The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-16
PROFESSIONAL.
Practical instruction. An In.
dustrii Museum at the UNI
verstty.

superior advantages possessed by the
youths Of To day. over those Of Is or
20 years ago. In respect TO the acquire
ment of knowledge: not only from the
extraordinary strides of Science, Art,
and Cosmic information. but also in the
improvement of books, and educational
methods. Ancient school books had
dull technical descriptions, which CON
veyed little idea L! the thing described,
and often left 10 erroneous impression
on the mind Of the learner. Modern
school books have careful Illustrations
of the lesson, whether n geography.
botany. physical. or other science; and
and the learner catches the idea at first
glance. 1t is this that has given so
great popularity and effectiveness TO
the kindergarten schools, wherein the
child is taught by actual practical illus
trations, such as q chair. q bucket, an
horse, a flower fruit, etc. Thase lob
jcct lessons, y it is true are mainly used
with children; but there is no reason
why the same principle should not be
carried forward to our highest Insti,u-
tions of learning. Medical students
are forced to attend the d~is,ecting
table, and assist In the cutting up oil
human corpses. Why Z iIecau.eln ne
other way Can they ..lqure ac;usi
practical knowledge. So, the student
whose lesson describes n steam engine
would learn more by the study, and
explanation of the model Of an engine,
than ali the technical description in the
book. So, in respect to minerals. His
xvnnln-u n,or foil hin, n-,nh about AZ
terent rocks, soils. etc., but if the text
were illustrated by specimens, the in
struction would be thorough and last
ing. Many a grown man had the
erroneous impressions of a lifetime
corrected by actual view Of objects and
processes in the Atlanta exposition.
DR.. yESABLE'S COLLECTIONS.
These vie VS. doubtless prevail with
the wide awake President OF our State
University, as we learn that an attemp,
is being made to form a museum of In
dustrial, chemical, mineral, and ad'
juuct specimens to be used as illuStra-
tions during the annual Lectures; rs
we'll as exhibits of our States Re
scources for the instruction Of the stu
dents and visitors.
Quite an interesting collection ha:
already been made; some of the Specl
mems show the raw product, together
with the successive steps in the process:
of manufacture.
Among these may be mentioned
specimens for the IN tnufacture Of salt,
and of plaster, native and ground
from Holston Salt and Plaster Compa-
py, Virginia; eighteen specimens STOW
ing manufacture of soda from Nation
Salt Company; Spec mems # pspel
pulp &C., from American Wood Pape
Company; eighteen specimens of fertii
izers and materials; Goals and Coke
S. II. Manner, Richmond; Rosin ga
products, Raleigh; Coal gas produces
Charlottesville; LOUISIANA sugars; Louis
lana cotton. and sulphur.
Ore, fiux, Stag aud pig iron, Long
dale Iron Company.
Fine collections of silk anG
silk products, from DR.. w. G. Kerr
STAT Geologist
Turpentlne, pine oil, tar, &C., from
lony-Iaf pine collected by Prot. w
b. Phi lips, at Atlanta. Glass an,
glass.making materials. Whitall, Tatum
u \ 6., ! iIld. sDtCS, SiaE AihS SPSAtSl
from Bertha ZINC Co., Martins Va
BESIDES from $50 TO 200 specimen
illustrating metallurgical operations
glass manufacture, porcelain manufac
lure, &c. 1t is earnestly hoped tina
manufacturers and friends of the Uni
versity will send samples Of State pro
ducts and specimens illustrating STATE
manufactures. SC AS to make this col
lection as complete and valuable al
possible. The students are greatly in
teres,ed in the study Of Industrial and
Agricultural chemistry and the enthu
sia.m should he gratified.
The Geological and Geological mus
cum is in the old Phi Library, in thu
6 Oh Fast Building. The lpdustria
Museum is in Person Hall, (the Ole
Cnapcl).
Specimens etc, can be forwarded
we suppose. at expense of University
and in thus connection we note that tn.
cars now run to within two miles o
Chapel Hill, where they are met hy
hacks. Going to June Commencement
will be much pleasanter, and more pop
ular than yer.
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