Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1841-05-15

t..a,b ID most e'l't f.- sarIal, All IT a's nus.
.a-- see tie value al knowledge ofiltsz s..
-rees 10 he farmer. considered IN the c5s-srrs
fAs owner OF iae sill.
third branch Of natural science. VEIcb m
Vety properly form part of a course Of Aur.cr.
'uraI Education, Is y tang, including under M.
general name, both Systematic Boiaag and v.
gr'abie Physiologg. The object OF Sysi,mei.
BotaRy 50 to arrange and 50 10 describe plants
hat Se can at once determine With certainly boil
heir names and their most important proper
ties.
The object of Vegetable Physiology is to ea
'lHn the structure and vital acton Of plants
Plants NAV De regarded as a class Of curious ma
chimes, by which The common elements Of natI,.
are worked up into organized forms, and thus III
I'D for the sustenance OF human life The obiec,
Of vegetable physiology is to lay npentheir stuc
lure for Inspection, and to explain their manner Of
operation.
4 fourth department Of natural science, which
may be yeIy properly included Ia a course Of Az.
rIculura Education, is Mechanical PhiiosoDbp.
embracing the laws Of force and motion, as they
apply ia The case of solids, liquids and gasses,-.
| Mechanical Philosophy has been defined as that
science which teaches Us how TO produce The
| greatest effect with the smallest expense Of pow
En-" The principles of mechanics are involved
IN the construction of Gotten. Gins, Ploughs, "
CONS and IN fact in all the Implements of hus
bandiy, and 1t Is impossible that any one should
ialy understand he structure these Instruments
the excellencles or defects Of these row m use.
n be able to decide lnfeIgenty upon the claims
OF new inventions, without knowledge Of Their
principles. Besides Their useful applications in
| the business Of agriculture knowledge Of the
principles OF mechanics wll be found of service
N many ol The operations Of rural economy.
ti',h study, which shsud be embraced IN
course Of Agricultural Education. i, that Of the
more supple Ma hsmotics, including .iriiiattic.
iis-6ra, Geometry, TGgonometyg and Smreg.
mg. Que reason WhY these should be studied
Is, lhA wlthnut knowle 1ge Of them, it is lmpos
slbie pursue the study Of Mechanical Phoso-
ply or Chemistry with any pleasure or to much
advantage Another, and the principal reason is,
that they admit OF an immediate and practical ap.
pIcaiIon to the business of Agriculture.
Besides the studies already mentioned it would
be desirable for the farmer 10 acquire, If possible,
some knowledge of Eatemologg, Phgsics, Me-
teoToIogy, and Comparative Anatomy. These
stvdIes TITS true, when compared with the others
| have mentioned, are comparatively unmpoit.
ant; yet they are of sufficient Importance to claim
the attention Of the intelligent farmer, if his time
and circumstances viii permit
could adduce many important facts. from The |
most eminent Agricultural writers, Illustrating the |
importance Of a know ledge Of all the studies to
which have alluded; but the limits to which this
essay must be confined, forbid that | should do
50.
Whilst thus advocating the claims Of science, |
would by 10 means be understood As advancing
he opinion, that scientific education alone
YOU'D 1T man for the profitable prosecution of
Agriculture; lef Tins Is an opinion do not enter.
am wouIG make the Farmers scientific edu.
'anoh' Ike education Of every other kind, pre-
'afa'ory to course OF PRACTICAL training to be re
'eFed from some farmer competent to the
ask
l ne greatest objection in the minds of most
persons TO the scientific education of farmers. IS.
nat 1t VIII make them mere theorists But viii
ignorance OF scleRce prevent then theorlZtnn2-
gnorant men are the most lfredeemabIe theorists
hey attribute effects to the most iaucfuI causes.
nd Then IRON their assumed and absurd preni.
es' they argue as boldly as geometrican. An
cquanance with true science, so fan from lend.
as man into a course Of Improbable lheorlzlnp
'oulo be 'he very best means of preserving him
rom such a course.
"
ouch scientific course as that which has been
fo2osed would require for liz completion. in the
aSe OF young man already familiar with the or.
mary branches OF an English education, about
70 years. or with very close application, per-
APPS shorter period might suffice. The study |
the sciences should be commenced in youtb:-~ {
u lew men can be brought to give thai close at.
'n'lon which Is necessary for the successful pro
ecn'lon OF such studies, after their school bov q
avs are over. But "ln the morning of our DAYS. a
hen the senses are unWorn and tender, and The 0
loss OF novelty IS fresh on all the objects which c
around us" when the memory ia susceptible b
lis most lasting Impressions, and the curiosity c
an lie; taste Tor all such studies can be pIan. S
ID, and those habits of minute and careful ohser "
duoh, so essential to scientific pursuits, can be v
'med. AT tbs period the father must always II
i Tor his son Does he desire to leave him he. e
'nd the reach OF poverty and WANT Ii should |
question Tor serious consideration, whether Is
can pest secure this end, by adding few hun '
ca dollars to his pa'rlmony, or by expanding
al money IN giving him an education, which vii, o
nun fully Tor his intended business. and which Il
u be to him source olpeasure, as well as !
OFT to the ed of bis days \
PLANTER. IL
al
(FOr the Dpu,nfratN IL