other respects, the conditions
are the same as for the farmers’ school.
Schools of agricultural economy of a higher class are the schools established
by the Fredrika-Bremer Society at Rimforsa in Ostergotland, and the Uppsala
School for Household Economy on its estate called Brogârd, both of which
are intended for a two-years’ course of training, both practical and theoretical,
for women teachers of household and agricultural economy. Both schools enjoy
State grants.
Among the entirely private schools in Sweden imparting instruction in agriculture
may be mentioned the Northern School of Agriculture, at Hagaberg
near Jonkoping, and the Skâne School of Agriculture, at Dala in Malmohus
Lan. P. J. Bbsio, the Director of the first-named school has made himself
known for his enthusiastic and effective work as a lecturer in the country
districts of Sweden.
The educational establishments described above, viz., the agricultural schools?
thp farmers’ schools and the schools of agricultural economy, like the People’s
High Schools, have originally arisen from private initiative, and even at the
present time are not the property of the State, but are owned-by private individuals
or Associations guaranteeing the payment of the expenses, or by the
County Councils and the Agricultural Societies. They have, in consequence,
been able to develop fairly independently, and in accordance with the greatly
varying conditions existing in different parts of the country. There-exists a
regulation common to the two last-named classes of schools, viz., that the State
grant can only be obtained on certain conditions. The principal are, that the
school shall be under the direction of a Board; the principal and the chief
teachers shall possess certain qualifications (they must have passed the examination
for “agronom” or trained agriculturalist; see below); the course of
instruction must be of a certain minimum length; there must be a certain
number of pupils; the local authorities must certify that the school is necessary;
the school must possess an income equal to the amount of the State grant,
over and above the so-called fixed grant (Sw. grundanslaget); a certain number
of pupils shall enjoy free instruction; the minimum age of the pupils must be
18 years (women may be as young as 16, however); the pupils applying for
admission to the farmers’ schools shall have taken part in agricultural work for
the space of one year, and, finally, a report of the work of the -school shall be
sent every year to the Board of Agriculture, which is to fix the course of instruction.
State grants in aid of pupils possessing small or no means amount, at present
a) at agricultural schools to 60 and 100 "kronor respectively; b) at farmers
schools, schools of agricultural economy and the theoretical winter-course at the
Norrland agricultural schools, to 15 and 25 kronor respectively per month, and
c) to 1 krona per day for small farmers taking part in th e . two-weeks’ courses.
The total sum devoted to the above grants is 70 000 kronor.
Inspection of all the lower grade agricultural schools is carried out in accordance
with the Royal Regulations of June 29, 1912.
The agricultural schools are governed by the Regulations dated October 19,
1911 and Febr. 28, 1914.
The Farmers’ schools and the Schools of agricultural economy are governed by
the Regulations of June 10, 1912, and, as regards the grant to these institutions,
by the Royal • Proclamation dated June 29, 1912.
Respecting experts and ambulatory farm-bailiffs, see the Royal Proclamation
dated Oct. 19, 1911.
The Agricultural High Schools have as their object the imparting’ of
instruction in agriculture, based on scientific investigation.
The High Schools embrace the following courses :
1) A two-years’ _ course intended to give instruction in the theoretical principles
necessary for a rational method of agriculture, and 2) a one-year’s experts’
course, consisting of a continuation course based on the former one for
agriculturalists (Sw. agronomer), and intended for the training of experts and
teachers of farming. The course for experts is divided into two lines-: a) one
principally for the training of experts in the land-farming branch; b) principally
for the training of experts in the cattle-farming branch.
At Alnarp there is a third line for dairy-farming. The subjects of instruction
are those commonly taught at every higher agricultural school. The study of
pedagogics is one of the subjects in the course for expert's.
As far as possible, the instruction must be given in connection with the agricultural
economy of the large landed properties of the State at Ultuna and
Alnarp, where the two High Schools are situated.
In order that the pupils may derive as much benefit as possible from their
training, the High Schools are provided with the following establishments :
a) An agricultural experimental field.
b) A botanical garden.
c) An economy garden (Sw. ekonomitradgârd) and nursery.
d) A laboratory for practical experiments in physics, chemistry, botany, and
bacteriology.
e) An anatomy room, and stalls for sick animals.
f) Museums, with materials for instruction.
g) A library.,
Alnarp also possesses a farriery school and a dairy-farming school.
The school-year begins on November 1; the vacations last altogether 12
weeks.
The teaching sta ff consists of eight lectors, and adjuncts or assistant masters.
One of the lecturers (Sw. lektor) is appointed Principal (rektor) for a period
of five years, and has the task of superintending and directing thé school. The
farm belonging to the High School is managed by a Steward under a Board of
Directors, which superintends both the school and the estate. The steward is the
head master of the agricultural school attached to the estate.
At each high school there shall be places for not less than 44 pupils, 4 of
whom shall be free scholars, and for 2 pupils that intend to become agricultural
engineers. In addition, there shall be places for 6 pupils in the course for experts—
Paying pupils are charged 100 kronor yearly for instruction-fees and 75 kronor
for rooms; board is paid for in accordance with a scale fixed by the directors.
Free scholars pay nothing for any of these things.
The requirements for admission to the course for agriculturalists are:
a) The applicant for admission must be not less than 18 years of age; b) he
must have had at least two years’ practice in farming ; c) he must possess a
certain (modern school) degree of knowledge corresponding, at least, to a “pass”
in the realskolexamen , or to that possessed by a pupil in the “secondring”
(upper sixth class) at a State secondary school, in Swedish, German, mathematics
and- natural science. Applicants can also send in certificates showing
that they have reached a corresponding standard of knowledge, the said certificates
to be submitted to the Board of teachers for investigation and ’ approval.
Many, of the pupils, prove .to have passed the matriculation examination. A
good preparation has been, found to be previous attendance at a People’s higb