Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-09-19

have been blessed with ample fortunes
and they chesrfully give their money,
their time, and their talents to the improve
ment of agricultural skill and knowledge
70 the advancement Of this great art, which
lies at the foundation Of national wealth,
and Of social comfort and Improvement.
d" Now experiments are so valuable in
agriculture that we do not fear TO be tho't
by the intelligent too importunate in con-
tinually urging them upon the farmers.
Ii does not require large farm or a great
capital to makee experiments which might
prove highly instructive and useful. The
smallest farmer may make on his premis-
es experiments from which the greatest
benefits may flow to the whole communi-
ty; and in respect 10 some of the most
important experiments yet TO be made in
agriculture, on which the solution of great
questions in relation to crops, seeds, ma
nures, modes OF planting and cultivation,
modes OF harvesting, saving, and use, a
farm o! ten acres or even less may be as
sutficien: as a farm of a hundred or
thousand acres. Indeed an intelligent far
mer upon reflection will perceive at once
that every agricultural operation, which
he performs, is in itself an experiment.
In preparing, manuring and sowing bis
helds with any crop and IN any season be
IS making an agricultural experiment {;
and If he will carefully observe and note
every step in the process Of cultivation,
and the progress of vegetable growth, the
facts which he observes may prove high
Iy useful and may elicit some most valua-
BILE truths. The discovery OF the sublime
and universal law Of gravitation, on which
all astronomical calculations are founded {:
and which regulates and binds together
the infinite universe, is said to have sprung
from observing an apple falling from a
tree.
But experiments to be useful and in
structiVe, require peculiar habits of OBJ
servation and inquiry, in which many
men, otherwise intelligent, are deficient.
A large part of mankind seem to be trav-
cling through the world with their ewes
shut; and may almost be said to see moth
ing. while others see so imperfectly, that
little or no reliance is to be placed upon
their observations; while others from q
difficulty OF conveying heir ideas, or
vivid Imagination, which leads to too
much establishment, are incapable of
making just representation of any thing,
which comes under their notice
Much discredit has been brought upon
what IS called experimental agriculture
from circumstances, which ought to be
avoided. or should be more considered.
In making an experiment, the first point
OF importance is to attend to all the cir
cumstances in the case BY which the re-
suit can possibly be affected In the ap-
Ptication of plaster for example, we want
to know the quantity, the condition OF the
plaster, the mode OF its application for
example, whether applied on the surface,
under the surface, or top of the plant, at
the roots OF the plant, alone, or mixed
with ashes, if so, crude or spent ashes
or with manure, and if SO what kind of
manure; what the kind Of soil; what the
condition Of the soil, wet or dry; what
the season Of the year; what the state of
the weather; what the condition of the
plant to which applied what the kind Of
| plant; what the effects observed: much
or little; immediate or late; what the
character OF the effect; Increasing the
growth OF stalk increasing the amount
OF grain; forwarding or delaying the rip
enmg; cost OF plaster quantity used ::
expense of its application and other in.
qulries which will at once suggest them
SCI YES. Then again we wish to know
whether the experiment has or has not
been repeated and if so, whether the
same or different effects have resulted
and we wish to know, whether the effects
represented to have resulted from It's ap-
pIicatlon have been tested by leaving a
palt of the fed and crop in the same Cir
cumstances, to which plaster was not ap-
plled, and with which the plastered part
might be directly and fairly compared.
An enterprising farmer took us into his
wheat field this season to show the power
tul and beneficial effects of lime, which
he had spread upon ii, and wished Us t.
compare his wheat with neignbor's field
near at hand. But now what were the
circumstances OF the experiment. and how
far were they conclusive Here was a
magnificent growth of italian Wheat;
this could not be denied; and the field of
his neighbor was clearly much inferior to
1t; but this did not decide the efficacy of
the lime. Was his field MANFRED the pre-
VIous year2 yes, abundantIy with barn
manure; was the lime applied alone ? no.
mixed we'll with wood ashes; was there
any part of the field, which was not so
dressedR no, 1t was all served alike: was
his neighbours field MANFRED for the pres
ent or the preceding crop2 not known
was the same quantity and the same kind
OF wheat solved by his neighor as him
self2 the same kind. but Judged only half
the quantity 70 the acre We pursued