Page images
PDF
EPUB

In confirmation of the views of the committee COMMON SCHOOLS IN N. HAMPSHIRE. as to the eligibility of this location, one of several authorities must suffice. The able and A lively interest in the improvement of Compopular treatise of The School and Scholmaster mon Schools has been excited in New.Hamp-asks, "Why not plant a teachers' seminary or shire. In some parts of the State, County Connormal school, sufficient to accommodate one or ventions have been regularly held for several two hundred pupils, at the capital, where it can years, and a good deal has been done, to good be overlooked by the officer who has been charged effect. The Journal gives a full account of a by law with the superintendence of primary in- State Convention held at Concord during election struction, and where it can be visited by mem-week. A similar one was held last year; and bers of the legislature, strangers and others, thus sending its influence to the remotest extremities of the state, and even of the nation."

If located here, it would be as easy of access for pupils from all parts, as any selection that could be made; here it could be placed under the direction of the superintendent of common schools and of the Regents of the University; if located elsewhere, a new class of officers must be created to take charge of the institution.

One objection of considerable force may be urged against the location, increased expense of subsistence in the city, over the country; that has not been found an obstacle in the way of the prosperity of, and large attendance at, the Medical College and Female Academy of this city, and at several institutions of literature and science in New-York. Perhaps, as more than an equivalent offset to this objection, the committee are authorized to say, if a normal school is established and located here that buildings and rooms suitable to accommodate the institution will be provided without subjecting the state to any additional expense.

In concluding this long report, the committee would fain ask, is there no responsibility resting upon this legislature to do something to lessen some of the evils of our school system? Is there no obligation resting upon us to make at least an effort to renovate the schools-to supply them with competent teachers? Can we adjourn, hav. ing filled a volume with private and local bills, without yielding a pittance of our time to consider, and perfect and pass an act of vital interest to the right education-the well being of more than 600,000 of the children of this state? Have none of us read and felt as that noble Prus. sian expressed himself: "I promised God that I would look upon every Prussian peasant as a being who could complain of me before God, if I did not provide for him the best education, as a man and a christian, which it was possible for me to provide?"†

"When education is to be rapidly advanced," says president Basche, "seminaries for teachers afford the means of securing this result." Do we not owe it to the long neglected children-do we not owe it to the state itself-do we not owe it to the whole country-that these "approved means" for the rapid advance of the best educa. cation-should at once be prepared?

"Duties rising out of good possessed,
And prudent caution needful to avert
Impending evil, equally require

That the whole people should be taught and trained.
So shall licentiousness and black resolve

Be rooted out, and virtuous habits take
Their place; and genuine piety descend
Like an inheritance from age to age."

Mr. Bouton, from a committee then appointed, reported for consideration this year, the following resolutions :

1. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to report to the Convention what Grammars, Spelling Books, Geographies, Histories, &c. &c., so far as they can obtain information, are used in the schools in this state: and such other facts and suggestions concerning text books as they may think best.

2. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to report to the Convention on the expediency of establishing a Normal School in this state: and to suggest some method for its establishment.

3. Resolved. That a committee of three be appointed to report to the Convention, whether any revision of the laws regulating the schools in the state is required: and if so, to suggest what alterations are required.

The committee appointed under the last resolution subsequently reported, among others, the following:

Whereas by the 83d article of the Constitution of New-Hampshire, the public and primary schools and seminaries, and the interests of lite rature and science, as also the moral education of our youth, are placed under the superintending care of our legislature: therefore,

Resolved, That the duty imposed upon the legislature cannot be duly performed without full and ample information upon those subjects.

Resolved, That no efficiency can be expected in the furtherance of those objects, without proper officers, whose specified duty it shall be to discharge the details thereof.

Resolved, That a Superintendent of Common Schools, or a Board of Education, should by law be appointed, whose duty it shall be to receive, prepare and publish a suitable and annual digest of the common school statistics: and that a copy of such digest shall be furnished to the town clerk of each town in the State; and that said superintendent or board, take a general supervision of the school.

Resolved, That the town clerk of each town should by law be required, under penalty, to make seasonable return to said superintendent or board, of a copy of the report of the superintending school committee of such town.

Resolved, That we deem it highly important that provision be made by law for the establishment of school libraries in the several school districts throughout the state.

These resolutions were adopted. There was a good deal of discussion, and formal addresses were made by Hon. Salma Hale of Keene, und Hon. Horace Mann of Boston. The meetings

*Page 249. Vide also Superintendents' Reports, 1844, continued three days; and the Journal pronoun-page 636. †Dinter.",

ces it the most important School Convention ever held in New-Hampshire.

216

[merged small][graphic]

COTTON.

{Cotton-Gossypium herbaceum

THERE are many species of the cotton plant, and their number is being constantly increased by the researches of botanists, while their varieties appear scarcely to have any limit. To the cotton planter it is a matter of much interest to become acquainted with all these distinctive va rieties, as some are incomparably more valuable than others, in the quantity and quality of their produce.

The Gossypium herbaceum, or common herbaceous cotton plant, is the species most generally cultivated. This species divides itself into annual and perennial plants. The first is her

baceous, rising scarcely to the height of eighte
or twenty inches. It bears a large yellow for
er with a purple centre, which produces a pod
about the size of a walnut. This, when ripe,
bursts; and exhibits to view the fleecy cotton,
in which the seeds are securely imbedded. It is
sown and reaped like corn; and the cotton har
vest in hot countries is twice,-in colder chi
mates, once, in the year. This species is a native
of Persia, and is the same which is grown
largely in the United States of America, in Sic
ly, and in Malta. There is another species d
herbaceous cotton which forms a shrub of from
four to six feet high.

[graphic]

(Shrubby Cotton-Gossypium religiosum.]

[merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small]

Of all the species the annual herbaceous plant yields the most valuable produce. The sea. island cotton," imported into England from Georgia, bears a price double to that imported from any other country.

The quantity of cotton which each plant yields is as various as its quality. Accordingly there are scarcely two concurrent opinions to be collected on this subject. The average produce per English acre is reckoned by different writers at various quantities, varying from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy pounds of picked cotton.

The cotton plant will grow in most situations and soils, and is cultivated with very little trouble or expense. According to Humboldt, the larger species which attain to the magnitude of trees require a mean annual temperature of 630 Fahrenheit; the shrubby kind may be cultivated with success under a mean temperature of 600 to 640. The plant is propagated by seed.

When the season has been favorable, the cotton is in general fit for pulling about seven or eight months after it has been sown. This pe

riod is, however, well indicated by the spontaneous bursting of the capsule or seed-pod. The plantations at this time present a very pleasing appearance. The glossy dark green leaves finely contrast with the white globular forms pro fusely scattered over the tree. In the East the produce is gathered by taking off the whole of the pod. In other parts, and this is the more general practice, the seeds and cotton are taken away, leaving the empty husks. The first is of course much the most expeditious method, but it has a very serious disadvantage. The outer part breaks in minute pieces and thus mixes with the cotton, which cannot be freed from it without much time and difficulty. Whichever methodeis pursued this work is always performed in the morning before sunrise, as soon as possible after the cotton displays itself, because long exposure to the sun injures its color. The cotton shrub does not in general last more than five or six years in full or productive bearing; the plantation is therefore generally after that period renewed.

[graphic]

[Cotton, showing a pod bursting.]

The separation of the cotton from the seeds is a very long and troublesome operation, when performed by the hand; for the fibres of the cotton adhere tenaciously to the seed, and some time is consumed in cleansing even a small weight of so light a material. In the greater part of India, the use of machinery for this purpose is unknown, and all the cotton is picked by hand. A man can in this manner separate from the seeds scarcely more than one pound of cotton in a day. The use of the machine called a gin, very much facilitates the process. This machine in general consists of two or three fluted rollers set in motion by the foot in the manner of a turning lathe, and by its means one person may separate and cleanse sixty-five pounds per day. and thus, by the use of a simple piece of machì

Before the invention of spinning machinery in 1787, the demand for cotton-wool in England was comparatively small. In the 17th century we obtained our trifling supply wholly from Smyrna and Cyprus, and when we were e receiving it from our own colonies, we find that from 1763 to 1787, the average annual impart was barely four millions of pounds. In we imported 19,900,000 pounds; viz. 5,800,000 pounds from the British West Indies; 9,100,000 from the French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch Colonies; and 5,000,000 from Smyra Turkey.

The average annual import for the last six years has been 777,372 packages-each bale weighing about 21 or 3 cwt.

Of 227,760,000 lbs. of cotton-wool imported nery, increase his effective power sixty-five into the United Kingdom in 1828, 151,752,000 lbs. were from the United States;

times. But a still greater increase may be obtained by the employment of more complex en

29,143,000

lbs. from Brazil; 32,187,000 lbs. from the East gines. In the United States of America mills Indies; 6,454,000 lbs. from Egypt; 5,893,000 are constructed on a large scale, and which are lbs. from the British West Indies; 726,000 lbs.

Eight or nine hundred pounds of cotton are cleansed in a day by one of these machines, which requires the attendance of very few per

sons.

and Continental Greece.

NOTICE TO PUBLISHERS.

Turkey

Entirely to cleanse the cotton from any remain Super. A Committee has been appointed by an Eduing fragments of seed, it is subjected to another intendents and others, of the county of Seneca, process. This consists in whisking it about in consisting of De Witt Clinton Van Slyck, George a light wheel, through which a current of air is H. Bottsford and Watts Livingston, to select a made to pass. As it is tossed out of this win- full series of Text-Books, and report the same in to the packing-house, where, by means of screws, this village on the 15th of October next. it is forced into bags, each when filled weighing Authors are requested to furnish copies of sewed up and sent to the place of shipment, the care of E. R. Lundy, Waterloo. All works reabout three hundred pounds. These are then such works as are published by them, directed to where they are again pressed and reduced to half ceived, will be duly appreciated by the committee. W. C. LIVINGSTON, Pres't. Com.

their original size.

VALUABLE SCHOOL BOOKS,

PUBLISHED BY

HUNTINGTON & SAVAGE, 216 PEARL STREET, NEW-YORK.

The Geography of the Heavens, and Class Book of Astronomy, 1 vol. 18mo., accompanied by a Celestial Atlas, imperial 4to, neatly colored.

Contents of the Atlas.

1. Plan exhibiting the relative magnitudes, distances, and positions of the different bodies which compose the Solar System. 2. The Visible Heavens in January, February, and March. 3. The Visible Heavens in October, November, and December. 4. The Visible Heavens in July, August, and September. 5. The Visible Heavens in April, May, and June. 6. The Visible Heavens in the south polar regions for each month in the year. 7. The Visible Heavens in the north polar regions for each month in the year. 8. The Planisphere of the whole Heavens, on Mercator's Projection. By E. A. Burritt, A. M., with an Introduction by Thomas Dick, LL. D., author of the Christian Philosopher. Writtenexpressly for this work.

Astronomy for Beginners, with a Map and twentyseven Engravings. By Francis Fellowes, A. M.

Familiar Lectures on Botany; practical, elementary, and physiological; with an appendix containing descriptions of the Plants of the United States, the Exotics, &c.; also a Dictionary of the Symbolical language of Flowers.-1 vol. imperial 12mo., by Mrs. Almira H. Lincoln.

Botany for Beginners; an Introduction to Mrs. Lincoln's Lectures on Botany, for the use of Common Schools and the Younger Pupils of Higher Schools and Academies. By Mrs. Lincoln Phelps, 1 vol. royal 18mo. Familiar Lectures on Natural Philosophy, for the use of Schools and Academies, 1 vol. 12 mo.

Natural Philosophy for Beginners; designed for Common Schools and Families. By Mrs. Phelps, author of "Familiar Lectures on Botany," &e. 1 vol. 18mo. Familiar Lectures on Chemistry, for the use of Schools and Academies. By Mrs. Phelps (formerly Mrs. Lin coln,) I vol. 12mo.

Chemistry for Beginners; designed for Com. Schools and the Younger Pupils of Higher Schools and Academies, with Engravings. By Mrs. Phelps,1 vol. 18mo. A Dictionary of the English Language: Abridged from the American Dictionary, for the use of Primary Schools and the Counting-House. By Noah Webster, LL. D. I vol. duodecimo, 550 pp.

A Dictionary for Primary Schools. By Noah Webster. 1 vol. 16mo., 330 pp.

The Child's Picture Defining and Reading Book, by the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet.

The Malte Brun School Geography and Atlas, 288 pages royal 18mo. and 32 engravings from original designs. By S. Griswold Goodrich.

A practical Grammar of the English language, or an introduction to Composition; in which the constructions of the language are classified into Predications and Phrases, by Edward Hazen, author of "The Symbolicae Spelling Book," "The Speller and Definer," and " Popular Technology, or Professions and Trades." Peter Parley's Geography for Children; illustrated with 9 maps and 75 engravings.

Peter Parley's History of the World, 75 engravings. A New Introduction to the Science of Algebra; designed for Students in Colleges and the higher Schools and Academies. By Silas Totten, M. A., Presidentof Washington College, Connecticut.

The Ecclesiastical Class Book, or History of the Church, from the birth of Christ, to the present time; adapted to the use of Academies and Schools. By Charles A. Goodrich. 1 vol. 18mo.

Elements of Criticism by Henry Home, Lord Kaimes, Judge of the Court of Sessions in Scotland, &c. &c., with Analyses and Translations of the Illustrations.

Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, with an Introduction, giving a short sketch of the causes which led to the Declaration of Independence, containing seven beautiful engravings on steel, among which is one taken from Col. Trumbull's celebrated picture of the "Signing of the Declaration of Inde pendence." 1 vol. imperial 12mo. pp. 479.

Townrow's Stenography; prepared expressly for Schools and private instruction.

A number of recommendations from the highest sources, could be appended to each of the above mentioned works; but, from their extended and very general use, the publishers deem this unnecessary.

H. & S in addition to their own publications, keep an assortment of School, Miscellaneous, and Classical Books, and Stationery, which will be sold on the most favorable terms.

GLOBES, MAPS AND SCHOOL BOOKS,
Roe Lockwood and Son,
SCHOOL BOOK DEPOSITORY,
411 BROADWAY, NEW-YORK.

The subscribers keep constantly for sale "MITCHELL'S OUTLINE MAPS," together with all of Tanner's and Mitchell's complete mips, both general and local. They would particularize but one, and that was got up especially for the schools of this State; viz: Burr's new and beautiful map of the State of New-York-size, 4 feet by 4 feet 10 inches.

[ocr errors]

They have also just published two certificates for the district schools, beautifully engraved on steel, one for monthly and the other for semi-annual distribution. The last is surmounted by a tasteful vignette, in which the arms of the state are blended with the emblems of education.

led, by any other in this state. And it is their intention to sell for cash, at the lowest prices possible.

The subscribers also beg leave to say, that their as They have globes of 5, 6, 10, 12, and 13 inches diame-sortment of school books is not surpassed, if it is equalter; and all except the first are made in the most per fect manner, as it regards both firmness and accuracy. Some of the maps are offered at prices greatly reduc ed, and the globes are sold at the manufacturers' lowest rates. They are carefully packed in boxes, and can safely be transported to any part of the country.

School committees and others wanting school books, are respectfully solicited by the subscribers, to favor them with orders.

The 13-inch Globes are of a new edition, with corrections, &c. to 1844.

« PreviousContinue »