Annual Report of the Board of Education

NANTUCKET.

A new "Manual of Agriculture," prepared expressly with a view of introducing this branch of study into the Common Schools, has just been issued, under the sanction and approval of the State Board of Agriculture. The committee have examined specimen copies of the work, and believe it might be profitably introduced, among the more advanced boys, at least. It is well known that our boys very seldom pass through a complete high school course, being almost invariably removed from school to seek a livelihood, before having attained a position in the more advanced classes. In view of this fact, it would seem that a portion of their time might be quite as well spent in studying something of the nature of soils, and the cultivation of crops, as in acquiring a mere smattering of languages, or in dipping slightly into more strictly ornamental branches. The great attention recently given to the culture of the earth by our own people, which bids fair to be still further increased, should weigh something in this connection. Regarded as a question of expense, the introduction of this study will be but a very trifle, as the publishers are under obligation to furnish the "Manual" to the Public Schools of Massachusetts at the cost price (25 cents per copy). It may be mentioned in this connection, that a bill is now pending in our legislature, to make agriculture one of the regular branches of study in our Common Schools. The committee would earnestly recommend the matter to the consideration of parents, and to the attention of their successors in office.

School Committee.-WILLIAM H. MACY, J. H. SHERMAN, CHARLES P. SWAIN, JOHN J. GARDNER, REUBEN P. FOLGER, MATTHEW BARNEY, ORIN F. ADAMS, CHARLES F. ROBINSON.

AN ABSTRACT

OF THE SCHOOL RETURNS MADE BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEES OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS AND CITIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH, FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1861-2.