Litchfield enquirer., 1853-10-20

Ouguly VefSe0 ln D0Cn tDe aTt anu setenCe of Agriculture. he was emphatically the falmer's friend {; and regarding his un- timely end as loss to our State and Nation. I cannot refrain from bestowing upon his memory this passing tribute of trespect. refer to John E. Norton, late Professor of Agricultural Chemistry in Yale College.
 If it is necessary fos the cultivator oI the land to study diligently the diversit, of soil. it is no less important, especial, here in New England. for him te under stand the composition and adaptation Q l the various fertilizers, Plants. as wei as men. and beasts must have food eve 1 ry crop. that we remove takes from fhe soil some necessary aliment; f we rs, store nothing, vegetation must ultimately dwindle Or perish: if we attempt to re- storo, we are bound 10 exercise caution, lest instead of wholesome nourishmeni, we admjnis,er that which is ihnutrilious or absolutely poisonous. From what | have myself witnessed. I see no reason why the fields of this country should not speedily be clothed with enduring ver> dure or luxuriant harvests. have seen the low, swampy tracts, wheis, in my boyhood the cat bird built her nest among the marsh willows, and the frogs from the half stagnant pools piped the first welcome to Spring. now converted into broad meadows, rendering a noble return for the labor and capital expended I have seen the once barren bill side, where the snakes basked in the sun, and the struggling vines of ,Ee blackberry yielded a scanty reward for my hoiiday pursuit. now covered with rich waving grain. or affording choice pastutage for the browsing kline. I have seen that which just remember as rocky upland. overrun withstunted shrubs, or the with cred yellow tops. now an orchnrd. gor
 geous with the myriad blossoms of Spring or laden with autumhal fruit. It may be thought that such results require an out lay of capital, not possessed by the ma jority of farmers; but 1t Is not SO; l have seen an industrious Ifishman, driy- en by poverty from his home across the ocean, with no capital save his own ready hand and willing heart, locate himself il the rudest of habita.ions. on the edge oI Ia swamp, that even the musk rats had fo. saken. l have seen that man, day after day, and year after year,
 "From early morn, to dewy eve,"
 delsing with untiring zeal. gaining incl b5 inch upon the bog. until at last bis little home stead was made to bud and blossom as tie rose. I have seen re, peated instances of the like success toiled for and obtained by exiles from the same unhappy land. Would to God. that the thousands of their conntrymen. who an nually flock 10 our shores would only initiate such examples! Add tothis steady industry, the keen sagacity of the New Epglander and the instructions of mod. ern science. and how soon might tie ben- eGcial changes, to whicl, l have alluded. be extended over the entire face of the land. By science, let 1t be remembered, that mean no vain philosophy. buil' upon theoretical premises. and reasoned ont in scholastic syllogisms. but that true agricultural science which as best de6n, ed, is but the comparison of actual re sulls. philosophy teaching by example In connection with this topic, l cal hardly omit aseference to 3 subject wllicl has been extensively agitated iD many Q the States. aIlude to Agsicullufa schools. Though find high authorities coHcurfing in recommending the estab. lishment of such institutions. yet I fee constrained to say. that. in my opinion if unconnected with any other. branch o education. they would mot be iiielyalt succeed. The truth is that all great de partments of knowledge n1uthally hang upon and support each other, and if nothing is this more true. than in .h' foundation and mainlainance ,of educa tional institutes. The expense. for in stance, of a school of Agricultural chem istry, if devolved entirely upon stndeni
 who intend to devote their lives to In cultivation of the seil. would De too grea for iss permanent continuance. But mucl of the instruction imported in such al institution. being required by learners Q other departments of science the unio of the whole brings the advantages 2 knowledge within the reach of all.r- Viewing the naalter in this light. thef appeass sosne,t to be slready planted { our own State in coDnexion with the ven erable University at New Haven, tb germ. at least. of all that could be de sired h this matter The corporation Q Yale College.tightIy plscjng Agricpltslr npon the same foolipg with other pro fessions. have establh hbed. as one ot th' University departments. . school of ap piled chemistry. sCcalied. where. quot the language ol shsir calAingue .ieacl s.udeat engages in q aystematic codfs' of experiments. ID which lie is superin tended by the instruc.oss. The couss' includes lhe analysis of grains soils al'