Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-11-20

Cul' dS d. uTSI IL WOuIu seem. Stuuy, Tt-
fleet attenlively, experimen. often and eau
tously, and you will find i, easy-"Knock
and it shall be opened unto you. The
germ or seed of the particular plant we wish
TO produce is one of the elements or agen-
cies we have to supply-applied, we soon
see it dlaie, expand, absorb, assimilate, ap-
,proprlate TO lis own organism other sub
stances, till it reaches its natural growth.
1t throws out its rootlets, it expands its
leaves, it absorbs elements from the earth,
spreads them out in its leaves to the ligh,
and heat of the sun, elabora,es them there,
absorbs through these organs other elements
from the atmosphere. and throws of, Through
these and through the roots, redundancies.
All this we see !; and we know that many
subtle as we'll as grosser agencies have been
at work to produce these results. We know
that light, heat and electricity, have played
their part; water, and air, and earlhs and
metals, have been employed. But we do no.
know their modes, proportions, nor relative
influences. We do know and learn from
this, however, that great results may be pro-
duced by apparently sIigh, exciting causes,
and that, cooperating with nature end OBJ
serving her laws, it is in our power to ef-
feet wonders. The germ, we have always
seen and known, was TO be supplied but
gencies, those which will prepare the soil
for the easy and effectual action Of these
germs, we are in search but from the po-
tent action Of this minute germ we learn
that those agents need no. be of such vast
bulk as to weight us down and deter us from
the pleasan, and profitable task. The work
Of improvement consists not 20 much, there
fore, in supplying directly the food Of plants,
as in applying 10 the soil those things which
will make i. yield up readily, to the func-
lonal action of plants, their appropriate
food, which is already contained in the soil
in abundance-in adding this leaven to the
bread, and in bringing, by tillage, these
various elements Of vegetable composition
into their appropriate relative positions or
contact. Thus it is easy TO account for the
apparently mysterious and wonderful effects
Of small quantities Of the alkalies, the acids,
the alkaline earlhs and the salts-such as
are. or are contained in gypsum, lime, gu
ano, ashes and the like. In the putrescenl
manures of the farm-yards, and in all de-
cay ing vegetable matter, we have these acids,
alkaies and salts, in small proportion,
mixed with large masses OF the other more
bulky elements, consequently, these have
to be applied in far greater quantities.
Though they are m ore uniformly certain in
their effects because they contain all The
vegetable constituents, yet the supply of
some Of the essentials to vegetable growth,
may be, and often is, very scanty in decay
ed vegetable matter, when it has been grown
in soils deficient in any Of these essentials
Hence the greater efficacy and durability OF
these ''never-faling ferilizers,' as they have
been called, when preceded in their aPpli-
cation by the use Of lime, or others Of the
more active agents, above mentioned, &C
cording as their use may be indicated by
the nature of the soil.
| ,Commendable efforts have been made by
our State authorities 10 supply US, in ou'
search after accurate knowledge in these re.
spects, with the full benefits of the lights O
! science, by the institution of the office o
State Agricultural Chemist, and the appoint
ment 10 that office of gentleman, who
I
by his last annual report, is undoubtedly I
gentleman of great courtesy, and also mai
of learning and science. We have not ye
had the happiness TO see him amongs. us
His duties elsewhere have, of course, depriv
ed US of ,ha. pleasure and advantage h,her
to, bu, he will doubtless in due time visi
our county, and persuade myself 10 hop'
that we shall derive much useful informa
ton from his visit. When he comes, sucl
of you as may desire or need il, can brin
science to act for you, as lave before sug
gested, upon the particular spots you wisl
10 improve, and there to give you such &C
curate information as will secure you from
error and give success Ia your enterprises
Blu, though much good has been and pro
badly will be done in this way, il is unwis
and unsafe to wal! for or to rely too muc|
upon il. Science will lend Its aids, an
mos, valuable and imporsan. aids they are
but his own close observation, his own rea
son, reflection and experience should be tn
farmers main reliance. His calling is al
independent one, his employments are sucl
as strengthen the body and invlgoraIe tn
mind. He should take nothing upon trus
but subject everything, every scheme pro
posed for his adoption, to the careful scru
tiny of his own ripe judgment, and bring II
where practicable befnre venIurlng too tai
to the test of actual experiment. The aid
of science earnestly advise you to invoke
but at the same time lie. me guard you a
gainst her enthusiasm.
Quitting now this higher sphere, let IN
dwell for few moments upon my own O
2inions, practices and experience. The
are for you to test, adopt and practice upor
or repudiale, as your better experience
varent circumstances may dictate. But, a
have already said, our soils are for III