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

incompetent to filecl IN the diffusion OF
knowledge, the Press is aII-powerluI to
perform. This great inslrumen, of hui
man knowledge, speaking language
whose tones can be recalled at pleasure,
has already done much, and can do more,
not only for the diffusion Of our present
quantum of knowledge, but also for its
greater development. 1t cannot only do
good itself. hut may be, and is. a most eff
Iiclent cause Of the doing Of good by 9TH
els. You should sustain it literally, and
be well assured that whatever money You
thus spend will be "as the seed sown on
good ground it will yield you most abun.
dant increase. The Press OF our own
State, is conducted with a zeal and energy
entitled TO your warncst appreciation.
! have now imperleclly but truly, be-
lieve, indicated the means by which this
obstacle to the improvement Of Agrcul-
ture,-lhe want of diffusion OF existing
knowled ge--can be surmounied.T The next
consideration is how that knowledge can
be increased ? The Science OF Agricul-
ture is yet far, very far, from being perfect;
aIyslng our efforts, should he the stron.
gest reason to increase them. Because
little has been done, the necessity for ex-
ertion is greater than if everything had
been accomplished. Its very defects af
ford the strongest inducements for their
removal.
The air and the soil are the means of
food to all plants. They are not only
the vehicle by which such food Is con.
veyed, but, they are themselves the food.
We will no, consider the influence Of the
first, because it is above our power to
change or modify it; to the second let us
direct our attention. As il contains die
lcrent substances in greater or less pro-
portion, SO is it more or less productive
Many soils produce luxurant crops, some
/ scarcely any; some mauures upon some
soils produce very Inxurlant crops; upon
others, but little effect is seem What
are the causes of these different effects /?
what their nature? 1t is proven and ac-
knowledged, that for fact to be of avail
in the formation Of a principle Of general
application we must become acquainted
with all of the phenomena which belong
to it. The production Of large crop
upon some soils, its non-producton up.
ON others-the efficiency of manure up
on some soils, its uselessness on others,
are facts which are well known. Now if
We can ascertain of the phenomena which
belong to these Iacls-can establish all OF
the causes upon which they depend we
have made a certain and sure increase TO
our knowledge. When we have accum-
ualed large number of such facts, prn-
clpe of general application must inevi;a-
bly, follow. One fact is not enough, there
must be many, 10 he compared with each
other. One swallow does not make a
Summer, any more than one single iso-
lated fact, can form principle.
To do this, the labor must be divided.
The practical farmer, when large yield
has been produced, can give part OF the
causes which have tended to produce it,
lie can give the preparation of the soil :,
the time and mode Of sowing the seed,
the mode Of cultivation, the nature of the
seasons, SC. But, there is another class
of causes, the composition of the soil, and
of the manure used, IA sine qua non to the
value OF our fact, because 1t is the most
important of the causes, which he cannot
give. This he cannot ascertain, though
he cannot but feel and know it is the main
thing which has produced the crop-be-
cause another soil, under the same treat
m I,,I1u hoe
barren. How can he ascertain the COM
position of each ? How know that which
made one soil productive, and the want
of which, in another, made it barren !?
How can he explain the reason that
caused one manure to act well on one
soil and not well on another How save,
by ascertaining the composition of each ?
To supply this want to the practice of far
ming. a science steps in to its aid, whose
peculiar provinces it is, "lo determine the
nature and composition fall hoAies." The
very thing which was wanting for the
practical farmer to make his observation
cnmpIele-that which supplies every de-
fciency. and pe.iecls the circle OF his
knowledge.
The science of Chemistry, when APP
piled to the Improvement Of the soil, anc
the perfection of Agricultural knowledge
may reasonably be looked to as competent
to supply deficiency universally felt ane
acknowledged. That all labor is proiita.
bic in proportion as it is directed by lnowl,
edge and skill, every one here present
well knows.
If there be any doubt on the subject
only look around and see the various trade.
and employments of every kind, in which
our numerous busy population arc engaged
and you will see profit and knowledge 90
ing hand in hand each trade, every pro
fession, receiving reward for labor just If
proportion to the amount ofscience requir'
ed to perform its duties. The Captain o
a vessel, by his superior knowledge, earns