Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-12-07

that nothing more is necessary than at to con-
vert scientific facts to practical purposes; while so
far from this being the case the agricultural chemist
has two-fold duty to perform-he must both deter
mine the scientific facts of agriculture ana eliminate
from them the practical conclusions to which they
lead It may perhaps, be said that the establish
ment of these facts falls within the province of the
pure chemist But if this principle were to be acted
upon the progress of chemical agriculture would be
slow indeed for the invests of tho pure che
mist lead him now and are likely for very long pc
Rod to lead him. in directions very remote from those
most likely to afford the Daterlals winch the agrlcu
tural chemist requires to work upon. The latter
would therefore, require to sit idly waiting till the
former supplied him with facts, which his own exer-
tions would have enabled him to ascertain Nay, the
agricultural chemist may even do better service to
agriculture, by pursuing the investigation of those
apparently theoretical subjects, than by directing
himself to those which seem to have the most lmme
date practical bearings
There is another point on which there has been a
GOOD deal of misunderstanding between the chemist
and the agricuturist which is intimately connected
with the estimate OF the extent and perfec
ton of chemistry. 1t is not uncommonly supposed
that the chemist is in the condition at to solve
by the Investigations of the laboratory all such ques
tions in practical agriculture may be submitted to
him-that he can determine when nothing else can,
why certain methods of cultivation successful
others unsuccessful 1t is just possible that he may
in some instances be able to do this, but far
frequently his researches enable him not to state pos
itivey what what is not the case but rather to
draw probable conclusion-to form, in fact by
pOthess which is not in itself q truth, but which
must be further tested by experiment in the field,
whereby it may be either confirmed entirely refu-
ted Now, very unfortunately this hypothesis is Of
ten taken for positive statement and when it turns
out to be erroneous it is Immediately held up
instance of the fallacy of science by those who not
being themselves acquainted with the method of in
yestigation by experiment. unaware that oil sci
entifc facts are developed in such No one
ever thinks of going fortuitousy to work, when he
proposes to determine scientific fact. He first
weighs all facts of similar character, having a
bearing on the subject which he desires to eucdate
and then Pounds upon these hypothesis, the truth
or faacy of which is to be tested by experiment.
Now, without any explanation, has equently hap
pened that such hypothesis have been handed over
to the practical man. whose field experiments having
refuted Them he has forthwith abandoned the science
which seemed to him to give erroneous results not
knowing that these results only in progress of
being arrived at by those very experiments which he
was engaged in performing. The very same process
has been employed in the application Of science to
every other art but the difference between them
and agriculture is that with the former the hypoth
esis is formed and the experiments executed by the
same person in agriculture the hypothesis must in
many instances be handed over for experimental elu-
| cidation to the practical man. The many failures
which made in other arts remain unknown to all
but those by whom they have been made while in
agriculture they become known to all and sundry
and by them it is not understood that though these
results negative they still to bring all
nearer to the truth.
i And this leads me to observe, that the true man.
ner in which chemical agriculture is to be advanced
is not merely by the cxertons of the chemist the
abors OF the laboratory alone. 1t must be by the
mutaneous efforts of science and of practice, each
endeayOring to develope, with care, steadness and
accuracy, the facts which fall within its province
Nor must each pursue its irrespective of
the other They must go hand in hand and, taking
advantage OF each others experience, and avoiding
all sort of antagonis they must endeavor co-ope-
rate for the elucidation of truth The chemist and
the practical are in fact in the position to give
each other most important assistance The may
point out the conclusions to which his science so far
it has gone, enables him to come while the 9TH
may test these conclusions by experiment, or may
be able from his experience at to refute
firm them But it will not do to imagine that there
is here either a triumph defeat Such spirit
cannot be anything but injurious It is rather to be
looked upon fortunate state of matters, which
admitting OF the examination of our conclusions
from two different points of view directs us with the
greater certainty in the path of truth.
For the development of agricultural chemistry in
this manner the Highland and Agricultural Society
appears to me to possess peculiar advantages 1t has
within its own body large number of members, who
both able and willing to assist in furthering its
views IN this direction by experiments in the field
and am glad to say that some are actually already
commenced the results of which hope, at no very
distant period, to communicate to the Society
AS it may be interesting to the members of the So
clety to learn the nature of these investigations,
shall state very shortly the method in which we pro-
pose to pursue the work of the laboratory. Our plan
is, as far possible independently of the ordinary
analysis of manure and the like to carry on two diff
ferent classes of researches 1st extended investga-
tons subjects of interest and Importance and the
completion of which must necessarily occupy q con-
siderable period I'd, shorter Investigations of sub
Jects of crcumscribed character, which do
not occupy so long period and 3d. subjects which,
from their consisting of isolated portions may be ia
ken up in the intervals which occur in the nvestiga-
tons of other matters
In the former of those classes of Investigations we
are now engaged with series of experiments for the
purpose of determining far as chemistry can, the
relative feeding values of different grains and other
ordinary sorts of cattle Ood-our object being so to
determine their values that the farmer may know
what quantity of any given sort of food he ought to
substitute for that he has ordinarily employed, when
the price of the former falls low as to make it adj
vantageous to use it. In this way the farmer will be
enabled to employ the produce of his own farm, in
foreign cake or other foods The subject is one of
considerable difficulty but when completed it will,
hope, serve to throw some light upon the principles
of successful feeding and it is intention to ex-
tend it to root crops and to the different sorts of
grass employed for hay, opportunity may offer
Another question, under investigation, is the al
legged nerioriy of the butter of cows fed with tur-
neps grown with guano, to that of those fed with
turneps grown with ordinary manure | do not ex-
pect however that shall be able to complete this
till the close of the present season. it was begun at
too late period to admit of obtaining the tur-
neps of the last crop in their best condition Tur-
neps, however, now being grown both with and
without guano, by means of which we shall be able
to investigate this matter more fully than we have