Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-05-21

sioa Of dew aud frost, the cause oil winds. &C. ie
object Of Comparative Anstoay IS TO eNpiaan '''s
structure Of animals; more particularly fnelefms "'
their different bones. the manner IN winch ihose
bones are connected. the posi'on and attachment OF
the muscles. &c. A knowledge OF tie structure o'
vb.t are iened dome site animals would IN all pro-
bsbiliy. admit Of some valuable arpiica'ions 'h the
hands OF practical men.
Such aie the principal studies which shoald be
embraced in course OF Agricultural Education II
will be noticed that they all ola scientific char
screr; and here remsfk or two respecting The ma
tire of science nv be misplaced. With especial
reference to the objection commonly made against
IT, based upan the belief that scenn6e knowledge Is
something essentially different from human know
ledge in general BY science, when properly uodcr'
ssoad, nothing nor less Is meant ihaoouf Know
ledge arranged aud generai'zeJ. Our kno~iedge on
all subjects in the first instance kno~ledge OF IN
dsiduai facts. AIer siotk Of Facts has aecanu''-
ted. We perceive that many OF then ore oil the same
character; these class together aud include lhem
under a general statement. A2a'n. We observe
thai some these faels bear TO others the relation OF
cause 10 effect, and arrange them IN aeeorhaute
with this observation. This ouee accomplished,
orr kne~lrdg has become science. BY tins pro-
cess the form and MOI the nature Of our knowledge
Is changed. Founded. as sciertihc principles are.
upon observation ihen apple s,on to the affairs Of
HE is one Of The very best methods Of testing thst
ruth. II they will MOI stand this test. they form
no part 81 uue science, but OF " science falsely 50
called"
The greatest objection Ia the minis Of most per
sons the scientific education al iafmets Is hat II
will make them mere theorists. But will tguersnce
Of science prevent their iheprzing 7 Tie remarks
Of Hawkins 10 n communication already referred TO-
are; Ignorant men are the most ureelsimabie ihto
riss. They attribute .ffetts - the most ianciul
causes, and hen from their assumed aud bsnfd prem
ises they argue away ~ boldly as . geomeffielan.
have heard many striking Instances Of tins from
friend ofmine, who is both physician aud phil
osopher. One instance iuoes. A poor
fellow troubled with hat he considered "a ri.
sing Of the lighis;"-and when asked hun. II he
had taken any thing for IT, replied, that "he had
swallowed a few shot 10 keep them down" The
position assumed by Mr. Hawkins 10 the above ~
tract, that ignorant men the most lueelamatle
theorists, may perhaps seem 10 some very bold
position; and yet will venture To assert thai care
ful observation Of the lacts OF lie will fully
firm lis cortecness;-at any taie such Is The result
OF my observation. The ruth Is. the human mind
10 so constituted. bat is impossible for person 10
become acquainted with any large number of fdcts,
and mol reason upon them, aud form some theory re
spectng ihem and. II ignotant Of any of the data
which such reasoning should be based or Of HE cor
reel principles Of theoiizug. he will almost inevia
bly, run into error. An acquaintance wnh true sci
ence, so lar ltom leading man INTO course OF un
proh,abie ,heorziug. would be The very best means
Of preserving hun from such a
WhsI thus advocating the claims Of science, I |
would BY no means be understood as advancing the |
opinion, Ihaf scientific education alone would TT |
n man or the PROM able prosecution OF agriculture
for this is an opinion which | do not enierfai |
would make the farmers scientific eduealioa like
education OF every other kind preparatory TO a
course ofprscuesl training 10 be received Il ON some
farmer competent Ia the task. Sir II. DAVIS ,e-
mark respecting Agricultural Chemistry, is very
jus, one, aud might be made With equal truth Of
every other science: at has been SAID, and IN
doubiedly WITH great truth, that a philosophical
chemist would mast probably make n very upproGla-
m md I,s "a
be the ease IL he were mere philosophical chemist
and unless he was acquainted wnh The practice of
the art as yell as its theory. But there IS reason TO
believe hat he world be more successful apficul-
turis,. than one equally initiated in farming. 6u, ~.
norant e chemistry; his science, far as il went
would be useful to him. The case of Iayoisier
one Of The most celebrated Of European chemists
affords an example OF the advantages which may be
derived from the application Of science TO apticul-
tufe. by following system Of cultivation based
upon his knowledge OF natural science, be is said
Tin the course OF nine years, TO have doubled the
quantity OF gain produced on his larm aud 10 have
qnintuped the number OF his nocks." With sue
an example before US, we capuot reasonably call 10
question the vaiue oil scientific knowledge 10 the
farmer; bui al the same time, let ne remark tb,t
should We suppose that scientific knowledge was ALI
that needed should fall into an error equally
great. There arc thousand important consi terra.
tons connected with farming, OF which science does
not and cannot take cognzance, and which can b,
learned from the practical farmer alone. Ii hulr
has been SAID in the presen, Essay, respecting IN,
Importance OF such knowledge II has | been be.
cause the author undeIsalued it, bul because he
supposed it was not properly embraced under the
term Education rs thai term is generally undefs, God
In this country, and at this day.
Such ascientIfc course as that which has hoe,
proposed, would require for us completion in iii,
case OF young man already familiar with the otd
nary branches OF an English education. about a, a
years; OF with very close application, nethans n
somewhat shorter period me hi suffice The Study
OF the SCIENCES should be commenced m WON'T.
for few men can be brought 10 give that close al en-
lion winch Is necesssfy Tor the successful pfosecu.
ton OF such studies, aller Ihem proper scboolJays
are over. But "in lie morning OF our DAYS, when
tie senses are unworn and leud.r aud the gloss of
novelty rs itesb on all The objecis which surround
u.s.; when the memory susceptible Of its mos last.
ing imnressIots, and the curiosity is all life; tasfe
Tor sueh studies can be planted, aud those habs of
minute and careful observation, SO essential IN
scientific puisuiis can be formed. AT this ne,,od
the iathcr us ~ all cases lhinl aud act for Inc So,
Does be desire 10 leave I'm beyond The reach of po.
Very aud Want IL should be a question for sen.
Gus consideration. whether he can best secure Tins
end, by adding lew hnndred dollars 10 his pain
'nony, or BY expending that money IN giving him
IN education, which viii fit HIM fully iur his intend
ed business, aud which will be 10 INN source of
Pleasure, as wellas profit, 10 The end OF his DAYS.
AT ihis Time u rs generally admitted, Thai the
agriculture Of virginia needs change Tor The bet
'cr. Thai MS not what II should be. we need no
oihef es Deuce than TINT afforded by the iaet thaI
many oil our most valuable, enlt rprsnp youuy
men, are leaving The land OF thei, fathers 10 seek
= nome, and perhaps many Of them a grave, IN the
lar Instant re 2Ions vi the West aud Southwes,
"Hhin short timr, spirit OF InpioVtme M M.