The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-09
AGRICULTURAL.

On ACQUIRING 4 kNOwLEDGE o. rHI N,r.
RAJ SCmNCES-NumerOus facts on rec0Bl u----
20 convince me that agncultunsts would E8J-
very advantageous 10 habituate themselyes 10
making minute examinations OF htfle obec,.
and incidents IN nature which occur al eve.v
step, but are too often disTegauied Il IS des.-s.
bic that agnculturists should not only read boCs,
on natural history, but that they should clOsey
observe with their own eyes everything IN ne
fields, orchards and gardens, that iLey ia
CLEAN some useful hints from Natures Own yl.
ume.
In the cultivation Of plants, u has been found
best TO proceed on such scientific pnHc.p.es a.,
correct knowledge OF their structure anu iuuc
tons viii suggest. The system Of The notation
Of crops by which the produce Of our land tas
been guadHIpled, and the accImaiiOn Of plants
by hybndIIatIOn or ENGRAVING, By which means
the fruit and hOweTs.Of more southern Region,
are TecOnciled 70 our climate, are only two 0ui o.
many examples which might be aijuce! Of Tie
benefits conferred by botany upon agriculture.
While science dictates such valuable improve.
ments as those, the mere observation Of tf.lg
facts often suggests useful ideas. l. 5 SAID TIA
the occasional natural union Of bOUghs Of Dis.
tInct trees, demonstrated the pTacucabli'y ID
grating, and that the observations Of the e!Icl--
stance Of vine shooting more vigorously sieIa
goat had bTOwsed on II suggested the yau25 g..
OF pruning trees. One OF the EmpeTOr Of CT
ma having noticed that peculiar Stalk 10 b,
garden Produced better nee than the Irst, cut.
vated II Tor several years; ami theI having il-l
satisfied himself and his subjects Of IL suPenl.
ny, he distributed IFS grams among them NI t-tl
general benefit. A tanner having remarked tbs
some gOOseheTy bushes, growing under an eiS-
tree, were exempt from cateTpiilaIs, was iEllce
TO Try the efficacy Of decoetIOn Of elder sa1e
IN destroying the gTubs that infested his t---.
crops, and he and ether tanners who repez,r-
the experiment found Il successful
II Is not only necessary that the agDC4.l-s.
should be well acquainted with the nsiuIe Of Dr.
different vegetables which he cui.Ivates ilI to-
nOmleal purposes, but thst he should ng-y ll-
deIstand the causes Of the several rayages lr-
diseases 10 which they are subject, ~ iha' b
may be able to devise proper remedies AM pre-
yentiOns. In nine cases out Of ten, The i4le
OF crops and the pecunaTy lOSSeS eNpenSl'r-
thereby, arse from the attack Of some psTt1ls
species OF destructive insect, which, tom .-'
known causes, has appeared IN unusually sea.
numbers. Before any eiiecmal Steps can =
taken against II, IL Is absolutely necessary O. g.
certain correctly what species Of insect Is e-.-
ing the mischief, and 10 study the creature ha--
its IN all lis transformations; fOr What Vii Pl's
more or les edeetual in one stage Of rs exist.
ence, will betOtally useless, OTperhaps, ncIea,1
the evil in another. Notwithstanding the u-
mense annual losses which must be caused p
the millions Of destructive insects Jfat niesi q
kinds Of crops, the science OF entymOl0gy 5 cgl
paratively neglected by agneultunsiS, Who al7'
therefore, frequently unable 10 give definite -'-
scnptiOn Of any nOxlous insect % natuIa->''
lxksla fhaNr MI
Those husbandmen who have possessed sei-'
knowledge Of natural history, have not msIs =
been better able 20 cultivate their plants a'-
protect them from the attacked huTtlul creai'l''
but they have asceTtained thereby what ci'1
lures are harmless and useful, and Therefore "
be spared and encouraged Without tbs pow
Of discrimination, they may be unwItungl 81
into the error OF destroying Creatures Which WV
absolutely beneficial 10 them.
Natural history IN its most extended SEN,
being insepaTably connected with al me an =
life, ought to fOm a part OF the elucauon y
those who wish TO promote them, and oehsu. !,
them. In every school, whether inienoe1 =
males or females, for the neh or tor ihe p.
natural history should find foremost pace aS %
elegant and useful accomplishment.
The culture OF plants VIII become a eoAP'.-
lively easy process when we are better aequs ~
ed with Their peculiar functions, and WIN y,
chemical elements which they require 'Vl - -
growth and maturatiOn. We must n0l % g..
tent with knowing what are thelT respective "a "a
ural locations, climates and seasons, 1Ul w.
learn what chemical gases each species iiio'o.
from the atmosphere, through is. leaves o. a.
what substances from the soil through rs ~
"If plant be distinguished by It's eoniaihlls
notable portion OF soda, SILICA, &c, me sO' !
which II is 10 be grown must contain inc os
ments, otherwise the attempt will be aooI'i's,
Tor a plant can no more create soda OF Sin Sin
within Itself, than II can tOTm wafer lOi ~ - =.
port, independent Of the soil OF alnos
From knowledge Of the principles, theislo.,,
rational theory Of agriculture may De iOl OIL =
and what has hitherto been little better uaI -,
expensive and often distressing system u - -
and error, becomes a science guided oy -
laws. Agriculture Will always have 70 CON-
with the fluctuations Of seasons and ei,iha
but il is for human ingenuity TO mcdliy ne
fnenee. and this only can be effected oy az az.
and scientific procedure. As yet, the seleHs -,
Agriculture i in its infancy, but the time J =
far distant when II will rank with other 5I 4,
branches Of knoWledge-when every son ", 4
systematically treated for the species f.,ns
be raised upon tin short, when inc a.. n,
will SOW and reap with as much seeulV = N,
distiller produces his spint. The Nalue ~ B,
science of chemistry TO the agncuituils., cbsp
mdeed fsom the fact that when the sie &c. avyr
Isl LavOiser, took quantity Of land mo -
cultivatin, he very soon succeeded IN uO~'
IFS pToduce.-JOWr. Of Ag'