Vermont Phœnix

AGRICULTURAL STUDIES.

Below is the law passed in this State in regard to the study of agriculture in schools. Appended to it is the notice, we suppose, of the manufacturer of the book, as provided by law.

An Act to encourage the study of the science of agriculture in common schools.

Section 1. The Governor is hereby authorized to purchase one copy of "Waring's Elements of Agriculture" for each town in the State, and draw an order on the Treasurer for the payment of the same.

Sec. 2. One of these books shall be placed in the hands of the Superintendent of schools of each town, with instruction to examine it with regard to its merits as a school book, and [he] shall report to the Clerk of said town what number of copies, if any, is required for the use of the Common Schools of the said town.

Sec. 3. The legal voters of each town shall at the next annual town meeting, vote whether or not the town shall purchase the number of books recommended by the Superintendent aforesaid, and the town Clerk shall report to the Governor of the State the result of such ballot.

Sec. 4. The Governor shall then order to be manufactured, in such style as he shall deem expedient, sufficient number of the books to supply the demand by the aforesaid ballots, and these books shall be manufactured in the State of Vermont, and they shall be deposited with the Superintendents of schools in various towns, and the payment therefor collected by the publishers or proprietors at their own expense.

Approved Nov. 13, 1854.

The books have been distributed according to the provisions of the law, and are now in the possession of the Superintendent of schools. It is desired that in all cases these sample copies should receive a candid examination, and that the question should be brought before the people in a favorable light. There exists (especially in New England) a strong prejudice against modern improvements in farming. This must be overcome before our older districts can regain their former fertility. Vermont has taken a bold step in this matter. Her legislators saw the importance of that fundamental education in agriculture which should spread itself among the masses, and have even laid aside the objection to naming a particular book, and thus seeming to assist its sale in preference to that of others. This objection was waived in view of the fact that the study was not, as yet, made popular: and to that, rather than to the books, the above law has reference. While our larger states are trying to saddle themselves with Agricultural Colleges, (at public cost,) and thus gain the appearance of doing much to improve their system of farming, Vermont has outstripped them all, and has laid the axe at the root of the tree. She has provided means for giving to every one of her sons and daughters, even in the most remote towns, a knowledge of the simple laws of farm economy. Seeds will be planted in many a fertile mind, to produce, in time, such results as will redound to the credit of the State. Let the common mind be educated in the simplest truths—let the chain of prejudice, which binds our farmers to their old customs, be once broken—emancipate the whole state from this thraldom,—then will the true genius of her sons rise superior to everything prejudicial, and show to the world that Vermont, though she has founded no Farmer's Colleges, nor established a Model Farm, has yet commenced in the minds of her people, such a train of thoughts as will produce the brightest results, and maintain her present position as the best Agricultural State of the Union. The New York Tribune says:

"Let Vermont but lead the way, even doubtfully and timidly, in this career, and her sister states will ultimately acknowledge a debt to her for teaching truths of more practical utility to them than would be the annexation of the whole Continent."

The Governor will probably order these books to be manufactured in a plain and substantial manner, and their cost, if the orders are sufficiently large, will hardly exceed 35 cents per copy. The present retail price is 75 cents, but measures will be taken to furnish them to the schools in Vermont at a much lower figure though none will hereafter be supplied so cheaply as those of the general order.