The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-11-10

Ry DOct. James Higgins,
STATE AGRICULTURAL CHEMIST.
At the time Doct. Higgins lectured on
the subject of Agriculture &C., at this
place, we took notes, which we published
We are now gratifcd to be able to give
the first lecture, as written out by the Doc
tor hlmself.-Ed. Whig.l
lderpIy regret tina, cannot bring to
my all the elnquence which has been so
frequently displayed on occasions like
the present, and at no time more promi-
nently than at the last meeting of this So
cietv, when the practical kn"wedg e de-
rived from careful attention to all the
details of Agriculture was conveyed to
you by one who's" learning and eIoquence
il the highest legislative body of our
country, has but few equals, and no SUI
periors.
Its claims were then set forth, with all
the force which highly cultivated mind,
urged on by true devotion TO its interests,
could produce.
can only rely on the intrinsic interest
Of the cause, which has brought the judge
from the bench, the lawyer from the bar,
the physician from his office, aud last, but
nv no means least, the farmer from the
field of his labor and toll, to form the au
dlence now assembled.
OF such deep moment is the subject Of
Agricultural improvement, so important is
NJ f,, al M II nj
greatness, that a discussion of IFS true
principles, without the foreign aid Of orna-
ment, cannot fail TO enlist your serious at
tentlon.
The assistance of the Science whose
humble minister am, to the Art which you
follow, demonstrated in the plainest and
most unprelending manner. must enlist
your feelings in its behalf. Its beauty and
its truth, even when painted in the faint
est c"l"rs. must capnvate your fancy, and
convince your judgment.
The Object Of the present meeting is to
promote the cause of Agriculture. Upon
that cause | will pass no eulngy. That
to which a nation owes its greatness and
strpngtI,-lhat which is the basis of all
other occupatcns-thatw which goes hand
in hand with civilization, which, ':indeed,
is civilization itself "--lhat which seduced
the "nohlrsl Roman of them alp from the
head of the State to be the follower of
the Pl"ugh-that which was all object o
the most earnest solcitude to him who
was "tirst in war, first in peace, first in
the affections of his countrymen,' can re-
ceive no additional importance from
anything that can say in its commen-
dalinn.
We have met to prom ote its interests,
pni to the best means for that promo.
ton, we will direct our attention.
We will enquire, what have been the
causes which have retarded its progress'
How those causes are to be removed,
and by what means its improvement can
be most thoroughly and ellectually ac-
co,nplshed
The chieI of the causes, in the first
place, is deficiency Of knowledge as to
the laws which govern, that which is the
object of all cultivation, the production
of crops. We all know that certain sub
stances, added to certain soils, greatly in
crease their yield; upon other soils, the
same substances produce no benefit Az
ricult:rists are thus ever IN doubt, never
being certain Of success, in anything, and
this very doubt and uncertainty begets
Indifference and want Of energy. :.
We also know that particular modes
Of cultivation largely influence the yield
OF land; but the reason of these effects
TIE rational explanation of these things
have been but little studied and but little
understood.
However beneficial particular applica-
ton may be to particular section of
country, as long as all the causes which
tended to produce that benefit are I'M
known, the mere fact of benefit is useless
to every other part Of the country not ex-
act y similar to it. No great truth can
be established. no principle of general APP
picalion can be laid down. These mere
facts are but as monuments with inscrip-
lions which we cannot read, they are the
pages OF u book sealed in al unknown