American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-03
AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY-No. XXX.
fi g5g, BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.

Schools gave the first impetus to geological
surveys. The impetus thus given has led to
legislative action for such surveys in almost
every State in the Union. BY such action the
treasures of wealth and Of science have been in
creased to m unbounded extent Thousands
upon thousands Of scientific collections have
been made hosts of scientific men have been
raised up, now scattered over our whole coun-
try, and hidden treasures of wealth brought to
view for the special benefit of farmers, and, di-
rectly or indirectly, of every American citizen.
The unparalleled progress made from such
humble beginnings, in the advancement of these
two great national objects, science and wealth,
renders the completion or future progress of
the work easy and certain. The schools of the
country, indeed of all countries, are certain to
be furnished with CABINETS OF NATURE AND
ART, as instruments Of primary instruction
thus giving to young minds at their start after
knowledge real substantial ideas, instead Of the
mere signs of ideas As many thousand such
collections have already been made by the pupils
needing them, both at school and at home by
the aid OF these, tens and hundreds of thousands
will soon be added to the number. At least, q
CABINET OF AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY must inev-
itably soon be placed in each of the hundred
thousand Of American schools-yrtually, if not
literally.
From such provision, four advantages are
evident; each making large returns for the
outlay. First, increased qualification of teach
ers--all teachers. Such q cabinet, properly
explained by o manual must increase know
ledge and awaken mind in any teacher using
1t, giving increased value to his instructions far
beyond its cost. To certain extent, it might
give to every teacher the advantage Of a nor
NAL school, brought to his own door, and into
~. Il III.
n more effective use of school funds Probably
no complaint touching schools is more universal
on either continent than the partial or defcc-
tive application Of public funds provided for
their use. A step so certain to awaken general
interest, and to enlighten the public mind, could
not fail to suggest some better modes, or to
correct some defects in applying funds provided
for oil. Third, the development of mineral and
other natural resources. Collections likely to
be made within week after receiving cabi-
net, properly labelled, arranged, and described,
must amount to many times its cost. Discov-
cries would also be made, not unfrequently, of
rich ores, useful minerals, and beautiful gems,
furnishing valuable resources to farmers, me-
chanics, and artists. Fourth, the advancement
Of farming interests. No one step could prob
ably meet 50 directly or 50 efiectually the desire
now common among farmers for agricultural
SclchSc. ENtly ihinhci, Slih pcttSii
sons, might be put in q way to analyze their
own soils, and directed to the most available
resources, and the best modes of improving
them. To these four advantages, certain to
arise from cabinets of agricultural geology for
schools, many others might be added; but, ne
each of these must exceed many times the cost
of the outlay, more cannot be needed.
ExPERmRSTs. four years since, the
pupils Of the New York schools were requested
by their Superintendent and Trustees to make
collections for their schools and their homes.
Within three weeks from the time of that re-
quest, not less than fifteen thousand Family
Museums were commenced, each containing spe
cimens showing the elements Of mountains,
rocks, and soils, with other natural and artificial
curiosities. A similar request by Superinten-
dents and Trustees of schools generally through
the country must soon render collections of
nature and art among the most common, as they
evidently would be among the most interesting,
Of household utensils