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

Philosophical aud Agricultural Society
of Edsefcld, on the subjec, '.Veseta-
ble Physiology" by. JAS. TERRY Esq.
on the Ist. June, 1910, and published by
request Of the Society.
The present is,an age of practical pi'loso-
ply; a,r-age inwLich our race are more engas-
led in deducing from actual experiments. useful
improvements in the arts, than in establishing
splendid theories on merely plausible lypothe-
: scs. In this respect, our own country has al
vanced more rapidly perhaps than any other;
not on account Of superior powers ofphosoplI.
cal research, but because our institutions of
government afford 10 its citizens the most un-
limited scope for practical industry ard d'prom-
isc the most generous rewards to success i'll
..every department OF mechanical, commercial,
and agricultural enterprzc.
II is common error fear, that The 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 inieriority, when compared with 9th
er employmcnts. But i'll al'udingt to this error,
we are reminded that the tIling of the earth is
% pursuit of divine appointment; is the most an.
-cient ofalpursuits; and as firmly believe, a
pursuit most happily illustrating the wisdom and
goodness OF that Being from whom conicth
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 il, either di.
rectly or indirectly, furnish subsistapce;o TO the
whole animal kingdom: for wethe, tue animal
be omnvorous, carnivorous, or gramnirorous,
the earth, the great mother of all vegetable
matter, has yielded the first fruits, and in the
language Of, an inspire, man, all flesh is grass.
1t may therefore be cmphalicalIy said of the
vegetable kingdom that as il is the incxhausti-
bic store house from which all animated nature
draw their supplies, so is it the most important
field for philosophical enquiry in reference 10
the means Of supplying the wants, aud con-
,ributing to the wealth and luxury, Of man.
As a member Of community who are be-
ginning to appreciate the value of agricultural
knowledge, l feel pruud that the people Of our
State are becoming daily more interested in the
establishment of Societies, and the ditfusing of
correct information through the medium of
papers and periodicals. The day is not far dis.
tant, when s. Carolina must great meas.
ure, abandon ;the ptodigal culture of her great
staple, cotton, and turn her attention 10 the
more frugal but less lucrative business Of farm.
ing. As n preliminary step to this change Of
pursuit, and diversion of capital into conpar-
atively new channels, it is of the last npot
,ance that those who live by the cultivation of
the soil, should feel proud oflhc employment
for its own sake, and That they should attach 10
the science Of agriculture equal consequence,
aud regard i, as business of equal dignity and
honor with what are usually styled The learned
professions of law and medicine. This object,
the consumnla,ion of which $50 dcvuuty TO be
wished; can only be accomplished by introdu-
cling ,hesciencc of Agriculture into our schools
and colleges by elementary books, illustrated
and enforced by lectures from scientific men;
and thus e!cvatng tito its proper rank, bv plac
ing it in company with the sciences Of cEemis-
.t:y and geology, its twin sisters.
The purpose of tie Tki!osorical Society of
Edgefcld in its original formation, was not,
apprehend confined 10 the investigation Of those
branches of science embraced in the definition
efmcutal philosophy ormetaphysics; but twas
intended to comprehend the cultivation Of n ac-
quaintancc with those arts and sciences in which
as individuals and communities, we are every
day concerned. With the view therefore of
recognizing the principle of equality, and Of
acknowledging the high clsims 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
physloo oSy.
In discussing subject so vast and comprc-
hensiye in its relations, aud so important and
multilarous in its results, nothing more can be
attempted in a single lecture, than brief no.
tice of some the most prominent facts and
concise illustration of some Of the most obvious
principles ofthc 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. Boil, the
animal and vegetable have a principle ofvitali
~ sustained apd supported by organic ma
chnery, SO complex, aud by chemical changes,
andcolnbinations so intricate and Incompetent.