The North-Carolinian., 1852-04-24
VOL. 13-No. 6ez.
From the Wnmingtoa Rsraad.
AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURE.
There Is class of tillers of th~ nd.
that call themselves s.pr0aiea! Fafmers,"
spd they will say empafhicalIy do not
give VI any Of your ..5ook Ehvssing1" which
phrase in their minds, means ''book none
sense
Now. to this benixhted elass. and it con-
sists Of no small number Ut tillers OF the
soil. would respectfully present brief
series Of questions that may tend to open
their eyes 10 their personal interest. I
causiIer that there is nut - very great
difference. in.point Of fact and beneficial
results, each IL their special way. heiween
the seaman that pi"ughs the ocean wave.
AMI the farmer that pioughs the land. If
a farmer 10 to be turned loose on his land
without previous agricultural education.
that is ''book learning" that shall enable
him to cultivate the land to advantage and
profit to himself. why need we have nauti.
cal schools in which our bold and brave
seamen and officers are to be educated,
and learn in books. navigation, Or the
scientific means to plough the ocean and
arrive at their desired port with perfect
safety to themselves and certainty, and
reap the harvest Of glory and profit that
they we'll deserve. They have learned
in IS Books first. and then put to daily
practice next, and the combination Of the
tw" qualifications, made them proficient
and successful navigators. Why not put
as commanders on board our vessels
navigating the ocean. canal boatmen to
perform this duty ? Are they not purely
practical men.-they will discharge this
office just as we'll. suppose. will they not
friend "practical farner'2 Oh! that is
totally different, 1 may be answered.
Why7 l positively assert that without this
shook knowifdee' both will surely ship
wreck-the former in the sea. and perhaps
through his ignorance, lose life and all;
while the latter will! only lose his time.
crop-and starve at ease, he. and the
mer employ Doctor that has not spent
years in reading the accumulated learning
contained in the ''books" Of his predeces-
sors in the profession, and the records Of
their experience and practice7 Ifhe does
not, which his good common sense will
most probably dictate to him. why should
he expect. ! repeat, that Farmers should
cultivate the soil without ''book ienrning':
The experience Of many ..prActicat >nsA
sc'enssnc'7 tarM~rs have now reduced AVID
demonstrated all this matter Of fact, into
| a p"sitive and un.leniabie evidence, and
proven by the results, and all these results
cultivator Of the soil does not derive all
the advantages that he might. without
combination Of {" scie,Mife and practical
kno,rledye."
Is it reasonable to suppose, that every
seIf-taught farmer can have acquired. Vi
himself. more observations and experience
than the concentrated and recorded ex :
perience and observation of millions Of
individuals. for the lapse Of some 1000
years? Is it not presumptuous to have
the folly to assume that they know better
than the whole besides Ifit be SO, it is
folly for such farmers to employ lawyer
to mango their case before a court or call
upon book learned physician to heal the
wounds and diseases that flesh is heir TO-.
Is it not pitiable that such individuals
who call themselves '.pracficai farmers, "
should yet exist in our midst. while the
march Of improvement is percepti6le every
where in the sciences. Of observation Is
it not high time they should pause and
consider; think for themselves; take adj
vice from the their increasing experience
of what others are doing in their own call
ing aud stop to smile 1T their betters,
beca they read agricultural works aud
periodicals. and frequently meet in agri-
cultural societies to literally exchange
their observations. practice and trials in
order to benefit each other and society.
| 1t is to be hoped that better day will
soon come, and that not only individuals,
but our legislatures. our Governors, our
people in high places. every where. will
teel more interest in the improvement Of
this vital branch Of human industry.
Very respectfully, J. TOGNO.