616 [Assembly 



A'pril 27, 1847. 

 Jlnnales de la Societe Royale di' Horticulture, Paris, 1846. 



Translated by H. Meigs, Secretary, 



On the importance for farmers of knowing the natural sciences, 

 and having a habit of observation. 



Numerous facts have convinced us that farmers would find very 

 great advantage in acquiring a habit of making minute examina- 

 tions of all those little incidents which they meet with at every step. 

 in the history of nature, and which they often pass unperceived. It 

 is greatly to be desired that they should not only read books on 

 Natural History, but also examine attentively with their own eyes, 

 everything which occurs in their gardens and farms, in order to 

 collect useful mdications from the very book of nature. In all 

 schools — as well of girls as of boys — of the rich and of the poor. 

 Natural History ought to occupy a most distinguished and useful 

 place. There is hardly about us any common flant or animal of 

 •which what are called educated clean people, have any well founded 

 knowledge, or about which they have not some entirely erroneous 

 notions; and indeed the most complete education in youth only leads 

 to every day observations and learning during a whole life. This 

 is understood in Sweden and in Germany, especially in the interior 

 States of the latter. There are schools in which are taught Sur- 

 veying, Culture of Forests, Zoology, Botany and Forest Mineralogy. 

 In one of the most celebrated schools in the world — that is Fellen- 

 berg, at Hopoyl, in Switzerland, the first care of the instructor is to 

 persuade the pupils of the importance of an attentive examination 

 of the objects which surround them, and which may be made use of 

 in the arts or trades in which they may engage. That institution 

 contains about four hundred and fifty scholars, among which are many 

 sons of peasants. 



At Carra, in the environs of Geneva, there is also an agricultural 

 school, where the scholars, among other things, learn the botany of 

 the common plants of the country — this is obtained by botanical 

 excursions. 



We wish that Mr. Drummond's benevolent idea would be carried 

 into execution, viz: That each village should have a lecture room, 

 museum, and library of useful books; geology and agricultural che- 

 mistry should enlighten our farmers. 



