STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 199 



Mr. Owen, in his letter, eays : 



"I hasten now to furnish, as you request, an outline of the plan of 

 stucty which I think might be advantageously adopted, throwing out 

 other hints which can receive consideration, provided the means are suffi- 

 cient and the public mind prepared. 



"Finding the great advantage of addressing all instruction, as far as 

 practicable, to the eye, (in addition to that given through the medium of 

 the ear,) I would recommend a museum, (besides the lecture-room, each 

 having its own appropriate specimens and diagrams,) to contain — 



'' First — All the most important minerals, arranged according to Dana's 

 text book. 



" Second — The necessary rocks and fossils, to illustrate pretty thoroughly 

 each geological period. 



" Third — A suite of plants, arranged according to the natural orders. 



" Fourth — Specimens of all the most important seed vessels (chiefly 

 fruits) and seeds, (grains, grapes, etc.) 



;t Fifth — A zoological department, exhibiting the most important ani- 

 mals, from the sponge and polyp, up through the star fishes and sea eggs, 

 worms, crustaceans, and insects, (particularly those injurious to agricul- 

 ture,) mollusks, fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals, (including the skele- 

 tons of all the domestic animals,) to end with man. 



" Sixth — Numerous charts, exhibiting streams of time, chemical tables, 

 geological sections, maps of physical geography, giving meteorology, dis- 

 tribution of plants, animals, rain, etc. 



" Seventh — A good set of philosophical instruments to illustrate the de- 

 partment of natural philosophy and land surveying, such as the air-pump, 

 electrical machine, mechanical powers, rain-gauge, barometers, thermom- 

 eters, hygrometers, hydrometers, microscopes, sextant with horizon, etc. 



" Eighth — Models of machinery, as grist mills, saw mills, paper mills, 

 cotton machinery, and the like. Also, improved agricultural implements 

 of every description, and models of barns, bridges, grain houses, etc. 



[" N". B. — This museum should be open to the agricultural and normal 

 institutions.] 



" INSTRUCTION. 



" First — For physical development, gymnastics, agricultural operations 

 in suitable weather, at least for a part of the classes, (the others taking 

 the succeeding day,) as ploughing, digging, mowing, sowing, etc. 



" Second — For moral culture, religious instruction, moral philosophy, 

 music, (especially vocal in parts,) social gatherings or re-unions, at least 

 for some classes, each week, when they should meet the Professors and 

 their families, having some object to bring them together, such as micro- 

 scopic examinations, or the magic lantern, music, or portfolios of engrav- 

 ings, etc., to examine. 



"Third — For mental improvement, supposing the elementary branches 

 mastered; then drawing, land surveying, geography, bookkeeping, hu- 

 man anatomy, physiology and hygiene, comparative anatomy and physi- 

 ology, vegetable physiology, chemistry, mineralogy and geology, botany 

 and zoology, lectures on gardening, pruning, fruit raising, wine making, 

 etc.; agricultural chemistry, embracing lectures on manures, improving 

 worn out lands, drainage, etc.; lectures on stock raising and farriery. 



