"There are some other Schools of Industry with which we have had opportunities of becoming acquainted, and which are well deserving of attention. We refer particularly to the Refuge for the Destitute at Hoxton, the Warwick County Asylum, and Mr Allen's School at Lindfield, Sussex. We visited the school at Lindfield in July 1831, and it had then been established several years. Not only had Mr Allen, the benevolent founder, no assistance in building his school, but most of the wealthy inhabitants endeavoured to thwart him; while among the peasantry themselves the most preposterous stories were afloat respecting his real designs. These poor people had been so little accustomed to see persons act from other than selfish motives, that they could not believe it possible that any one would come and erect a large building, at great cost and trouble to himself, merely from the desire of promoting their good. They felt sure that all this outlay was not without some secret object; and at last they explained all much to their own satisfaction, by referring it to the following notable project:-The building was to be applied to the diabolical purpose of kidnapping children; a high palisade was to be thrown up all round it, and other measures taken to prevent entrance or escape; then the school was to be opened, and everything to be carried on smoothly, and with great appearance of kind and gentle treatment, until such a number of children had been collected as would satisfy the rapacious desires of the wretches who had hatched the wicked scheme; when all at once the gates were to be closed upon them, and the poor innocents shipped off to some distant land! Greatly, indeed, must a school have been wanted where such unheard-of absurdity could circulate and obtain credence. At length the building, a most substantial and commodious one, was completed, though few, indeed, were those who at once ventured within the dreaded bounds. However, by dint of perseverance, this number was gradually increased. The few children who did come began in a short time to take home with them sundry pence which they had earned in plaiting straw, making baskets, &c.-arts they were learning at school. The boys began to patch their clothes and mend their shoes, without their parents paying a penny for the work. Meanwhile there came no authentic accounts of ships lying in wait on the neighbouring coast, nor had even the dreaded iron palisades raised their pointed heads. Little by little the poor ignorant creatures became assured that there was nothing to fear, but, on the contrary, much practical good to be derived from sending their children to the school; and that, strange and incredible as it might seem, the London' gemman' was really come among them as a friend and benefactor.

"A breach being thus fairly made in the mud-bank of prejudice, it was not long before the whole mass gave way. In short, the scheme proved so completely successful, that at the time we visited the school, almost every child whose parents lived within

a distance of three miles was entered as a pupil, the total number on the list being no less than three hundred; though, from the frequent calls made upon the children for assistance in the fields, and from the bad state of the roads in certain seasons, the number in actual attendance did not exceed one hundred and fifty. About a hundred of the children form an infant school, their ages varying from a year and a half to seven years. For these a distinct part of the building and a separate playground are provided. The remaining two hundred are divided according to sex, the boys' rooms and playground being apart from those of the girls. The children are at school eight hours each day, three being employed in manual labour, and five in the ordinary school exercises. There is a provision for a diversity of tastes in the classes of industry; indeed, the most unbounded liberality is manifest in all the arrangements. Some are employed as shoemakers, others as tailors; and others again at plaiting, basket-making, weaving, printing, gardening, or farming. The children work very cheerfully, and, as we expected, are found to like the classes of industry better than school.' 6 We say we expected to find this the case; for until the ordinary plans of instruction in reading, arithmetic, &c. are much improved, and the exercise made more intellectual and interesting, we fear that children will take but little pleasure in their school lessons. The first employment to which the little workers are put is plaiting straw. When they are expert at this, which is generally at the end of a few months, they are promoted to some other craft; the one of highest dignity being that of the printer. Before leaving the school, a child will often become tolerably expert in three or four trades. Those who work on the farm have each the sole care of a plot of land measuring oneeighth part of an acre, and each is required to do his own digging, sowing, manuring, and reaping. An intelligent husbandman, however, is always on the ground to teach those who are at fault. The plots of land were all in clean and nice order; and from the variety of produce-oats, turnips, mangel-wurzel, potatoes, and cabbages the whole had a curious and amusing appearance, reminding one of the quilted counterpanes of former years.

"We found the system of matayer rent in use, each boy being allowed one-half of the produce for himself, the other half being paid for the use of the land, the wear and tear of tools, &c. One lad, twelve years old, had in this way received no less a sum than twenty-three shillings and sixpence as his share of the crop of the preceding year; and we were told that such earnings were by no means uncommon. Of course the practical knowledge to be acquired on a miniature farm of this kind would not be sufficient in itself to fit a boy for the cultivation of land upon that large scale on which alone it can be tilled to the greatest advantage; still he will have learned much that will be of direct use to him on a farm of any size; and what is far more important, he will have acquired habits of industry, intelligent

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observation, and forethought: and thus prepared, he will learn as much in a few months as the dull and ignorant boy, whose only training has been in the hovel or at the plough, will acquire in as many years."

JUVENILE GARDENING.

According to the above account, it would be possible to support schools for boys in large towns from the united labour of the pupils, independently of small earnings which the pupils might individually retain. Perhaps it might be alleged that juvenile labour is a grievance; but, under proper restrictions, it could be rendered amusing, and in every respect beneficial; though, granting that it is as great a grievance as some consider it to be, I should be inclined to think it preferable to juvenile ignorance and juvenile starvation. Were the labour in the form of gardening, the objection would doubtless be removed. Schools embracing juvenile gardening might advantageously be established in the vicinity of every populous town, where the produce could be easily disposed of at a remunerating price, and where, if required, manure could be procured without difficulty. We have seen what has been done in the way of juvenile gardening at a boarding-school at Ealing; and have now to give an instance of its application to a day school in Warwickshire. The account is extracted from a newspaper of 1834.

"Two years ago, Mr Smith, a benevolent gentleman residing at the market town of Southan, in the county of Warwick, divided an acre of ground between twelve boys selected from the national school of that place. Their ages ran from twelve to sixteen or more; the spot selected for experiment formed an irregular square; the plots varied as to width or size, but each ran from the top to the bottom of the field; the rent demanded, not of course as a tax but a stimulant, was in some cases sixpence, and in others only one penny per month; and that there might be nothing in the shape of effect or display, Mr Smith made no previous inquiry as to the dispositions or talents of his juvenile tenants. At the commencement of an undertaking every way so interesting, the difficulty lay on the side of procuring tenants; but now that his views are known and appreciated, in place of a dozen, he could at any time obtain from forty to fifty, all eager to profit by the example of their schoolfellows, and the instructions of so kind and considerate a landlord. Originally, the plots and rents were made to quadrate as nearly as possible; but experience has shown the advantage of change, and the inexpediency of perfect uniformity. During the present summer, the tenants had increased to fifteen, and next year it is intended to part with two of the bigger boys, and divide their land into three takes.' To such as may feel inclined to adopt the same philanthropic plan, one or two hints may be useful or necessary. First, it should be recollected that the work is progressive; second,

that desire or taste must be created in the boys to raise, and in their parents to appreciate, useful garden vegetables, before the market is overstocked; and thirdly, as essential to these results, that the supply of land must be kept under the demand.

"Mr Smith superintends everything himself, and enacts very few rules. No boy is permitted to trespass on the property of his neighbour working on Sundays is strictly prohibited; rent-time is fixed at eight o'clock on the first Monday of every month; punctual attendance is requested and given; the landlord meets his tenants in the kitchen, and transacts business with them according to the number of their plots; no rent is taken during the three winter months; and when the season closes, the benevolent master-man sups with his interesting foster-family, and makes each and all as happy as the rules of temperance and frugality will permit. On these occasions the conversation is turned on gardening; and however easy the colloquy may be, it is in every instance made the vehicle of instruction.

"The boys are expected to raise useful garden vegetables, such as peas, beans, onions, carrots, leeks, rhubarb, cabbages, &c. Potatoes to any extent are discouraged, while wheat or any other grain is forbidden. During the present season, Mr Smith's juvenile horticulturists had better crops than any other person in the town of Southan; and as to variety, the like, it is believed, was never witnessed on the same space of ground since gardening began. Besides supplying their parents with vegetables, the boys sell a portion, and earn in this way, according to the season, from fourpence to eightpence per day. Some of their parents are so considerate as to pay for what they take; and after discharging the monthly rent, the balance is carefully husbanded till Christmas, when it is expended on clothing, shoes, &c.

"Mr Smith's object, as will be at once perceived, is to train youth to habits of industry; and so completely has he succeeded, that boys, previously idle, immediately find employers from the simple circumstance that they have been a few days or weeks under his tuition. During the present summer, the whole have been in regular employment, while individuals, not a few grown to man's estate, have been lounging about in a state of idleness. Occupancy of a spot of earth, however small, the pleasure it yields, and the profit it produces, not only inspire new notions, but render the tenants more trustworthy, and in the opinion of the public furnish a guarantee which is preferred to those general certificates, which are too readily furnished to be of much value. No particular plan of cropping is strictly insisted on; and beyond a few general hints, everything is left to the judgment of the little fellows themselves. Of their own accord they make small beds of compost; burn roots, sticks, and rubbish; pick up stray droppings wherever they can find them; and, by the exercise of this species of industry, turn to excellent account what would otherwise become a nuisance. After a fair-day, it is quite

exhilarating to see them bustling about with their little barrows, and clearing all the lanes and streets in the neighbourhood. If the boys, so long as they behave themselves, ever lose their little lots, it is only to make way for younger brothers; and the owner, founding on this implied feeling of security, has no fear that they will ever do anything to injure the land. Distributing prizes was tried, but afterwards abandoned; for where all did their best, it was found injurious to make any marked distinctions; and Mr Smith thinks it better to give presents of the finer kinds of seeds, and garden tools. But here his intentions are frequently anticipated; and it is astonishing with what facility the youthful horticulturists manage to provide by honourable means whatever they are in want of. It is intended to encourage the cultivation of medical herbs, roses, and camomile flowers, with the view of affording employment in picking the latter.

When

"Once a-year a holiday is proclaimed, and the gardens inspected; and then the parents are exceedingly anxious to assist their children in making everything look trim, tidy, and clean. But this is prohibited, for the obvious purpose of teaching them to rely exclusively on their own resources. the boys are at work, no strangers are permitted to enter the gardens, excepting their younger brothers or sisters; and their benevolent teacher has much pleasure in looking over the hedge of his own garden, and through some leafy screen, noting their proceedings.

"Mr Smith, like all genuine philanthropists, is exceedingly anxious that the example he has set should be followed by others. To the country there would be a great gain in industry, and to proprietors very little loss of rent. The garden-ground at Southan could not possibly bring more than £6 per acre; and the boys among them actually pay at the rate of £5, 8s. The following is a plan of the gardens of two of the boys :

TEN ROWS OF WINTER CABBAGES, ALTERNATELY.

ONE ROW OF RED PICKLERS.

ONIONS,

FOUR FEET WIDE.

CARROTS,
DO.

TURNIPS,
DO.