GOG UEroUT OF OFFK^E OF KXl'FlilMENT STATIONS. 



Whotlicr it is \vis(> to force iiui-iculturo into the fouiinon schools is 

 a question for serious consideration. Agricultural mikI rural subjects 

 should be introduced laro-cl^', if at all, for the purpose of training- the 

 mind and of })uttin*>- the pupil in sympathy with the things with which 

 he lives. If the or(^at bod}' of teachers of any State are not in sym- 

 pathy with the teachino- of agricultural subjects and have no knowledge 

 of the n, it would seem that little can be gained by forcing such sub- 

 jects on them. The work nmst begin farther back — by arousing the 

 pupils, the teachers, the parents. These are questions of procedure to 

 be worked out in each great geographical region. The next few years 

 are likely to constitute an epoch of experiment from which permanent 

 good can not fail to come. In the meantime, we must not be impatient. 

 The elementary tcxt-l)ook of agriculture Avill be onl}' one factor — and 

 sometimes a very small factor — in this new development. 



Of course, the best view of the subject of text-book literature is to 

 be had by examining the books, but there are few libraries in which 

 all these works can be seen. Therefore, I have brought together a 

 chronological list of all American text-books of agriculture with which 

 I am acquainted, together with transcriptions of theii' tables of con- 

 tents. It is an interesting and suggestive record. Efforts enough 

 have been made, but the}^ have fallen short of anticipations. Before 

 text-books we need teachers, and we must appeal to the child through 

 his interest in nature rather than technically in the farm. 



The full contents are given in place of reviews, in order to show the 

 way in which the subject is approached and handled. Most of these 

 books are in the author's library. 



CHRONOLOGICAI. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICAN TEXT- 

 BOOKS OF AGRICULTURE. 



1824. Daniel Adams, M. D. The Agricultural Reader, Designed 

 for the Use of Schools. Boston, 1824. Published by Richardson 

 & Lord. Pp. 264. 



The book is not divided, into chapters. It contains about 70 articles, mostly on 

 agricultural practice. There are a few poems; also a glossary. The book opens 

 with an "explanation of terms," and it is designed that the greater part of these 

 explanations be committed to memory. 



1837. J. Okville Taylor. The Farmer's School Book. Published 



at the "Connnon School Depository," Albany; and by Mack, 



Andrus & Woodruff, Ithaca. Pp. 232. 



Introduction. Chapter I, Chemistry — General Principles; Chapter II, Caloric; 

 Chapter III, Oxygen; Chapter IV, Nitrogen; Chapter V, Atmosi)here; Chapter 

 VI, Carbon — Carbonic Acid; Chajiter VII, Light — Electricity; Chapter VIII, 

 Hydrogen; Chapter IX, Water; Chapter X, The Earth; Chapter XI, How Tillable 

 Lands are Made; Chapter XII, The Composition of Arable Lands; Chapter XIII^ 

 Vegetable Nutriment; Chapter XIV, Properties of Mixed Earths and Their Culti- 



