STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 405 



3. Klippart's Land Drainage, by Robert Clarke & Co. 



4. Treatise on Agriculture (Manuscript) by Robert L. Bunbury. 



5. Liebig's Agricultm-al Chemistry. 



TEXT BOOKS OX FRUIT CULTURE AXD CULTURE OF ORNAMENTAL AND FOREST TREES. 



1. Thomas' American Fruit Culturist, by "William Wood & Co. 



2. Warder's Du Breuil on Vineyard Culture, by Robert Clarke & Co. 



TEXT BOOK ON CULTURE OF FLOWERS IN HOUSE AND GARDEN. 



1. Williams' Window Gardening, by Henry T. Williams. 



TEXT BOOK ON DRAWING AND ARCHITECTURE. 



1. Treatise on Elementary Drawing, by Mrs. Emma Obernauer.' 



BOOKS ENTERED BUT UNCLASSIFIED. 



1. Treatise on Book-Keeping. by I. H. Goldsmith. 



2. Reemelin's Wine-Makers Manual. 



All of the above mentioned books have been in the hands of the committee for in- 

 spection, and the same have been reviewed with considerable care, and were this 

 morning transmitted to the Secretary of the Society for your own examination and 

 disposal. We are clearly of the opinion that none of them ansv.'er the purpose in 

 view. Some fail to treat of any subject embraced in the class, and the others are so 

 lacking in simplicity and arrangement as to render them entirely imsuitable as text 

 books for primary schools. Hence we should not be justified in making any awards. 



Studies that relate both to vegetable and animal life, having manifestly both a direct 

 and indirect practical value, should be, in our view, introduced early in public school 

 education. They should in some measure be taught as early as anything is taught. 

 But it must be admitted that it would be impracticable to introduce these studies 

 early unless handled by skillful teachers, and the schools supplied with books suitable 

 for the prosecution of Ihese studies, — books which unfold the principles bj^ use of the 

 simplest language, divested so far as possible of technical terms, and only such 

 things be treated of as can be comprehended by the child; all else to be left for future 

 stages of the pupil's progress. A child can obviously be easily interested and in- 

 structed by teaching him facts about the nature, growth, and habits of plants and ani- 

 mals; but the difficulties which have been experienced, in the main, in attempts to 

 teach these natural sciences to the young, have arisen simply from a disregard of the 

 two rules hinted at above, viz.: Discard technical terms and attempt to teach only 

 such things as can be comprehended. The fault has been not so much that of teacher 

 perhaps, as of those who make the text books — the guides for teaching. These are, 

 as is very manifest, constructed for the most part in violation of the principles 

 above stated. And as most teachers follow the mode of teaching that they find in the 

 books they use, it is of prime importance that these should be constructed aright. 



Whatever is done, therefore, by societies or individuals to encourage the production 

 of suitable books on the subjects embraced in Class 58, and their introduction into the 

 public schools of the State, should receive the hearty approval of every friend of 

 popular education. 



Respectfully submitted in behalf of the committee. 



DAXIEL B. BRIGGS, 



Chairman. 



Application for a correction of the record, and completion of the award of 

 committee in Class 15, Division B, concerning Bailey's horse, was received and 

 referred to Superintendent Hyde. 



Application and letter from Mr. Heaton, of Jackson, regarding a booth, re- 

 ceived and referred to Finance Committee, 



Application for restoration of the horse Dominion Boy, referred to committee 

 consisting of Messrs, Dean, French, and Howard. 



Applications for allowance of bills — Ladies of St. Paul's Church, East Sagi- 

 naw, and bills from sundry other parties — referred to Finance Committee. 



Memorial of Mr. Sotham referred to ex-Superintendent Wolverton. 



