The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-30
Educational Notes.

Educational Notes.
The custom Of wearing the cap and gown,
for time immemorial the student dress OF the
English Universities, 10 revived IN this country
by the students Of Columbia College. New
York.
Parke Goodwin addressed the Princeton alum
nj the other night on "Art as part OF college
education" He wants professoIships of art IN
colleges and balls for the collection OF master
pieces OF art.
The Massachusetts school law forbids any
change OF school text books except by unanim-
GUS consent where the Board consists OF nine
or less. Where tho number. IS greater three
fourths vote ID required.
Miss Mitchell, teacher Of the first grammar
grade Washington school, Pittsburg, has es-
tablished system OF discussion upon the news
and topics of the day among her scholars. The
pupils support a paper called the Bulletin,
which is issued from blackboard. and which
contains synopsis OF the Pittsburg papers Of
that day.
OOilsttE, -.
From Our Own Correspondent.
The snow is slowly disappearing but the
sleighing ID still good.
The lecture last Wednesday afternoon was
given by Prof. Fairchild subject, ''Gumption."
The Professor showed In his common, but
forcible style. how easy it is to graduate
fool as common language would express it
and that a man in order TO prosper in any
business, must have something besides scien-
tidc facts and mathematical formulas. BY
way OF explanation, he told OF the minister.
who could write and deliver splendid sermon,
or could give an intelligent lecture on most
any branch OF service or art bat who was
caught dragging calf that was only three days
old to the brook to drink, because he would
not eat his oats. He urged the necessity Of
acquiring knowledge of the practical affairs
of hfe, while striving to dig deeper in the
hidden causes IN natare.
The College appropriation bill will be dis
cussed in the House OF Representatives. Thurs
day, and it is expected that the opponents of
the Farmers School," will make their last
aud most vigorous attempt TO cut it to so low
figure, that il will impair its work for the
next two years. There is no opposition in the
Senate.
Mr.. Kedzie called the attention of the class
IN agricultural chemistry this morning to
pamphlet, issued by Popplein, OF Boston, in
which he offers for sale. a preparation called
the "Silicated Super-Phosphate OF Lime " for
use as patent manure. The article is one OF
the grandest frauds on record, and the whole
affair an " immense humbug." as the DR.. called
1t. The theory on which this is based is
practically that OF Leibig, laid down in bis
application Of Chemistry 10 Agriculture. in
which be advanced the very erroneous idea.
that to tell what manuresl elements to use,
we should analyze the plants. and supply the
elements there found. AS the result OF this
theory, silly as 1t was, companies we're organ
lied in England to manufacture fertilizers.
and the agricultursts thinking that this was
the golden gate to prosperity, bought the
fertilizers recommended for the respective
crops. As might well be expected, harvest
time brought returns but for their folly. From
that day to this, the farmers OF Great Britain.
have condemned the scientific men OF the
world. and declared that the scientific apph-
cation to be used in agriculture must be
gained entirely by direct experiment on the
farm. Now this old false theory is spring1ng
to newness Of life only to humbug the farmers
OF America, and cause another outpouring OF
curses on the chemists. This Is but the prosti-
tuition of science, and deserves the condemna-
ton Of every farmer in the country. The I'M
poeitor says that the silica found in the plant
was diatomic. IL so, 1T must be animal silica
which the plant has not appropriated to use
aud hence must be there accidentally. The
silica, that 80 much fuss is made over, being
nothing but sand, there 10 no need for IT in our
State. The argument that II is in sasble.
or available form, il true, shows the ignorance
on the part OF the inventor OF the manner in
which plants will obtain their food. for it is
found that plant grown in water, within
glass jar, with oil possible exclusions OF scan,
will take it from the glass Of which it composes
great part: and it is further found that it
will take 1t from powdered quartz, and corse-
quently we need have bu, little fear OF our
plants not having sand enough This subject
of fertilizers Is one OF vast Importance to the
agrculturIst and | shall subsequently, give
more OF the manner OF supplying them to the
growing crop as taught here. q. E.B.