TRIM DISTRICT MODEL SCHOOL. Of the pupils in attendance in December, 1851, there Inspection of Head Inspectors. Model Farm As this table shows a great disproportion in the numbers belonging to each persuasion, it is right to mention that the vast majority of the people are Roman Catholics, and that a school is established in Trim for the education of Protestants. XIV.-40. We referred in our last Report to the measures which required to be adopted for securing a more frequent inspection of our schools. We have since made a new distribution of our school districts, and increased the number from 34 to 44. Of these 36 are in charge of District Inspectors, and the remaining 8 are under the superintendence of Sub-Inspectors. The augmentation in the number of the districts, has enabled us to reduce the number of schools in each. This arrangement has diminished to some extent the circuits of our Inspectors; but even now they have, on an average, upwards of 100 schools to Report upon periodically, none of which they can possibly visit more than three times in the year, and many only twice. many only twice. A further increase in the number of those officers will, therefore, be indispensably necessary. 41. It will be seen from the Reports of our Head Inspectors, contained in the Appendix to this Report, that the greater portion of their time, during the past year, has been occupied in the examination of Teachers, in superintending the District Model Schools, and in the preparation of Special Reports. It is of great importance that the Head Inspectors should be enabled to inspect more frequently the ordinary National Schools in their respective districts. To accomplish this object, effectually, it will be necessary to add to their number. The expediency of adopting this arrangement is at present under our consideration. XV.-42. The present state of our Model Farm is at Glasnevin. fully described in the Reports of Dr. Kirkpatrick, Inspector of Agricultural Schools, and Mr. Donaghy, the superintendent of the farm, published in the Appendix. We beg to direct your Excellency's attention to the details furnished in those documents, shewing the manner in which this department continues to be conducted. In all essential points it has fulfilled our expectations. The number of Agricultural Pupils in the establisment, during the year 1851, has been as many as our existing buildings could accommodate; and we have on our books numerous candidates for admission. The attention of the several officers to their duties has been zealous and unremitting. The general routine of management pursued at the farm has afforded much satisfaction to our Agricultural Inspector, who states that it has been characterized by skill and industry. The new Farm Buildings referred to in our last Report are nearly finished, and they will be opened for the reception of pupils at an early period of the next year. Various circumstances have occurred to retard their completion. Our Agricultural Inspector observes in his Report, that "when they shall be in full operation, the peculiar business of each department will be more effectively and regularly performed than at present. The buildings will afford the means of having many desirable improvements introduced, which heretofore could not be carried out for want of adequate accommodation. For instance, a suitable apartment can be appropriated as an Agricultural Museum, in which, specimens of the different minerals, soils, manures, and chemical preparations useful to the farmer, with analyses of their composition-seeds of the different agricultural plants adapted for profitable cultivation in this country, with samples of their produce-models or drawings of such useful agricultural implements as the pupils are not already familiar with, or as may be invented from time to time and accurate drawings of the most approved breeds of the different farm animals, can be arranged and exhibited, in order that the pupils may not only be acquainted with the nature, properties, uses, and varieties of the foregoing, but may be made familiar with their appearances, and thus enabled to recognize and distinguish them one from another. This and other improvements, when in operation, will give a fresh and VOL. I. Visitors to Model Agricultural Schools vigorous impulse to the efficiency and utility of the establishment as an educational institution." 43. The Model Farm was visited during the year by many persons highly qualified to form a correct and impartial estimate of the value of agricultural establishments, designed for the benefit of the labouring classes. Amongst those who have given the strongest testimonies to the utility and efficient management of the Model Farm, at Glasnevin, is Vere Foster, Esq., who spent twelve months there in the capacity of an extern pupil, and to whose letter in the Appendix, addressed to Mr. Donaghy, we feel much satisfaction in referring. 44. We give in the subjoined lists, Nos. 1 and 2, the names of the Model Agricultural Schools in connexion with our Board, on the 31st December, 1851. They are divided into two classes. The first comprises those schools under our exclusive control, and which are conducted on the plan of which we gave an explanation in our Sixteenth Report. The second consists of those schools towards which we have made building grants, and awarded salaries and books, but which are under the superintendence of local Patrons or Managers. No. 1.-MODEL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS under the exclusive management of the COMMISSIONERS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION. No. 2.-MODEL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS under the management of Local Patrons. No. 1.-MODEL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS under the exclusive management of the COMMISSIONERS. No. 2.-MODEL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS under the management of Local Patrons. From the foregoing Returns it appears, that of 28 Model Agricultural Schools 22 were in full operation at the end of the past year; 3 in partial operation; 2 in progress of erection; and 1 built, the Teachers of which are not yet appointed. Boarders and tural Schools. 45. There are two classes of boarding pupils received Agricultural into the Model Agricultural Schools, viz.: those who con- Industrial tribute an annual sum towards their support, and those Classes in the who are admitted gratuitously. The number of the Model Agricul former, on the 31st December, 1851, was 55; of the latter, 41; total, 96. The number of pupils receiving small weekly payments for working on the farms was, at the same date, 181. Of those, 118 are paid at the rate of six-pence per week, out of the funds at our disposal, and 63 by the Patrons of the Schools or the Agricultural Teachers. There are several Model and Ordinary Agricultural Schools into which Industrial Classes have not been yet introduced, with payments attached to them; but they will be formed, with our sanction, whenever the system of farm management is reported to be satisfactory by our Agricultural Inspector, and the local Patrons or Managers shall state their willingness to contribute a weekly allowance to an equal * The building of this school is completed, but the Teachers have not yet been appointed. Ordinary Number of number of boys with those paid by our Board. The utility of these classes has been sufficiently tested, and the pupils thus employed in our Agricultural Schools for two hours each day, are reported by the Agricultural Teachers as being the most regular in their attendance at school, and the most proficient in literary, as well as agricultural knowledge. The practical remarks in the Report of our Agricultural Inspector on this subject, are worthy of attention. 46. We have stated in former Reports, that the only aid the Ordinary Agricultural Schools receive from us is an addition of £5 per annum to the Master's salary; and, in a limited number of cases, a small weekly sum, not exceeding six-pence, to each of the pupils who assist in cultivating the plot of ground attached to the school. The Teacher generally pays the Manager a moderate rent for the farm, and receives the amount of the produce sold. The number of this class of schools, at the end of the year 1850, was 37. We added 5 to the list in 1851; struck off 2; and raised 2 to the class of Model Agricultural Schools, thus leaving a total of 38. Several new applications were undisposed of at the commencement of the present year. The practical working of this description of Agricultural Schools has been, with few exceptions, of so satisfactory a character as to leave no doubt upon our minds of their beneficial tendency. We shall be prepared, therefore, to grant the usual amount of aid in all cases that are recommended by our Agricultural Inspector. 47. We give in the subjoined table the number of Ordinary Agricultural Schools in each province:— ORDINARY AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS, on the 31st Dec., 1851. Workhouse 48. The nature and extent of the assistance we give to Workhouse Schools, to which agricultural departments are annexed, were explained in our last Report. We had then only 7 of this class under our Board. On the 31st of December, 1851, the number was 16, of which |