Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-11

their nutrition and growth-wha substances contribute
To their nnurishment and support and ~ hat form en-
ter into their cnnstuton-by what organization they
appropriate and assimate the f,od-the structure and
functions of their different organs-the from
which their supplies Of fond are manly derived, whe
Their from the EARTH from the air,-the comPosition
ingredients, and influence Of the soils in which they
the chemica! action OF the various nanures EN-
Moved To promote their srowti--aii these matters
If which the agculturist should possess sound and
correct know ledge II lie would practise ms profession
with intelligence and success The elemen tary prln-
cipes Of these enquiries, hs derives from the chemist,
the yereable pay sologs the mneraogsi, the geo!o.
c;si:-bnt much remains 10 be done ~ his own
lchiened and scmIna;ing observation. The farmer,
indeed is The fellow .laborer Of The OF science III
prosecuting his researches into all the of the
petable economy. Hs tue character is that of
perimsnei philosopher whose operations IN the vast
Laboratory of Nature The indispensable complement
of those performed in the laboratory of the chemist
Here, then, is and important field for the
fu.ness Of agricultural societies. Ii under their
coura cement and supervision that wedigesed So
ries of accurate and skiliul experiments be
instituted and conducted to aid IN the
advancement or agricultural science, and TO test the
theories on which 81 tie mCs essential problems
oC practical agriculture depend. The importance CT
this desderaium has been long felt by Of science
Sir Humphrey Dagy, in his we'll known lecture on
agricultural chemistry, remarks, 'tha nothing more
wanting in agriculture than experiments, IN which all
the circu instances infinitely and scientifically de-
tailed and that this art will advance IN proportion IS Il
Jeromrs e1act in lis methods. In tins most useful
branch Of human knowledge, we may freely and with
on, reprooch indug the passion oil The day Tor mesn
isnp. We may commune with Nature IN her Sleep IA
,errooate her on her mysterious laws, elicit the
of her most hidden processes and turn the revelations
thus obtained TO the higheft practical benefit OF our
species | will take the liberty, another OCCASION,
Of inviting the attention Of the Society TO sugges
tons in detail for extending usefulness, in thus
| ,pect.
Nav we not hope that the professors of Science,
return for such services may be enabled 10 rem
der TO the cause OF liberal knowledge by expert
mental operations in testing and Illustrating lis prn'
| ciples will cheerluy come forward, from time 10
time 10 aid and cngh by their theoretical aud PHI
losophca views of the paenomena OF Nature, and oi
the true methods of vestigation and improvement
Il is sure, only ne cessary 10 make the appeal,
to ha ye i, promptly and jealousy responded to- No.
thing has strking'y distinguished the Unitarian
| are in which we live, than the honorable anxiety OF
men Of science 10 apply the results OF their researches
and discoveries the practca! purposes OF ., and
thus in their day and generation, to ado to The amount
Of actuai, pos;.irc good in the world. To ALL who a:e
animated with this Eobe ut, there be no higher
encor cement and reward, than TO fad the active
classes of society oppreciang, al hrIr Just vaia".
the aids which science capable oI uording TO ;he's
industrious pursuits. The late accounts from En-
GLAND bring US information OF L:ebg, the great Ger
man Chemist whose recent work on organic Chemis.
try marks a new and prominent era IN the history
of Science, mngling with the farmers OF Yorkshire,
a
expoundng his theories in familiar popular address
e. The distinguished biologists of that country,
Hnckland Murchison, De la Gechc, it is well known,
have z-alousy complied with the calls made upon them,
b. undertaking gtatuously, geological surveys of the
soils and su5sos Of extensive agricultural DISTRICTS
In our own country, the uboEs oil Professor Hitchcock,
Dana, Jackson and others, attest the same sedu!ous
aud faithful attention, the part OF men OF science III
Republican America, to the Interests Of practical asri
culture and need not, ! an sure go beyond the H.
rns of our own Society for distinguished example OF
like public spirit in learned Professor, whose labors
are 50 well known to Us
It's the province Of Associations like ours, gentle.
men 10 wife and bring forth the contributions Of men
of science 10 the OF practical improvement. The
great work OF Liebig, to which have just referred,
was prepared at the special instance Of the British As
socia for the advancement OF science The lectures
of Sir Humphrey Davy Agricultural Chemistry,
which gave the fist marked impetus 10 the applications
of science agriculture, were delivered AZ The request
and in the presence of the Beard OF Agriculture of
England A mere County Agricultural Association in
England, resembling in every respect our own, has
recently had the good fortune OF bringing forth by lis
encoura cement and nterventlon work of cx'raord
nary r,ert which, for the popular and Ineligible
form in which lis instructions are conveyed, Is well
ss for the body Of sound science II contains is proba
bly destined replace all s predecessors. refer
to the lectures oil Professor Johnson ION Agrcultu-
raj Chemistry and Geology; the first part of which,
only has yet appeared, but which affords The pro.
misc of code Of instruction, hen completed, of Tie
highest value to the practical ugric, .rst. These
admirable Lectures delivered belize the Durham
County Agricultural Soeiey, and the members Of the
Durham FarmcrS Club, in yle of explanation 80
lucid and compre hensble to call for no previous
technical know ledge OF the subjects Of winch they
treat Here is example worthy Of imitation. We
have already shewn our sense Of the intimate and i'm
porant connection between the ohscis Of our Society
nd the Investigations of science, by making the learn
ed Professors uf UHiversty, otiicio honorary
members of this Association. Shall no. invite them,
from tr1e time, bring the lights OF their several
Of science, through the medium Of polm-
lar lectures, 10 direct and illuminate The paths Of our
AGRICULTURAL labnrs, and 10 sustain aud cGbelsh, by
the Efforts of their genius tie chief pillar IN the ed
fee of our national prosperity and grandeur? Shall We
no, Law public spirited of science every where IN
de: contribution in the same holy CAUSE shall VEN
propose this TO you, gentlemen, ~ tie rm con.
fdence that nm appeal 10 The patriotism oil American
science can yer &c made IN VAN.
By the means here suggested, the usefulness of
Society may b. greatly enlarged, aud much may b.
done BY i,s nsumenta!iy Tor The interests OF agri-
cullure But vet, other Of Il wider scope
demanded b. those interests. 4 public endowment,
poder the patronage OF tie State, Tor instruction III The
principles and practice of agriculture, IS impera,vey
due TO that great class uf the community, which is
npdiaely connected with the cultivation of the earth
We have in great number, schools Of law schools of
medicine schools Of general literature, but none o az
rio ulture Why is this So: The recent GENIUS sleas,
that the number Of persons engaged IN agriculture,
four times gre ier than the whole number OF persons
employed in commerce., manufactures the learned pro-
rssons and trades oevery description, all put together
Does not every consideration pocy and justice, hen
r, quire the provision of ofproirssIons edu
cation in an ar 10 which predominant; and vital por
ion Of The industry and worth of tie country s de voted
Il agriculture alone, 10 be degraded into vulgar and
empirical pursuit, which requires liberal instruction.
On the contrary there is no other profession, | will
venture to AFFIRM which demands, for its intelligent ex
ercise so wide range of scientific knowledge. II en-
braces within its scope, by direct and necessary de-
pendence the domain Of Chemistry, Botany, Vegeta-
BILE Physiology, Geology, MIneralogy, Me,eoroogy,
Zoology, Mechanical Philosophy, not TO speak Of the
moral and political sciences which have important
bearing, in many respects, Upon some Of s highest in
teress TO which Of the harmed Professions, so.caled,
would ask, is large g'oupe OF kindred sciences
associated in such ciase and nt.u,ate relationship:
These considerations nta@nl themselves daily
more and felt, aud afous:Eg public attention,
nIa II