Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-09-25

as TO be unwilling TO adopt, |
in part, 10 maintain their independence, |
that policy which their fathers employed
10 achjeee it-Aibany CuttiratOr.
From The New England Farmer.
Geology and Chemistry have vet to
perform important services lofagrculture.
Yet long experience and observation in
all matters of physical science, compel us
to moderate our expectations of any extra
ordinary and sudden results The chem
ical analysis Of soils will help US TO ap-
proach the knowledge of the methods by
which they may be improved, their par
ticular deficiencies supplied, and their SUI
perfuous redundance of certain ingredi-
ents corrected but in the present state of
science, it will do little more than help as
to approach this. knowledge. 1t is one
thing to determine by chemical analysis
the particular ingredients in certain soils,
and quite another TO ascertain their parlc-
ular mode of operation when combined;
and under the action of various external
influences OF air, light, heat, motion, ct
cetera, by which they are continually act
ed upon The trlumphs Of chemical sci
| ence are immense. and NAV be pronounc-
ed magnifcent; but compared with what
! remains to be done, The science even In
its improved condition, is merely lie first
step premier pass of infancy; il is mere
" the admission Of a few rays of sunlight
through crevice into a subterranean
cavern; it is like attempting to sound the
middle Of the ocean with a skein of
thread
In lale number of the Cultivator, of
which we had merely an accdental*
glance, the learned editor is pleased to
say that he hopes the time will soon come
when the science of vegetable food and
digestion will be understood as well asthe
science at animal digestion. We quote
from memory nearly, what we understood
to be the sense, not the words Now we
say that that time has already arrived
We understand vegetable digestion as
we'll as we understand animal digestion:
that is, we do not understand either Of
them at all. We beg leave fully to ex-
plain what we mean. The physiology oil
man and vegetable substances is a high.
/ ly improved science. Much has been as
certained and the labors of many distin.
guished anatomists and botanists have
thrown a food of light upon it. Blu,
there are secrets IN respect to it which hu.
man sagacity seems as incapable of peue
trating, as the human eye is incapable O
looking through block of granite. The
experiments and observations of DR.. Beau
mont, who was favored with such rare on
portunities of looking into the human
stomach, and observing the action of the
juices or fluids of the stomach upon he
substances taken into it, are exceeding !
curious and instructive, and of great Drac
tlcal utility. But, after all, The secret is
not reached the secret of digestion and
nutrition IS not even approached, nor even
become matter of rational conjecture
The food taken into the stomach is dis
solved by the operation of the gastric
juice upon 1t; some in shorter, some IN
longer time: an efervescence occurs. a
solution and separation of particles takes
place; but this is small part of the nro-
cess. But as to the remaining stems by
which 1t is converted into blood. flesh.
bone, slnews hair nails, &C. &C.. and by
which llfeit seifls sustained, where is the bn.
man mind capable of producing even plau.
slble conjecture? The science of veoetation
is reached to this same extent & no farher
| When man is able by any conceivablearti6-
claiprocess to form one drop ofblood ocom.
pact one ounce OF bone, or to frame or to
color single flower or leaf, then and moi
until hen shall we say that the processes
OF animal and vegetable digestion are nm.
derstood. 1t is the same with ofhor
branches of science The immense d;s
coVery Of Newton, the noblest triumnb Of
phllosophy-neN in our humble oDinion
lrldiculous as it may seem to aay.@ tn tho
discoveries OF Phrenology, of the ereat
principle OF grayitatfon, is comparatively
] very small advance in science. That
ms principle prevails throuo bout tho ma !
terial creation as far as it comes nrder
! human observation that it operates with
force proportioned to the quantity Of mai.
Ter contained IN the bodies attracted an1
to the squares of the distances which i;
vide them; and that in the planetary ers
Ten Its effects are counleracted by anotber
ana opposite impelling power, are matters
OF perfect demonstration and ofIhe mos.
exact calculation even TO portions of a soc-
ond OF time; but after all, in wbat .bis
Ior;e consists, and how it operates, sotbat
an atom OF matter on earth has lis nronor-
uonate share of influence upon the reInot
So oOdics In the great system of the ma
sealai universe, are matters utterly ire
Gogniza6le by mans intellect, and the So
luton OF which the giant mind of New
We say accidental, fer we are 40 n,e,r,,,...
.lal We cannot get this paper for lare OF