The American patriot., 1855-12-08
Experiments in Agriculture.

Well conducted experiments are the most
reliable sources of agricultural improvement,
Indeed, in the present stage of those sciences
which pertain to agriculture, theories, unsus.
tained by experience. are to be received with
great circumspection. On the other hand, ex-
periments loosely made, are arguments neither
for nor against theory, and the spirit which
condemns the deductions Of science upon the
result of single careless experiment, is inst as
unfriendly to the development Of truth, as
that spirit which embraces, too hastily the con.
clusions Of science, unwarranted by the test Of
experience. We are yet but in the dim twi-
light of agricultural science, and its truths are
too family ascertained to constitute the mere
theory Of the Professor, safe guide in the
practice of the art; but when the deductions of
the laboratory are confirmed by the results
of the practical agriculturist, we may safely
conclude that reliable step has been made in
the direction of true progress. It is cause of
regret that 50 little effort has been made among
us to secure the cooperation of these two sour
ces Of improvement in agriculture
Wehave remarked that experiment is not in
falible inded, it is often the source of fatal er-
rors A single swallow does not make sum-
mer, nor does single experiment settle prn-
ciple To be reliable, experiments must be
carefully and repeatedly made. Two neigh
boring planters may determine to test the val
ue Of guano, for instance, as fertilizer for cot
ton A c,,ncandc 0ud n faslo N,;tbo. ,.,.
safely conclude that he has settled the matter,
but they should carefully compare the modes
of appi- alton and cultivation, the varieties of
soil and season, in order if possible, to deter
mine the causes which produced the difference
in their results. The next year the expert
ment should be repeated with an eye specially
to the operation of those causes which had
seemingly controlled the previous experiment.
And thas, by repeated tests and close observa-
ton, valuable truth may be elected And so
two neighbors may differ about the utility of
sub-soiing. One sub-soils and succeeds; an
other sub-soils and fails. There is reason
why the same operation should produce such
contradictory results, and that reason should
be ascertained. 1t may be concluded that the
cause lies in the difference of the soils, and to
test this, two fields of similar soil may be se-
lected thenext year, but the results may still
be different 1t may be accounted for, then,
upon the supposition that the modes OF cult
vation arc different. Another experiment may
be made with special reference to this supposed
cause, and still the experiments may produce
different results. 1t will not do still to con-
cludc against sub-soiling. because it has sue
ceedcd Oh one place as often as it has failed on
another. Finally, after repeated experiments,
it may be ascertaned that the difference con-
sists in the fact that one field needed under
draining and the other did not; and thus at
last the very important conclusion may be rea-
ched that sub-soing pays well when the land
is dry, but that it is useless if the sub-soil is
wet. We mention these cases by way Of it,
lustraton, and so we might cite experiments
in """~- oartment Of agriculture and rural
eenGoa It these suffice to enforce the idea
lhsr tents must be cautiously conduct
= hem reliable. f
With bui little labor and expense, it is in
the power ofevery planter to contribute to the
stock of agricultural knowledge by a systematic
course of experiment. Think what an impetus
would be given to the cause of improvement in
agriculture, if our journals devoted to that in
terest were filed with the reports Of such ex.
periments. Each would thus contribute to the
support of his neighbor, and in turn receive
the benefit Of the labor of others. The inju-
dicious expenditure of time, money and labor,
which some have made upon experiments in
agriculture, have, in some instances, brought
rdicuie upon the attempts at agricultural i'm
provement but such failures are neither argu-
mcnts against improved agriculture, nor against
experiments for that purpose. They resulted
rather from the want Of judgment in the ex-
pcrimenter, than from any inherent difficulty
in the object to be attained We recommend
no extravagant xpenditure-none is necessa-
ry. IL the ordinary management Of the farm,
it is practicable to note carefully the different
operations and the results which they produce
and detailed report of such experiments as
these will secure the advantages Of which We
speak.--Soil of the South.
H 10 give an idea Of the confusion Of par.
New York, look at the subjoincd list Of
political Convention about to be held:
4.4 lor Dealers and Cider Manufacturers,
aalse, August 8,
mems Rights Convention, Saratoga, Au-
ST and IL. .-. sar=
ublican, Seward Anti-Slavery Fusion,