science and art of practical farming-, and I know of no more valu 

 able compend on this subject, that could be placed in the hands 

 of the students and pupils oi our academies and common schools. 

 I cordially and cheerfully recommend it to parents and teachers, 

 and trust it will find its way into every school, and every district 

 library. Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, 



CHRISTOPHER MORGAN, 



Superintendent of Com. Schools. 

 I fully concur in the preceding recommendation. 



SAMUEL S. RANDALL, 



Editor of District School Journal. 



Extract from the Circular of the Executive Committee of the 

 State Normal School to the Graduates, transmitting to each of 

 them a copy of Prpfessor Johnston's Catechism of Agricultural 

 Chemistry and Geology. . 



The earnestness which our Committee feel in this matter will 

 be seen from the following extract, taken from their last annual 

 report, made through the Regents of the University, to the Le 

 gislature, February 11, 1850. 



" The committee, appreciating the great and growing import 

 ance of agricultural science, and considering it, in its elementary 

 principles, an appropriate subject for common school instruction; 

 and considering also, that with the aid of suitable text books now, 

 or soon to be attainable, the subject, always appropriate, has at 

 length become feasible for such instruction ; have recently assign 

 ed it to a more prominent place than it had before held in the 

 Normal School, by making it a separate or independent branch, 

 and requiring it to be taught as an essential or constituent part 

 of the course of study pursued in the school. The committee, im 

 pressed, as they themselves are, with the great importance of this 

 new subject of study, hope to be able, through their normal gra 

 duates, acting under a like impression, to cause it to be introduced 

 into all the schools taught by such graduates, and through their 

 influence and that of such schools, to cause it to be finally adopted 

 as part of the regular course of study in all the common schools, 

 at least in the rural or agricultural parts of the state. 



The committee have learned, with much satisfaction, from the 

 proceedings of the State Agricultural Society at its last annual 

 meeting, that a treatise on the subject above referred to, has been 

 recently prepared by Professor Norton and submitted to the socie 

 ty, who, after due examination, have recommended it as a very 

 valuable production, specially appropriate for the use of common 

 schools, and have directed it to be published with a view, as is 

 understood, to such a use. Such a treatise at this time, together 

 with the text books already published and in practical use, will, 

 in the opinion of the committee, furnish all needful facilities for 

 common school instruction on the subject above referred to." 



GEO. R. PERKINS, Principal of N. S. 

 Normal School Albany, March, 1850. 



