EDITOR'S TABLE. 



97 



WuAT SHALL I STUDY ? — What is Decessarj for joa to 

 ow when you become a man, was the reply given by an 

 henian philosoplier to a query like the foregoing. 

 Tried by this standard, many things now taught in our 

 lools. are of but little value when estimated by their ul- 

 aate utility. 

 We have known pupils to spend years in the study of 



higher so-called arithmetical treaties. In order that they 

 ght become the most expert reckoners and arithmeticians 



tlieir cl.iss and school; and yet when the parents of those 

 is liave been ad\ised of a different course of study, the 

 ply has often times been, "if my boy knows how to 

 id. write, and cipher, he will get along well enough in 



> world." So he may. but will he get along as well as if 

 >re varied knowledge of things and men had been ac- 

 ired? 



Half a century since and the circle of the sciences, so to 

 eak. was comparatively limited and circumscribed. A 

 ur years' course would then suffice to give a general 

 owledge of things then known. But how different is the 

 se now. Take any one department of science you please, 

 d a life time is not more than sufficient to acquire a 

 owledge of it. How important then, that the time which 

 e can devote to the study of those things which it is ex- 

 cted he will know in after like, be devoted to those things 

 lich they must know sooner or later, if known at all. 

 We compassionate those who come from foreign lands, 

 noiant it may be of the right and duties they owe to 

 cir fellow men ; but how many thousands and tens of 

 ousands of youth, now attending our public schools, will 



> forth into the world equally ignorant of their rights 

 id duties as citizens, and also ignorant of the principles 

 ■inciples of the sciences applicable to every day life? True, 

 ey can read ; but knowledge is a means, not an end, and 

 ) has the best education who can most successfully re- 

 ice his knowledge to practice. Viewed in this light, we 

 ould suggest that much more attention be paid to Natur- 

 . Philosophy, Chemistry, Geology, Botany and Drawing, 

 y our voung men, and misses too, than is the case at pre- 



Elementary text books on all of these subjects can 

 ow be had in every part of the country, and it requires 

 nt the will to find the way to a knowledge of them all. 

 Regarding agriculture as a profession and a science, and 

 lewing it in its various relations to other sciences, it will 

 e seen that no one art or science requires the union of so 

 lany things, both theoretical and practical, as the work 

 jst given man by his Maker, viz : to cultivate and till the 

 oil. It is a striking manifestation of His wisdom that the 

 neans of one's liveUhood may be obtained by tilling the 

 oil. with but very little knowledge of tiie principles upon 

 vhich the process of cultivation is based, but a more strik- 

 ng illustration of His wisdom in creating the mind of man, 

 ivhen he turns a barren field into a fruitful garden, and 

 sauses grass and grain to grow where sterility and barren- 

 ness reigned before. 



as soils are usually derived from decomposed rocks, an ac- 

 quaintance with the nature and chemical composition of 

 those rocks cannot but jirove of great utility in pointing 

 out the best method of cultivation. Fei tile soils contain a 

 mixture of different earths in variable proportion; but as 

 nature has bestowed all the elements on but comparative- 

 ly few, it is the duty of the scientific agriculturist to sup- 

 ply the deficient element or elements. Unite Botany with 

 Geology, and knowing the natural growth of plants and 

 trees on anv given soil, they will inform him as to what 

 earths and elements compose the soil. A geological map 

 of a country points out by a glance of the eye the charac- 

 teristic strata and featnres of that country; and as he wishes 

 to grow grains or stock, or any other article, will he select 

 his locality. 



But the cultivator sees myriads upon myriads of insects, 

 of every shape and description, covering his plants, and 

 living upon their foliage, and deriving their own support 

 from the then body of the plants, blighting his hopes of 

 harvest. Entomology will teach him their habits, locality, 

 and means of preventing their ravages. 



Meteorology will instruct him as to the influences exert- 

 ed by atmospheric agents. As yet, though many facts are 

 recorded, a general summary of them in accordance 

 with a clear and satisfactory theory is a desideratum. For 

 instance, the different parts of the surface of our globe 

 are unequally exposed to the influence of the solar rays, 

 and the intensity of this action depends op the latitude of 

 the placei and changes which take place during the day 

 and night, &c. 



The heat existing from day to day in that portion of the 

 atmosphere next the earth, is not the simple product of the 

 direct action of the rays of the sun on that portion ; were 

 it so, then mountain tops should be warmer than the val- 

 leys at their base, but we know the contrary to be the fact. 

 We might mention other points in connection with the 

 foregoing, but the above is sufficient to show that we need 

 more certain knowledge of this science. 



Most important of all the sciences, a knowledge of which 

 is necessary at the present time, is Chemistry. By its con- 

 nection with Botany and Geology, he is informed as to the 

 composition of plants, and soils, how the fertility of his 

 fields can be preserved or increased, and how wondrous a 

 connection exists between the lives of plants and animals, 

 &c. But not to enlarge, we close this article by quoting 

 the remarks in refei'ence to Drawing, which we find in the 

 Horticulturist : 



" On all these accounts, therefore, and regarding archi- 

 tecture as of great importance, not merely in an economi- 

 cal point of view, but as calculated to exercise a great in- 

 fluence on the aspect of the country, and on the taste and 

 habits of the people, we desire to see it studied and taught 

 in our common schools and academies. Drawing is w_oful- 

 ly neglected in the course of ordinary education, and yet 

 is one of the most useful and delightful acquirements ;-- 

 useful in all pursuits that men engage in ; and delightful, 

 as affording in all places an opportunity to take accurate 

 notes of objects which we wish to preserve in our memory. 

 If people generally possessed some knowledge of drawing, 

 they would be vastly more competent to ex.amine and un- 

 derstand architectural plans and designs, and they would 

 also be more competent to design and superintend the 



Geology unfolds to him the structure of the earth; and erection of their own buUdings. There is scarcely an 



