The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-11-03

eliS PiOPtiCelcS Ot% 4IOll, dlu HOo HicASAI ~
Iron in general, but of the various quail
ties and kinds. Without this, he may
blow or strike fairly in blacksmith $ shop,
and may have learned<to make a tolera-
BILE horseshoe; but he has not risen tothe
rank of an artisan. Let him acquire
Thorough knowledge of Iron in the abb
stract, and of the laws of chemical affinity
which govern its combinations with other
substances, and the practical knowledge
he has gained in making horse=shoes may
be, made available in forging anchors. in
making plows, or in thousand other EN-
ployments which, in the absence of Sci
ence, he must have approachedas novice
and learned from the beginning Science
is the bridge across which our practical
knowledge, gained by experience, passes
and repasses, to aid us atneed in our stern
battle with physical obstruction and stub
bornness. He who knows how to do one
thing well, and does it, is a good workman,
so far as that special function is regarded;
buthe who is thoroughly grounded in the
Science which underlies his vocation is en-
abled to master dozen different arts or
notifications of his pursuits with a celebrity
and perfection otherwise unattainable.
Now the farmer, who perfectly compre-
hends the value of science in the construc-
ton of bridge or chimney, often seems
not to appreciate so wildly its Importance
in his own vocation. His nexpressed but
acted -on idea would seem to be that, while
other industrial callings require instruc
ton, method, abstract knowledge, Far
ming is a matter of instinct, or mechanic
al imitation He seems to think knowl-
edge Of its principles and laws ''comes by
Nature, :" as Dogberry supposed reading
and writing did. He sends to College the
son who is to be fitted for profession,
and to the Academy he who is to be quail
ified for a pedagogue, but he does not
consider that one who is to have the farm
on condition of taking care of the old folks,
needs any other training for his lifelong
pursuit than that which is begun in the
District School and finished behind the
4 plow.
And yet there is not good reason in the
world for inducing youth; who is to be-
come master-worker in iron, copper or
lead, into a thorough knowledge of the
material he is to fashion for a livelihood,
which is not at least as good reason for
lnstructing the young farmer thoroughly
and scientifically in the nature and diverse
properties Of soils. These are more va
rious, more complex, less obvious, than
those of any single metal. A good soil is
alwaysa compound, and the more various
its materials the greater probably its
value. A pure yellow sand or blue clay
is easily comprehended and estimated;
while one deep, black loan may, because
of certain latent elements, be worth twice
as much as another equally promising to
the casual observer. No man who has
not scrutinized its husbandry and produc-
tions for year after year is qualified to fix
the value of farm, any more than to cul-
tivate it, without, the ability to chemical
ly analyze and accurately determine the
:! composition Of its soil.
But this, which am commencing, is
sneered at as Book-farming, and sturdy
old codgers who have sped the plow all
their days, laugh till they almost fancy
themselves witty at the idea of man
coming out of collegechamber or a
chemical laboratory to teach them how to
grow corn or rear cattle. And truly, if
the teacher were to commend his science
as substitute for their practical knowl-
edge-as rendering experience unmean-
ing and personal observation superfuous
there would be ample provication for shafts
, Of wit than these will ever be able to speed
But this no man has ever suggested OF
commended. The farmer best schooled
in the nature and properties of soils, the
laws which govern vegetation and the Ell
!, ements essential to form thrifty plants Oh
animals, will learnfrom experience not less
but more than his uninstructed neighbor
His observations will have wider signif
canoe; and the fact newly observed to-day
= will be readily assigned tolts proper place
: where it will cast light on other facts OF.
served yesterday or to be observed to-mor
row. Not to supersede experience, bu
to elevate it to standpoint, whence it,
{ range of vision will be broader, and it
{ deductions more relirble, do we plead fo
J Science in Farming.
|. What is in effect contended for by tn
/, advocates of Book -farmin is simply this
n that farmer, like any artisan, while h
y needs practical experience, may also prot
t, by the practical experience of others. Fo
: example: A new plant or vegetable
e introduced, which our anti-book farme
l. concludes to try, though totally ignoran
n of its nature and season. Let us suppos
st the nearest neighbor who has ever grow
' this plant lives five miles away. Now, wi
r. not this new eynerimenter If he have