174 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Junk 
THE FARMER’S NOTE BOOK. 
Rensselaer Institute. —In calling attention to the 
announcement of the Rensselaer Institute, for the sum¬ 
mer of 1847, it may not be inappropriate to make a 
lew remarks in relation to the nature and specific cha¬ 
racteristics of this institution. 
The Institute is not, as is very frequently supposed 
by persons unacquainted with its peculiarities, a first, 
second, or third rate Academy or Grammar School; nor 
is it a seat of universal learning, in the ordinary accep¬ 
tation of this phrase,—-in other words, a College or 
American University; but it is? essentially, a Polytech¬ 
nic Institution ,—a school of theoretical and practical 
science, in which the study of the mathematical and 
physical sciences, natural history, chemistry, and geo¬ 
logy, and the graphic arts, in connection with their prac¬ 
tical applications to the arts, manufactures, and agri¬ 
culture, constitutes the employment of its students. 
As such it was first organized by its munificent patron, 
—as such, it has been, and is to be continued. 
The exercises at this Institution, in every stage of the 
student’s progress, are, strictly, the study of subjects—• 
not the study of authors. Text books are employed, 
more or less, in all parts of the course, for convenience 
in the arrangement of exercises; |^ut full latitude is al¬ 
lowed, and encouragement directly given to the prac¬ 
tice of consulting different authors, for the promotion of 
exactness no less than greater fullness and liberality of 
knowledge. 
In every instance, a general lecture is first pronounced 
by a professor, after whom, each member of the class 
follows with a lecture on the same subject, prepared 
from his text-book, the reading of other authors, and 
the ideas gathered orally from his professor. Except, 
therefore, in a very limited degree^,, instruction by reci¬ 
tations constitutes no.part of the system. The student 
is required to give a clear and extended exposition, ac¬ 
cording to his ability, of the subject brought before him, 
in the form of an extemporaneous .demonstrative or illus- 
trative lecture, the performance of which, no one, who 
has had any experience in such exercises, need be told, 
requires much careful preparation, and to be tolerable, 
must be based on real knowledge of the subject. 
In the study of chemistry and experimental physics, 
after the general lecture oy the professor, the students 
follow in order with their expositions; and besides the 
pronunciation of their lectures, are required to demon¬ 
strate or illustrate every proposition or principle, as it 
may require or admit by experiments, models, or dia¬ 
grams, with their own hands. 
The subjects embraced in botany, mineralogy, and 
geology, are studied in a similar manner. They are 
only pursued through the aid of direct examinations of 
specimens from the cabinets, or those derived immedi¬ 
ately from the field; and as in chemistry and physics, 
so in these, with respect to the lectures of the students, 
they must be demonstrative expositions of the particu¬ 
lar subject by appeal to the objects themselves. In this 
manner, a course of lectures is adapted to the science in 
question, in addition to which, each student makes, pre¬ 
serves, and arranges a collection of plants and minerals, 
in illustration of the flora, mineralogy, and geology of 
the vicinity of the Institute, by frequent excursions for 
these objects, into the surrounding country. 
The subjects in practical mathematics and mechanics 
are pursued with direct reference to their applications 
to civil engineering, manufactures, and extensive opera¬ 
tions generally, in which the exact sciences are more or 
less called into requisition. Each student is instructed 
in the construction, adjustments, and modes of using alT 
the instruments employed; and he is not considered 
properly acquainted with his subject, until he can lead 
a party into the field, and conduct any of the required 
operations with tolerable credit to himself in respect of 
the accuracy of his results. 
Agricultural chemistry has always received promi¬ 
nent attention at this Institution; and in this connection, 
it may be further remarked, in regard to the subjects of 
botany, chemistry, and geology, that special attention 
is given to the study of the germination and growth of 
plants, the organic functions of their several parts, and 
the processes of nutrition as influenced by natural agen¬ 
cies and artificial appliances, by comparisons of the dif¬ 
ferent views of distinguished authors of original re¬ 
searches on these points, by repetitions of their more 
important experiments, and by special independent re¬ 
searches. For the promotion of these objects, students 
are instructed not only in the determination of the spe¬ 
cies and natural affinities of plants, and the discrimina¬ 
tion of minerals by external characters, so far as may 
be practicable, but, also, in the chemical examination 
of organic products, of soils, and of the important fer¬ 
tilizing appliances, the marls, lime stones, &c. 
From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that, in¬ 
dependently of its occupancy of ground claimed by no 
other institution in the United States, the Institute is 
not less peculiar in its mode of conveying instruction to 
its students. Indeed, it may with some confidence be 
questioned, whether, in the last particular, it be paral¬ 
leled by any other institution in the civilized world. 
The polytechnic schools of France and Prussia, have 
similar objects and similar courses of instruction, but in 
regard to the mode of study, the Rensselaer Institute is 
believed to stand alone. Nor would the mere possession 
of singularity in this respect be deemed a merit, were 
its condition simply that of being about to enter upon 
an untried experiment, for the present age is, perhaps, 
as prolific of unsuccessful as of successful adventure. 
Whatever, therefore, is asserted of the Institute is pre¬ 
dicated, not of a doubtful issue, but of an experience of 
more than twenty years,—a;h experience, ^ which, the 
annals of the institution and the recollections of its 
friends, will, it is believed, fully justify an appeal. B. 
Agricultural Advantages of Nelson County, 
Va. —Nelson county is in the centre of the state, just at 
the base of the great Blue Ridge, on the eastern side— 
hilly, and finely watered, with soft free stone water, 
well timbered with the whole family of oaks, the poplar, 
and the chestnut, pine, hickory, walnut, beech, and 
many other kinds of timber. The soil is generally red, 
and when otherwise, a dark grey rich mould. As to 
health, if old Hygeia herself would take a habitation 
here below, this would be her head-quarters most un¬ 
doubtedly. 
Wheat, and everything cei'eal, grows as well here as 
any where. Indian corn cannot be excelled this side of 
Kentucky. No part of the state has produced more and 
better tobacco; and lastly, though far from the least, 
the grasses of all descriptions, as far as tried, properly, 
prove to be perfectly at home. The community is or¬ 
derly, law-loving, and intelligent. 
The James river and itanawha canal sweeps the 
broadest side of the county, from whence to Richmond, 
is, by water, about 120 miles. Price of the lands, be, 
low the mountains, about one half of which is, or woul£ 
