Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-12-09
Agricultural.
Head Work and Hand. Work,

practical men.
The CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, justly esteem
ed the most important of all pursuits, is one to
which the researches of science are daily bring
ing the most valuable aid No sensible farmer
Will think 1t beyond his vocation to study the i'm
provements which are introduced by this means.
AND ne will be the more capable of understand
ing and applying them, and especially of Judging
OF their real value as Improvements, when he
has knowledge of the sciences themselves No
source OF error, in such matters, is more COM
mon than that of failing to trace effects to their
real causes and thus entirely mistaking the bear
ing OF the facts under consideration An un.
derstandlng of the established principles of sci
ence, though it does not always save even the
Proiessedly scientific from this error, will greatly
assist IN the formation Of correct judgments.
1t should be the object of the farmer, in the
first place, to understand the nature of the soils
he has to cultivate, and the proper methods of
improving them; for each kind of soil requires a
peculiar treatment In this department knowl-
edge of chemistry and mneraogy is required.
that he may be able to recognise the various min
erals which the soil contains and capable of an
alyslng it, IN order TO ascertain what useful in
gradients enter into its composition and what it
will be necessary to supply, to adapt it to the
crops it may be desirable to raise
In no department. however, is chemistry capa-
BILE of being applied with more advantage, than
that of manures. The reason is, that the whole
matter, both oftheir preparation and their opera
ton, is chemical process-to understand which.
it is necessary to know the nature and effects of
the elements of which manures are composed.
The objection cannot be urged with reason,
that enough may be learned of these matters to
answer all common purposes, without a systemat-
ic knowledge of chemistry; for it is precisely this
knowledge which is needed, to enable us to i'm
prove in things wherein every intelligent obser-
yer sees we are deficient Without science, we
are constantly left to depend upon mere appear
ances, which are often deceptive The notions
by which unIearned men supply the place of sci
ence, are almost always mixed with more or less
of error and false philosophy; and the study of
exact science is necessary, that we may have at
hand the means Of testing their correctness, and
exposing their unsoundness.
A second requisite for the farmer is, to under
stand what crops are adapted to particular soils,
what to follow each other in rotation, and what
treatment each requires. These subjects are so
fully discussed in the numerous agricultural pub
locations of the day, that it is needless to enlarge
upon them here This department of agrcu-
tural knowledge constitutes, in fact, a science by
by itself One important branch of it is that
which considers the effects of artificial treatment
such as pruning, grating, manuring, exposure
and shelter-upon the growing powers of plants,
and the application of these means to the improve
ment of fruits, grains and vegetables 1t is evil
dent that the investigation of this department can
not be pursued to any advantage, without know-
edge of botany and vegetable physiology.
Equally important, in the management of cat
tie, whether for labor or for the market, is a
knowledge of animal physiology. Who is fit to
be entrusted with the care of animals, that does
not understand what is required for their health
and Comfort? Aud YET, how are domestic ami
mails everywhere abused, not merely from inten-
tional cruelty, but from pure ignorance of what
they require, either in health or when diseased.
Especially with regard to animals destined for
food, is it all-important that they should be so
treated as TO furnish flesh of the most healthy
quality. In order to this, the requirements Of
their nature ought to be carefully and scientific
ally studied; and, so far as possible, the provi-
ders of the markets should be made interested in
doing justice to their calling in this respect
How can we be assured of having wholesome an
imal food unless raisers of stock shall under
stand, and be willing to practice honestly, the
principles of physiology according to which ami
mails should be treated?
The rapid multiplication and bold depreda.
tons Of the insect tribes FENDER an acquaintance
with their nature and habits a matter of increas
ing Importance to the cultvator The science
of Entomology which treats of insects Useful a!
it is, is comparatively unknown its range is i'm
mense, and its study aborious. And yet, with
out some investigation of the subject we can have
but little success in protecting our orchards anC
gardens from the insect armies. SO numerous
is this class of animals, and SO closely does one
species often resemble another, that no mistake
could be more easily made, than that of destroy
ing the innocent instead ofthe guilty, (of which
examples are given by Kirby and Spence in thei
interesting work on this subject, )-perhaps o
the useful instead of the injurious Even afte
we have identified the enemy so artful and secre
are his operations that the utmost skill of science
is often called into requisition almost in vain, tt
devise the means of attacking him successfully
Aud if so, what can the common and unobserv
ant mind expect to be capable Of doing! Tit
single circumstance, that insects undergo state
of transformation, in which their appearance j
so entirely changed that it would be impossible
to recognize them, in their new dress, render
some scientific knowledge of the subject abso
luteIy necessarily Young americas Magazine.
II