the Northern District, there are 93 where the number of boys is under 20; 23 where it is under 30 ; and only 21 where there are 40 boys and upwards. There are four with 100, viz., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Liverpool, Preston and West Derby. The proportion is much the same in the other districts as in the Northern.

7. Providing situations for the children.-If boys and girls have not the prospect of obtaining situations when they are ready for them, the influence on the Schools is injuriously felt. They lose hope, and have nothing to stimulate them to exertion. Were this matter attended to systematically, it would tend strongly to promote exertion and a feeling of independence. In cases where Schools obtain a good character, and where there is a steady demand for boys and girls, a healthy state and tone are generally found to exist.

8. Industrial Training defective.-In towns this can hardly be carried out in an efficient manner, as only in-door occupations can be pursued ; and in country places, where land may be had in abundance, it is generally neglected. Wherever the cultivation of land is a portion of the industrial training, a good effect is almost invariably produced.

9. Inferior physical condition of the children.-As you descend in the social scale man's physical and mental energies seem to degrade, and hence this inseparable concomitant of pauperism is to be added to all the other difficulties in the way of reclaiming the pauper child.

Having said so much of the difficulties and imperfections in the way of Pauper Education, it remains to say a few words as to the method by which it might be improved. I have not left myself sufficient space to enter fully into this question; and, indeed, for its full and proper discussion it would require a separate paper. From what has been already said, the nature of the remarks which I am about to make will be readily anticipated.

Suggestions. The evil influence which workhouses are calculated to have upon the bringing up of youth has been set forth, not indeed with all the power of which the subject is capable, but still, perhaps, after a manner sufficient to shew the great necessity which exists for a complete separation of the children from the adults. The net-work of pauperism, in whose meshes children are entangled, and from which they find it next to impossible to

extricate themselves, would to a great extent be broken through; and the complete separation of children from adults could be effected at a much less expense of feeling than is generally imagined. If we remember that the orphans and illegitimate children constitute 77 per cent. of the whole, we shall see that the great bulk has no one particularly interested in looking after them. I am persuaded also that the separation of the dissolute pauper parents and their children should be insisted on, if the children are to be reclaimed. It is repugnant to our natural feelings to propose such separation, but experience goes to shew that unless it be adopted the work will never be effectually accomplished.

The complete separation, and the formation of District Schools would obviate most of the difficulties noticed here. The tone of the School would not then be taken from the contaminating influence of adult paupers; the position and pay of the Schoolmaster would be better, and a superior class of men would present themselves. The head of the establishment should be a man of educated and enlarged mind. The industrial training could also be fully carried out.

may

Suggestions illustrated.—As practical illustrations of what is here advanced, I refer to the Kirkdale Industrial Schools and to those at Swinton. These have been productive of great good, and have raised hundreds from the pauper class to be useful and industrious members of the community. The population of a great number of Unions is so large, that they would each require such a School for the training of the whole of the pauper children. If the smaller Unions were to unite throughout the Kingdom, and to form District Schools, and if they were put under good management, the best results might be looked for. Good management is, however, as important as the formation of districts, for we have an example in Leeds of how little an Industrial School may accomplish, through bad management.

In the management of District Schools valuable hints might be derived from the family system, as practised at Mettray, for the reformation of juvenile offenders.

It would not be difficult to point out other examples, both at home and abroad, in confirmation of the principle of separation, the necessity of which is strongly shewn by the various facts and statements adduced in this paper. It is beginning to be more extensively acted upon, but until

it be more generally adopted and until the majority of pauper children are brought under the influence of sound education and judicious training, the results most desired will not be produced. Gradual improvement is all but certain, for the cause of education will not in the present day be lost sight of; and the prominence which it has attained is no more than its importance demands. But though educational subjects have been much discussed, and the instruction in schools much improved in consequence, we are yet far from that degree of excellence at which it is quite possible to arrive. It is earnestly to be hoped that England will not rest satisfied till she secures the first place among the nations in the training of her labouring population, and in the enlightened treatment of her poor.

Workhouses may be improved.-Even without resorting to District Schools, the condition of workhouses might be materially improved. This could be accomplished by raising the standard of workhouse Masters to be the same as that in prisons. If an educated and thoroughly competent person filled this important office in every case, much might be done to de-pauperise both adults and children. Attention to classification is also of great

importance.

But, after all, I am persuaded that nothing would tend so effectually to do so, as THE COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE ADULTS; AND DISTRICT OR INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS UNDER A GOOD

SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT.

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ON A FUNGOID DISEASE AFFECTING THE PEAR TREE. By Thomas Sansom, A.L.S., F.B.S.E., &c.

(READ 20TH DECEMBER, 1855.)

The Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire having lately extended its field of operations, and included under the general term "Science" all subjects connected with Botany and Natural History, I offer no apology for bringing before the members the subject of the present notice. I am induced to do so as I consider, first, that all questions relating to Natural History are acceptable; and, secondly, that when those subjects have any bearing upon the cultivation or domestic use of the vegetable kingdom, their value is greatly enhanced. In the present instance, I fear I shall not be able to throw much light on the peculiar formation I have brought under notice, but I lay before the Society the little I have been able to acquire, in the hope that it may lead to further observations, by botanists better able to investigate the subject than I am.

In the garden of Mr. Edward Higgin, at Walton Breck, near Liverpool, are several pear trees. Three of these trees have suffered from a disease, to such an extent as to render the fruit unfit for food. As the disease did not make its appearance to any extent until after the fruit was gathered, Mr. Higgin supposed his gardener had bruised the fruit in collecting it; but upon further investigation, he found such was not the case, as all the pears had been picked by hand and housed with great care. When the fruit was first gathered it appeared perfectly sound, and it was not until several days after it had been deposited in the store-room, that a change took place. It soon became apparent, however, that a large portion of the fruit of three of these trees was rapidly decaying, whilst the fruit of the other trees remained perfectly sound. Upon a more careful examination of the pears, Mr. Higgin discovered, in every one, a nucleus from which the disease appeared to spread, thus confirming him in the opinion that the decay arose from some peculiar disease, and was not accidental.

N

Mr. Higgin, in forwarding specimens to me for microscopical examination, states that Tree No. 1, a Maria Louise, is a well-grown tree four or five years old, growing against the end of his stable, on a brick wall facing nearly south. It was barren until last year, when it produced a large crop, which was gathered in October, the fruit remaining in perfection until Christmas. This year it had only thirty-nine pears, which duly ripened and were gathered in October, immediately after which, part became infected. He is not aware that any showed signs of the disease until a day or two after being placed in the store-room.

Tree No. 2. Jalousee de Fontenoy Vendee is a dwarf standard, growing in the open garden, (near a hotbed frame, heated by manure from the stable). It was purchased last year from Davis's Nursery, Green Lane, West Derby, and bore a large crop for so small a tree. On it, two of the pears were diseased before being gathered, and before the fruit became mellow and ripe, each pear became rotten.

Tree No. 3. Nelis D'Hiver, a new dwarf tree similarly purchased, also in the open garden. It bore perfectly. None of the fruit became ripe

before it was diseased.

None of these trees had liquid or other manure. The garden is three years old, the soil is good loam with eighteen inches of yellow clay, and sand-stone rock below.

I have examined the fruit sent to me by Mr. Higgin, and I find it affected by a fungus, to a very considerable extent. I received some of the specimens of the Maria Louise apparently sound; I have therefore been able to trace the progress of the disease, and in the following observations I shall confine my remarks to this tree.

In the fruit, the disease first makes its appearance in the shape of a small thickened spot, rather darker than the natural color of the pear: this gradually becomes black and ultimately cracks. From this time a slight swelling takes place around the spot, which assumes a reddish appearance. This increases very rapidly, until the greater part of the pear is absorbed, giving the whole fruit a soft and shrivelled appearance. If a section be made through the decayed part, it is found that decomposition extends a considerable distance into the heart of the fruit, and that it is very watery in appearance. On placing a section under the microscope, the cause of this rapid decay becomes apparent, the whole of the diseased part being