The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-05-06
AGRICULTURE.

proceed now to the consideration OF
means of elevating the agricultural
profession of more Importance, because Of
much more efficient influence than any to
which have referred; and that is educa-
ton, knowledge, intellectual improve
ment.
have already said that the glory Of
man is his mind Ii his animal nature is
curious, and wonderful, and beautiful, his
intellectual nature is transcendent and dl-
vine. Ills places him at the head Of
animal creation. In his mind, lie the I'M
developed clemcnts.oi moral growth, and
the secret sources of that energetic au-
thority which subjects the most powerful
elements Of the physical world to his
sceptrc, and makes him "monarch Of all
he surveys" In an art involving many
Of the most wonderful operalions-apd
agriculture is that art-dealing in the
subtle agencies in nature, and presenting
even to the casual observer in cultivation
ard in vegetable and animal growth, a
succession of miracles, where is there
more occasion for the most subtle inquir-
les Of philosophy
TO the careless observer, the depositc
of a seed i'll the earth, its termination, its
after cultivation, It's progressive growth,
and It's ultimate maturity, arc matters OF
such every day occurrence, that they Gre
ate no surprise and arc seldom remarked.
But they are all replete with wonders,
which, in their solution have hitherto de-
fled, to large extent, the most subtle
scarchings of the most subtle minds -
Where does life reposc in this dried kerr
mel, so small and to all appearance SO ut
terly inerl2 What secret agency swclls
and protrudes the germl BY what pow
er does it force It's way above the sur
face, and gradually expand its leaves, and
put forth its flowers and mature its fruit?
How and where does il gather and assert,
and at It's pleasure use or rel ect the vari-
Gus materials which go TO form the stem,
the leaves, the flower, the frui,2 How
does it construct its exquisite cells, and
pierce its delicate tubes, and elaborate its
juices, and imbibe the floating gases from
the air around it, keeping that which it
needs, rejecting that which it loa!hes, do
ing that by its own spontaneous agency,
which the chemist deems the highest
triumphs of his skill, and framing its
wonderful organism, and compromising
its peculiar odors, and mixing in exact
proportions its beautiful colors; and all
this while, be the situation or soil, the APP
pliances or manures what they may, re-
naming true to its kind, so that the grass
es do not change into the umbelllerous
plants, nor the dubious roots transform
themselves into the sercal grains? Bey-
ond all question, all these operations 60
on according to fixed laws, perfectly SIM
pie in their operation, if we coulG but I'M
derstand that operation; and no more the
effect of chance or accident, or direct in
reference of the divine artist, than any
other of the regular operations Of the ma
terial world. But what are the inhuen-
ces and effects of seed and soil, of, heat,
and light, and electricity, and gravity and
dew, and rain, and air. and manure, CT of
their component parts, and cullure2 by
what power exerled, by what circum-
stances controlleJ?-al those are matters
for philosophical inquiry, and as yet, can
scarcely be said to have been approached.
The rearing and improvement of live
stock and the whole subject of compa-
rative anatomy and animal physiology,
are matters likewise coming directly with
in the province of the agriculluralist, full
Of food for the inquisilive mind, and open
ing a wide field Of enquiry. Ia educa-