The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-05-22
farmers Department.

The following communication is in
answer to one published sometime since,
i'll our paper, over the signature of "a
Practical Farmer" We are glad to see
this interchange of opinion among our
Farmers, upon matters Of interest to
them. Our Agricultural Department
might be endered more interesting and
instructive, if each Farmer who sub
scribes for The Wing would give us his
experience in relation to farm work.
For The Cecil Whig,
MEssRs EDIToRs:-"A Practical Far
mpr' makes some wholesome sugges-
fions, think, IN late number of The
Wig, in regard to the Farmers of Cecil
cxerting themselves to get up an Agri-
cultural Society, for the ostensible pur-
pose Of giving Il fresh impetus to the
spirit of Agricultural improvement, that
is going on in our county. Any p &C.
teal man, who has given the matter Il
serious thought, must be fully impressed
true agricultural economy is only to be
arrived at by the aid of Chemistry.
When we reflect; that by the light of
Science we are made acquainted with
al, the constituents which enter into the
composition of crops, and by the same
wonderful power enabled to ascertain the
hidden qualities of every species of soil;
who can be so skeptical as not to believe,
when farmer is in possession of this
knowledge, if he but follow the dictates
of common sense, that vast amount of
labor and expense may be saved, in at
tanning the objects of his pursuits-viz:
rich soil and abundant crops?
How vastly preferable it would be,
for every intelligent farmer to conduct
his business in the MONDAY light of
science, to the old mode of blindly plod-
ding in the dark. The only draw back
to this plan OF operation, is the difficulty
attendant on having proper ana ysis of
the soil. Agricultural Chemistry, prac.
tically, is only in its infancy. and if far
mers would reap the advantages which
may undoubtedly be derived from it,
they must adopt some such plan as the
one suggested by'A Practical Farmer viz:
by forming agricultural societies, p,lr-
chasing the necrsSa. y apparatus, and en-
ploying teacher to instruct the young
men who are engaged in farming, or m
tend TO adopt that profession. BY p,lr-
suing such course, we might soon have
physicians for the soil, as numerous as
those who administer relief to the body /
a band of practical, scientific men would !
&C long spring up in our midst, not
merely enlightened in one branch of
philosophy, but, many of them, would
become adopts in all its various depart
mcnts; adding new discoveries to the !
already vast and wonderful field that has
hccn reve; ID to human understanding.
The great difficulty in this, a, in all new
projects, is the s'art. Who will put the
ball in motionl But in default of such
useful association as your C ,rresron-
dent alludes to, the present State Agri-
cultural Chemist, DR.. Higgins, could dis
pense his labors over much wider field,
and be of more universal benefit to the
agricultural interests of the State, if he
we're authorized by law to have a fixed
laboratory in the city OF Baltimore. The
Doctor has memorialized the Legislature
to grant him this privilege, and requests
true levers of scientific, IN prefer
'nce to blind experimental knowledge,
10 assist him in getting through his bill.
The following extract is what the DR..
says in privlte letter to the writer of
this article. "There is a Bill before
the House of Delegates, to allow me to
have Stationary Laboratory in the city
Of Baltimore, should it pass W i'll be
able to analyze any variety of soil not
included in my report. But if | still
shall be forced to rcmevc my Laboratory
from county to county, so much time is
lost in the removal that shall not be
able to examine any soil out of the
county where may be. "--FARMER.