Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-07-25

,erms 10 apply to things, or the Laws which govern
them. as those devoted exclusively to scientific rur-
suits. Bot do they not know as much Of things
themselves Cannot almost any farmer give tue
best scientific boianist much useful information a.
bout pianist
The graduate Of a college may know, that what
we call oak, the Romans call querc1s, and that The
Greeks called il drus, and still be unable 10 disiin-
gui.a oak from chestnut. The plain, unpretending
farmer, though ignorant of the terms applied by the
! Greeks and Romans, TO these useful products oi
the forest, could readily inform the scholar, wheth-
| er a tree, or a stick OF Timber was oak, or chestnut.
and whether it was white, red, gray, black, Span
ish, or some other oak. Also what were its pro
perties and uses. OF course the difference between
The scholar and farmer is that the former has three
terms, but not an idea while the latter has but
one term. and a great number ct ideas connected
| with il. The question then comes, who IS the man
Of useful knowledge and sound learning, the igno-
rant farmer, or the learned scholarf Howeverit
may be with others, M farmer will hesitate Tor an
answer. II may he added, that this is not merely
a supposable case, but one which actually exists in
thousands ofinsfances in our country.
The first steps requisite for rendering farmers the
mos. truly and the most generally enlightened, as
thew ARE much the largest class of the community,
is to have them understand and appreciate the
knowledge they already possess; The second rs TOR
them 10 improve that knowledge and the natural
advantages they enjoy for acquiring more. And
what are these advantages7 First, a farm is a far
better place for acquiring really useful knowledge,
and for acquiring il more thoroughly than any hall
of science, which is or can be constructed and fur
nished by the hands of men. IL is a +" Cabinet Of
Nature more richly furnished with specimens,
and a laboratory where chemical and philosophical
experiments are going on upon a larger scale, than
can be found in any High School, Academy OF Col
lege.
Second, the business Of the farmer, ifhe guides
it BY the hand of science, and by careful obsetva-
ton, furnishes means of instruction which can be
found in no Other profession. The laws OF animal
and vegetable physiology. of chemical science, OF
mechanical philosophy, hydrosta,ics, and OF natural
science generally, can be intimately and daily de-
veloped by experiments which furnish ms bread ana
his success in business, not only without cost, but
with great satisfaction and pecuniary profit.
Third. the winter evenings Of farmers, if proper
" occupied by reading, experimenting, aud compa-
ring the statements Of books with Their own experi-
ments and observations, would furnish ample time
and opportunities, for storing the mind with prin.
ciples. or the general laws of science, TO direct their
summer operations. These evenings are spen, far
more proftsbly, if aided by "Sociok Lyceams, or
weekly or semi-weekly meetings OF some ten or a
dozen, or even FIVE or six neighbouring farmers, for
The purpose of conversations, experiments, and rea-
ding on subjects previously selected for the pur-
pose.
Fourth. as a school OF morals the farmer certain
" has the best. The best ptoofofthis ia lis results.
Whether colleges, academies. and high schools,
NAV or may not with propriety be considered schools
of morals, industry, health. and of useful knowl-
edge, farms are certainly schools peculiarly favoro-
BILE for the whole.