Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-06-18

Philosophical aud Agricultural Society
ofEdsefe!d, on the subject of ':Veseta-
ble Physiology" by. Jas. TERRY, Esq.
on the Ist. Juue, 1910, and published by
request of the Society.
The present isan age of practical phoso-
ply; alrage nwhich our race are more engas-
led in deducing from actual experiments, useful
improvements in the arts, than in establishing
splendid theories on merely plausible hypothe-
: scs. In this respect, our own country has ad'
vanced more rapidly perhaps than any oher
not on account of SUPERIOR powers ofphllosoph'
cal research, but because our, institutions of
government afford 10 its citizens the most uR-
limited scope for practical industry. and.prom-
ise the most generous rewards to success in
.every department Of mechanical, commercial,
and agricultural enterprizc.
II is common error fear thatthe. sentence
Of the Almighty upon our race, ''In the sweat
ofthy face thou shalt eat bread is calculated to
impress upon the pursuit of agriculture the
stamp Of inferiority, when compared with 9th
er employments. But i'll aliudingto this error,
we are reminded that the ting of the earth is
"a pursuit of divine appointment is the most an
-cient ofal pursuits; and as firmly believe, a
pursuit most happily illustrating the wisdom and
goodness OF that Being from whom cometh
every blessing.
The cultivation Of the soil is the primary
source from which all classes of civilized men
derive their subsistence; and the products of
the earth, whether they be spontaneous, or the
reward Of mans industry aud,sfDl, either di.
rectly or indirectly, furnish subsistence 10 the
whole animal kingdom: for wlleihe, the animal
be omnivorous, carnivorous, or graminvorous
the earth, the great mother Of all vegetable
matter, has yielded the first fruits, and in the
language of an inspired man, all flesh is grass
1t may therefore be cmphaticay said of the
vegetable kingdom that as it is the incxhauSt-
bic store house from which all animated nature
draw their supplies, so is it the most important
field for philosophical enquiry in reference to
the means Of supplying the wants, and con-
.ributing 10 the wealth and luxury, of man,
As member of community who are be-
ginning to appreciate the value of agricultural
knowledge, l feel proud that the people of our
State are becoming daily more interested in the
establishment Of Societies, and the ditTnsing of
correct information through the medium of
papers aud periodicals. The day is not far dis.
,ant, when s. Carolina must. iii great meas.
ure, abandun :the plodigal culture Of her great
staple, cotton, and turn her attention 10 the
more frugal but less lucrative business Of farm
ing. Asa preliminary step to this change of
pursuit, and diversion Of capital into conpar-
ativey new channels, it is Of the last mpor
tance that those who live by the cultivation of
the soil, should feel proud oflhe employment
for its own sake, and that they should attach 10
the science Of agriculture equal consequence,
aud regard il as business of equal dignity and
honor with what are usually styled the learned
professions Of law and medicine. This object,
the consummation of which isso dcvuutly TO be
wished; can only be accomplished by introdu-
cling the science ofAgricu,urc into Our schools
and colleges by elementary books, illustrated
and enforced by lectures from scientific men;
and thus e!cvating tito its proper rank, bvplac
ing it in company with the sciences of ckemis-
.t:y and geology, its twin sisters.
The purpose Of Tie Th!osorical Society Of
Edgefcld in its original formation, was not, |
apprehend confined 10 the investigation of those
branches of science embraced in the definition
vfmcntal philosophy ormetaphyscs; but it was
intended to comprehend the cultivation Of III nc
as individuals and communities, we are every
day concerned. With the view therefore of
recognizing the principle of equality, aud of
aclsnow ledgug the high cluims which the
study Of the laws and the investigation of the |
phenomena ofthe vegetable kingdom, have up
ON those engaged i'll the acquisition of useful
knowledge; our society has resolved so to change
lis name, as expressly to embrace in its objects,
the science of Agriculture, and has assigned for
this evenings lecture, the subject Of vegetable
physiology"
In discussing a subject SO vast and comprc
hensirc in its relaGous, aud so important and
multilarious in its results, nothing more can be !
attempted in a single lecture, than brief no.
tice fsome ofthc most prominent facts. and
concise illustration of some Of the most obvious
principles of the science.
Psychologists have assigned TO the vegetable
kingdom the second rank in the scale of OBJ
jects composing the material universe. The
line Of separation between an animal of the
lowest, and plant of the highest order, is so
small, as scarcely to b, aprreciable. Both the
aninlal and vegetable have a principle ofviiali-
~ sustained apd supported by organic ma.
chinnyv en- co,nnlov ,nd hy Oh oL,,ros