Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-07-25
NJ 4 = & Ii r l. ~ Il.
From the Religious Telegraph and Observer.
EDUCATION OF FARMERS.

We have for years been fully convinced, that nei-
Their lawyers, nor physicians, nor clergymen, nor
professors OF colleges, nor any other class OF the
community, have so many inducements, or so many
facilities ior becoming really intelligent scientific
men, as farmers. No class Of men have an occa-
sion for SO constant, or SO extensive an application
Of science, in their profession. Botany, nhnetalo-
gy, geology, chemistry, natural philosophy, ento-
mology, aud the natural history Of animals general
ly, are brought into use, directly OF indirectly, by
every farmer, almost every day he is engaged IN his
business.
If il should be asked, what the farmer mas to do
with botany, the question may be answered by ask
ing another, viz /: If the farmer has nothing TO do
| with botany, OF a knowledge of vegetables, who hast
| Does not the whole success of his business depend
upon a knowledge ofthe various plants be cultiYates,
together with many in the way oi cultivation I Some
NAV ask, how can geology be used by the farmerl
| The first object of geology is to give a knowledge
of the compound parts and of the structure oil the
earth. and of course Of the nature of soils. The
question might be answered by a volume Of facts;
I'VE will give but one. In New Jersey, there are
| extensive tracts of land, now worth from hity to a
hundred dollars an acre, which, a few years ago,
were rot worth fencing the application OF mari has
effected the change. Except Tor a knowledge OF
that. the land would have continued as worthless as
at first.
What use has the farmer for chemistry A
great part of his business is a series OF chemical ex-
periments. Not d fnrow turned, no manure aP-
piled, not a fence made, nor root OF a plant preser-
we'd or prepared for food, without an application OF
| chemical science. But what has the farmer to do
with natural philosophy Every plough, harrow,
| rake, hoe, scythe, axe, cart, wagon, yoke or harness
| not constructed according TO the principles OF ma
tural philosophy, imposes unnecessary labor upon
man or best.
And can entomology, or a knowledge of insects,
be appied to farming : Ia the year 1887, a single
species of insect, the wheat fy, cost one State,
pennsylvania, several millions of dollars. The
canker worm, the grass hopper, the cut worm, and
numerous other insects, frequently present them
selves, though small, yet powerful enemies TO the
farmer. who, of course, has occasion to understand
| their weakness, while he has such fatal proof oil
their power. The herse, the OK, the sheep the
swine, and other domestic animals, the farmer Ias
occasion to understand, both in health and disease
Some parts Of the mathematics the former mas
daily occasion.to use in his business. Practical ge-
ometry, in one form or another, comes INTO almost
constant use in farming operations A portion oil
arithmetic, is, of course, indispensable.
Blu some may say, perhaps, that however impor-
tant and necessary an extensive knowledge OF SCI
eHce may be 10 the farmer, he has not the iacllf
ties for acquiring it. Isthat possibief Is not 'he
daily use of any science or art, the best OF all posi-
BILE modes of obtaining a familiar knowledge Of
IL may be questioned, even now, whether iaimet'
do not possess a greater amount OF really nseiu
knowledge, than any other class of the community
They certainly have not so many technicallties o
science. They have not SO many Latin and 1reeS