The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-27

tFS'S s s'a'ae''y anu ieeoom ocuon, very
"issiy conferred upon an institution, new and un-
W ~ It's aPpheauon 70 me great objects IN view.
very cohsideraoie lautade OF control, as TO the
noah' 70 DC USED, rs given 70 inc board OF mana
seis, ana me ends 10 DC aimed at are described IN
comprehensive terms. But the most ample guaran-
'ee ior Tue wise and faithful use OF this dscreton-
airy power Is obtained IN the fact that the board will
consist OF the Vice President of the United States
the Chief Justice OF the Supreme Court, three
tors three members Of the House, and six others 10
be chosen by loint resolution of the two houses,
who are required TO submit To Congress annual re-
ports OF the operations, expenditures and condi-
tion OF the institution. In addition to al this,
here Is reserved the power to alter and amend the
charter as the results Of experience may render
eessary or expodient. All these provisions seem 60
DC wise, and make Il almost impossible that any
abuse or misapplication Of the fund can ever take
place. .r .t..t... ... s. ..s Dad. ......
The sixth section Of the bill provides for "pro
lessor Of agriculture, horticulture, and rural econo
N.Y." giving him power TO employ such laborers
and assistants may be necessary "to cultivate
inc ground and maintain botanical gardon"--
TO make experiments Of general utility through
out the United States"-''to determine the utility
OF new modes aud Instruments Of culture, and
10 determine whether new fruits, plants, and
vegetables may be cultivated TO advantage 10 the
United States These provirlsns comprehend all
winch relates TO the great agricultural interest. No
one, presume, VIII question: the pgsbabss usefol
ness OF these provisions TO AID and benefit by Tar the
largest number OF our citizens who employ the
greatest amount OF capital, and whose productions
are the very basis OF our prosperity wealth, and
happiness regret, air, that IN oonnexion with
thus arrangement there Is no express provision for
professor OF chemistry but as chemical laboratory
PROVIDED Tor, and as the professors are required
10 DO OF the most useful sciences and arts, pre-
sumo .hiS pro'essosniP would DC considered hrst IN
""P"''a"Soi nnu Wou'u ny no Possiouty DC omitted
In some parts OF the country u Is not unusual TO
near ooIeeuons against he Application OF science 10
| agriculture. nave heard u questioned even here,
whe!her experiments and investigations conducted
IN washington city, can be OF any use IN other
autuGes, SOILS ana climates throughout our ex-
tended country maintain, SIR, that science IN sgri-
culture Is practicable and that its cultivation even
| here, at the seat OF government, may be made TO
contribute most important Ienehs TO all parts OF the
Union. For, let It be remembered, science is but
the classheaion OF facts expressed m the shape oil
general rules or laws. IL any important fact be
omitted IN the process OF induction, the result will
| be erroneous and calculated TO mislead. But
| continued experiment and investigation will event
| ualy point out the omitted or misplaced fact
| and gradually true science viii grow up, rising
from the hrst rude attempts, through various gra-
datons OF Improvement, up TO Its highest and most
perfect form. Results predicted from certain ope-
ranons, without due consideration and experience Of
all attending facts and circumstances, changes Of
soil and climate, would not be verified, except by the
merest accident. But Is It not plain that the ex-
Perlments here, disseminated throughout the coun-
try by appropriate means, and Illuminated by all
existing knowledge as TO the influence Of varied cir
cumstances, will be seized upon by the intelligent
and skful agrlculturst IN all quarters, and submit
ted to still further tests, in order to eliminate the u
mate truth-the most general law-divested Of all
extraneous facts' The experiments made abroad
will be reflected back again TO the central institution,
and they will enable 1t 70 correct Its conclusions
whenever these may have proved to be to any ex-
tent erroneous: IL this professorship should ac-
| compIsh nothing more than to point out the mode
of Investigation to be adopted, and to compare the
results 10 different quarters and give information OF
them this of itself would be an essential service to
! agriculture
twill not be disputed, however, that there are
some things In agriculture ola general nature, which
! science at any place can determine with absolute
certainty One might theorize IN reference to pro-
cesses OF CULTIVATION and the results would be very
| generally erroneous. II might be pausibly argued
that to disturb and break the roots Of stalk Of
| oy the usual mode OF cultivation must injure the
health ana produce OF tho plant. But experience
Ge' ermines precisely me contrary; whether 1t be
| That new ana more numerous small roots are put
out penetrating to every part of the soil, and there
by obtaining abundant nutrlment, or whether IL be
simply that the oxygen and carbonic acid gas Of the
air and OF the soil are rendered more accessible tc
the roots of the plant by the oosened texture of thu
ground. Yet, when the agricultural chemist ascer
tains that the stalk, leaf grain Of any plant con
tains certain substances, the siicates, phosphates
or carbonates, and that these are Indispensable,
to their perfection, he is enabled to predicat,
with absolute certainty that these substance,
must be in the soil, or that the plant will no
flourish. This is a species Of information Of tn,
utmost importance, and applicable under all circum-
stances, and in all climates In its perfect form
when science shall have expended her fruitful labor
upon it, it will enable the farmer to control the
growth of his CROP and give it any desired develop
ment just as he now controls the growth of his do.
nestle animals, raising his cattle for milk or 70,
beef, and his sheep for wool or for mutton, at his
pleasure. t,*1i1.... % 4'5 ~.t
| would say, sir, in reference to this what have
said of another branch of science, and, indeed
what may be said of all knowledge, that il is impos.
sble to foresee the great results to which they will
lead. have unbounded faith in the resources OF
science in all her departments and ! look forward
with the expectation of discoveries and improve.
ments far more important and wonderful than any
thing which has yet been accomplished The mag.
netic telegraph is MARVEL but il docs not mark the
| extreme boundary of human ingenuity. D.. ..
Another leading and i'm porfanf feat,,re in fb;o hill