294 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



■vrishes to acquire available knowledge. One of the greatest 

 defects of our elementary schools is their failure to learn schol- 

 ars how to use books. By this arrangement tliis defect in 

 elementary instruction will be remedied in all those who may 

 resort to these institutions. 



But it may be said, in all this, no provision is made for the 

 trial of experiments in the application of science to practical 

 farm operations. This is true. And your committee would 

 beg leave to say, that they do not deem it desirable that such 

 experiments should be had in connection with any public school 

 arrangement, some reasons for which have been suggested in 

 the former part of this report, to which we refer. It seems to 

 us, that the true line of policy is, to refer experiments on the 

 suG:gestions of science to the farmers themselves, and that the 

 various agricultural and horticultural societies of the State are 

 the best agencies to foster and encourage such experiments, and 

 the Board of Agriculture, as proposed to be organized, the best 

 medium for the collection and diffusion of a knowledge of the 

 results attained. Your committee are confirmed in this opinion 

 by the course they understand to be pursued in England with 

 reference to this very matter. Prof. Johnston devotes his time 

 to original investigations in organic chemistry. When he makes 

 any discovery which suggests any new substance or composition 

 as a fertilizer, or new method of treating soils, manures or 

 plants, he communicates the suggestion to the society or socie- 

 ties for whom he labors, and such as choose, test the sugges- 

 tions by experiments under his instruction and direction, and 

 in due time the result is reported through the society's transac- 

 tions. This has been carried on for a number of years, and 

 probably to no source is agriculiural science so largely indebted 

 for its progress, or practical agriculture for its improvement, 

 wherever the English language is spoken, as to this. And still 

 it works, and its course is onward. At this moment, probably, 

 more original agricultural experiments are in progress under 

 this resiimc than in all the rest of the world. 



In conclusion, your committee wish to say, sliould the Legis- 

 lature, in their wisdom, see fit to adopt the three bills proposed 

 by this Board, of which the one accompanying this report is the 

 last, and make them laws, it seems to us the foundation will be 



