1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



517 



For the New England Fanner. 

 AGRICULTtTRE IN COMMON SCHOOLS. 



Mr. Editor : — As this subject has been left 

 open for discussion by one of your correspond- 

 ents, I venture, without flattering myself that my 

 opinion will have much influence over the "solid 

 men" of the farm, to express my views of the 

 project. 



The author of the "Retrospective Notes" says, 

 that "every study may, with perfect propriety, be 

 introduced into a common school, which has any 

 tendency or power, by its increasing knowledge 

 or invigorating mind, to fit and prepare the young 

 for the M'orthy discharge of the duties, oflices, re- 

 sponsibilities and transactions or business of adult 

 life." If this is the truth, and there is no reason 

 for doubting it, then, not only agriculture, but 

 law, medicine, theology, or any of the arts, scien- 

 ces, trades and professions, might, with equal pro- 

 priety, be introduced as studies into our common 

 schools. But, says one, who would think of send- 

 ing a child to a district school to learn law or med- 

 icine, or to acquire a practical knowledge of any 

 trade or profession ? No one would do so, and 

 for this reason ; Ave have no teachers who are qual- 

 ified, or i-equired to teach such things. Now the 

 facts are the same with regard to the study of ag- 

 riculture. There are but very few teachers who 

 possess even a theoretical knowledge of the agri- 

 cultural art. The pupil might as easily acquire a 

 book-knowledge of farming at home, as at school, 

 if the teacher is not qualified to instruct him. 

 AVhen a boy I commenced the study of astronomy 

 in the district school, but the teacher was not ac- 

 quainted with the science, and as there was no ap- 

 paratus to illustrate its truths, my progress was 

 slow — indeed, I might as well have learned and 

 recited my lessons at home. 



With proper text books, and a practical, skilful 

 agriculturist for a teacher, a boy who intends to 

 become a farmer, might gain knowledge which 

 ■would be exceedingly useful to him in after life. 

 But after all, the best place, in my estimation, to 

 learn the farmei''s art or profession is the farm, 

 under an experienced guide and wise instructor. 

 It is only there that a young person or prospec- 

 tive farmer can overcome, in some measure, at 

 least, his natural repugnance to hard work, and 

 acquire industrious habits, without which his 

 knowledge will be of but little use to him. 



The scholar may have the right to study agri- 

 culture, or anything else he pleases in school, but 

 unless the teacher can assist him in his studies no 

 benefit will be received by going to school. Yet 

 I do not wish to discourage any plan which has 

 for its object the increase of useful knowledge 

 among the farmers, and being fond of new things 

 and new ideas, would like to have the study of 

 agriculture introduced into our schools for a year 

 or two, by way of experiment, for such a course 

 would certainly do no harm, and it might do some 

 good. S. L. White. 



pretty short, so that he will not back too far. He 

 will try to kick, but Avill not be able. After a few 

 ineff'ectual eflbrts he will give it up. After one or 

 two years of such treatment, the horse will be 

 cured. The horse cannot hurt himself, for the 

 stick is too near his hips. I have two mares that 

 used to kick. I tried this plan, and cured them. 

 — •/. li. in llural New-Yorker. 



To Cure Kicking Hokses. — In No. 13 I no- 

 ticed an inquiry about a kicking horse. If the 

 horse stands between two partitions, bore a two- 

 inch hole in each, on a horizontal line, about one 

 and a hatf inches above the horse's hip ; put a 

 round stick in the holes, and put a pin in each end 

 of the stick, so that it will not fall ; tie the horse 



MATERIALS OF WHICH SOIL IS COM- 

 POSED. 



CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL. 



Soils are named from the amount, or propor- 

 tions, of the various substances which enter into 

 their formation. 



If a soil consists of sand, it is called a sandy 



SOIL. 



If the largest portion is clay, it is called a clayey 



SOIL. 



When lime predominates, it is called a calca- 

 reous SOIL. 



Those substances may exist together, but in 

 different proportions, in the same soil, in which 

 case it usually receives a distinct name. 



A mixture of sand and clay, with a small por- 

 tion of lime, is called a loam. 



If it contain much lime, it is called a CALCA- 

 REOUS loam. 



If it is composed of clay, with much lime, it is 

 called a calcareous clay. 



A certain proportion of these substances has 

 given specific names to soils. 



Pure clay, whicli is commonly called PIPE CLAY, 

 is composed of about sixty parts of silica, and 

 forty parts of alumina, with a small quantity of 

 oxide of iron. This kind of clay contains no sili- 

 cious sand which can be separated by washing 

 with water. It forms but a small quantity of soil, 

 and is found in comparatively few localities. 



Tile clay forms the strongest of clay soils. It 

 consists of pure clay, mixed with from five to fif- 

 teen per cent, of silicious sand, which can be sep- 

 arated from it by boiling or washing. 



Clay loam contains from fifteen to thirty per 

 cent, of fine sand, which can be separated by boil- 

 ing. The diff'erent parts of this soil may be very 

 easily separated, and it is consequently more easily 

 worked. Such soil is very properly sought for in 

 the selection of a farm. 



A LOAMY SOIL contains from thirty to sixty per 

 cent, of sand, which is retained so loosely that it 

 can be readily separated from it by washing. 



A SANDY LOAM leaves from sixty to ninety per 

 cent, of sand. 



A SANDY SOIL consists mostly of sand, and con- 

 tains no more than ten per cent, of clay. 



In a MAliLY SOIL the proportion of lime must 

 be more than five per cent., but less than twenty 

 per cent. 



Marls are called sandy, loamy, and clayey, 

 in accordance with the proportions they may con- 

 tain of these substances, provided they be free 

 from lime, or do not contain more than five per 

 cent, of this material. 



Soils are denominated calcareous when the 

 proportion of lime exceeds twenty per cent., and 

 thus by its quantity becomes an important con- 

 stituent. 



There are also CALCAREOUS CLAYS, CALCAREOUS 

 loams, and calcareous sands, which take their 



