The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-07-27

Letters from Professor Emmons.
May 80, 1853.
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May 80, 1853.
10 His Ereslltney DaId 8. Reid;
I might with propriety 20 on and
state how it is that the bestowment of
thought upon agriculture is so rarely
given. LIST. There is a want Of tangi-
bility in the subjects OF this nature.
There is something involved in the
growth OF blade Of grass, an ear of
corn, or boil Of cotton, which the
mind cannot readily grasp. We wit
ness the fact Of their growth, but the
process is incomprehensible, or il is
SO much enveloped IN mystery, that all
our thoughts. which are expended upon
II, return upon themselves unsatisfied.
But in the second place, this arises in
part from looking at the subject in the
gross. We think Of entire results with.
put bestnwing thought upon details
we regard the complete result. and far>
get 10 take cognizance Of the success.
siye steps which have produced tive
think Of the EMU and forget the begin>
ming or starting point. The whole leaf
or complete ear is in the mind, while
she little cells which make. them up are
forgotten, And what Of the little cell
Why, the FIRST cell which is only pei
lucid membrane Of microscopic minute
ness, is made by the parent. This cell,
whether in the air or in water, or whe-
ther it forms the central part Of seed,
and is enveloped ina magazine Of food,
possesses the power Of nnbibing nutri-
ment without the aid Of a circulating
apparatus. II therefore grows. But
not only grows by imbibing through,
and by its walls, nutriment but it also
multiplies itself. This it does in two
ways. The first is by simple division ;
one cell becomes two, these two cou>
tinue to grow and again divide, and so
on. The second mode is by the pro
duction upon the wall Of the little cell
Of the granule, which BY its power also,
Of the inhibition ofnutfimeat, becomes
shortly cell itself. Thus the cells,
thus produced, may continue to multi.
ply, or in other words, by a constant
production Of cells OF the same form.
the leaf, the ear, and the bol, grows.
This is the simplest idea of growth by
the Constant production Of cells. There
Is another idea which must, however,
be added 70 the above, viz: a forma.
tire poseee. or power or force which
z YES to each leaf and each ear its form.
Each plant is built up upon its own
plan; but still, however diverse the
external form Of families of plants NAV
be, the entire whole of each and every
one Of them is perfected BY the same
system Of cell building. There is SUI
per-added in each particular species
The force which gives form to conge-
yies of cells, by which the eve at once
perceives the differences which exist in
the species wAich compose the entire
argaaic kingdom. 1t isnot BY thoughts
bestowed upon the entire and perfect
individual, or part of an individual
plant, that one can comprehend the or.
ganizing force or power; it is only by
descending, or going back to the first
condition of an individual, and then
taking note Of the successive steps by
which the individual becomes COM
Plete and perfect one, that we get an
insight int the mysteries of growth.
No thought, as have already said, di
Fected to the subject in the gross, gives
ys any light, any satisfaction. But We
sll kesssily hate these details---these
progressive steps; We, therefore, jump
II some 6aai result which bears only
4 plsas,ble argument for sustaining our
flew, and which rarely bears the test
Of detailed examination.
Butt have depressed 200 much from
;he subject matter Of former letter.
! wish to say word upon the improve
nest Of old and long cultivated lands
Tndonbtedly the main method Of inn
4sr0venent must now, and ever will be,
she application of fertilizers. This is
pain 'aCorgh, for il is this kind Of
h5tter Mich has been removcd--the
nd field - fro.n what il was when
5as fySai taken from il. by