24

deficiency is to be supplied by Mr.
Tarton, and charged to the debit of
the general agricultural fund. But if
it should exceed that sum, or according
to that rate, that the surplus should be
handed over to the credit of the said
fund.

NOTE—The effect of this arrangement
would be to prevent any personal gain,
or loss, in case the produce of the farm
should be more or less than estimated.
No money would pass, there being simply
a transfer in the accounts: in other words,
it would only take a rather longer or
shorter time in which to extinguish the
present debt on the property.

3. That all extras and salaries allowed be
   paid by the Sub-Treasurer in equal
   quarterly instalments.

4. That the allowance due on behalf of
   the pupils be also paid quarterly at the
   rate of £7 10s. each, per annum; and
   that previous to each quarter day the
   exact number of pupils during the past
   quarter be ascertained by the Inspect-
   ors from the regular books of the
   school, and certified to the Sub-Trea-
   surer.

5. That in case of boys running away
   from the Institution with their clothes,
   and which it is impossible to recover
   again, that the Inspectors have permi-
   sion to allow for the same in their
   certificates.

6. That the above allowance may be
   made irrespective of any holidays
   which may be required for the encour-
   agement of the boys, and the satisfac-
   tion of the parents; since what might
   be saved in food would be lost in
   clothing and other expenses.

7. That the special farm account referred
   to be audited by the Inspectors, who
   should see that a proper balance be
   struck, and carried over to the general
   agricultural account at the end of the
   year.

8. That a certain sum be allowed for
   extras.

9. The school is conducted as closely
   as possible on the Glasgow system of
   education, and the hours of teaching are
   from eight to eleven o’clock in the morn-
   ing, and from three till six in the afternoons
   of the week days. The schoolmaster Mr.
   Thomas Skinner, has every requisite
   qualification for his arduous office, and is
   devoted to, and indefatigable in his en-
   deavours to improve the minds of his
   pupils.

10. On week days the boys are en-
    gaged during the intervals of school
    hours, viz., from eleven till half-past
    twelve, and from half past one till three,
    in giving assistance at every operation
    of the farm, excepting only that of sow-
    ing grain, which, as yet, it has not been
    thought prudent to entrust to them.
    These labours, in conducting which some
    few of the pupils have become quite as
    efficient as the generality of European
    lads of their own age, consist of plough-
    ing, grubbing, harrowing and rolling the
    ground with teams both of oxen and
    horses; in planting, ploughing in and
    taking up potatoes; in mowing, harvest-
    ing and stacking the cereal crops; thrash-
    ing and winnowing grain; in carting
    firewood and other requisite farm timber
    from the forest; in preparing and erect-
    ing post and rail fencing; in carting out
    and spreading manure; in milking cows,
    feeding horses and cattle, and in short,
    partaking in the performance of all the
    ordinary work of a farm. As connected
    with this head of our Report, we have to
    remark that a piece of ground has been
    allotted for horticultural purposes, and
    that it is Mr. Turton’s intention to com-
    mence shortly to have the boys instructed
    in this important branch of culture also.

11. Of the number of lads who had
    left the institution previous to March last,
    nearly all could read their own language
    well, and some could read the English
    Primer and New Testament with ease,
    though not quite perfectly. They were
    apt at spelling and translating exercises.
    In arithmetic, two of the number pro-
    ceeded as far as interest, going twice
    through the whole of the single and com-
    pound rules, rule of three, practice, Bar-
    ter, &c. Others, however, could only
    pass compound division, and there were a
    few who never got over, or could retain
    in memory the multiplication table. In
    writing, their progress was about on a
    par with that ordinarily to be observed
    among English lads of like age; but in
    geography, from the circumstance of the
    Institution being unprovided with maps
    till the latter period of their attendance,
    they were necessarily deficient. Moral
    and religious instruction were, of course,
    sedulously attended to throughout the
    curriculum. The boys who are now in
    the Institution have made, we consider,
    very remarkable progress in reading,
    writing, arithmetic, geography and in the
    knowledge of the English language.
    Considering how short the time was, at
    the date of our visitation, that the boys
    had been under tuition, their acquire-