Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1855-02-03
ADVANTAGES OF EDUCATION TO
FARMERS. -
BY HENRY F. FRENCH OF EXETER, \. H.

Food Chemical -daGiySiS-- " hat HdHis
are Made Of, and Where the Materials come
from.
Conoede, at once, that practical knowledge
alone is valuable. Concede for the time. what
NAV seem to hold as the first article of their
faith, that the chief end of man is 10 get a lio
ing AMI die rich; and then inquire what, with
such views, is the limit of practical knowledge,
and see if it can be fxed-see whether all
knowledge, which expands the intellect, enlarg-
es The general ssape and pQ@sF Of pild, s.eF
renders the manners and society agreeable, and
so gives influence over the minds of others, is
not practical knowledge.
The mechanic, about our mills, not only skill
in the manual use of his tools is practical
knowledge, but familiarity with all the mechan-
ical powers, the wedge and screw, the wheel
and axle, the lever and the pulley, and not only
these, hut all the complicated laws of hydraul-
les and hvdrostatics-the pressure of water
5 when at rest-the operation of its various Plies
nomena OF power when in motion7-the expan.
sion and contraction of metals and of wood BY
heat and cold-the action of heat upon water.
and converting ii into steam, and thas expand
ing It with fearful power-the action Of cold, if
the expression be allowable, upon water, re-
ducing It in volume to the freezing point, and
then expanding it, just as it is converted into
ice, that it may float on the surfaee,and prevent
our ponds and rivers from becoming as solid
rocks.
I To the manufacturer not only all this hut
the mysterious laws of chemistry also are -prac,
tical knew lerige His business requires that
the curious processes, by which nature dyes the
sFriag flowers, with all beautiful and brilliant
coIcrs, by which gorgeous hues are given to au,
tumn leaves, may be initiated in the rich fabric
of his ooms
Practical knowledge to the farmer, is that
among other things, which informs him of all
the complex laws Of animal and vegetable. phis,
iology; how nature conducts the process Of
nutrition the circulation of the blood: what
causes disease aud promotes health. IN isliimals.
BE shonld know of The growth Of plants, -bow.
and why they elect different kinds Of lloufish-
ment. He should understand the circulation
of the sap the effect or moisture of light, of
aset;sssa- eieesrigits4 III shsald comprehend
Esi @liolesseieiNee Of Botany--s IearAssals
aasslsesery eexiods weed why the
H6Sefsy 77ave Aiferent'eolors and fragrance. or
how new varieties or hybirds, are prqduced.-
He should understand not only the course of
the seasons hui also the variations of the wealth
er. He should learn that the winds blow, and
that the rains fall with the same power of ODE
dience to law, as the earth and sun revolve,-
that what to him is confusion, is in truth but
order not understood, and should not deem his
education complete, till, with Espy and Red
field, he has inquired into. and in part compre-
hended, the laws the whirlwind and the TEN
pest.
All this is practical knowledge to the farmer.
The growth of a single plant, unless things go
'by chance. and moi by fixed, unahanging laws,
involves many of the mysteries Of all these sci
ences-mysterie Of nature, rs obscure and ali
strnse to the unnitiated, as those of inspiration
Swallowed forth in the pages of revelation.
As the lady looks curiously at the flower in
her parlor windows, or greenhouse, the thought
again and again occurs, by what process has
the little Seed dry and shrivelled lifeless atom,
but lately deposited in the soil, thrown off the
dark, damp, chill earth from its bosom, and
sprung up to light, and life, and beauty and
fragrance? and why to preserve its health and
freshness, does it require air, and wafer. and
light and heat? Why does it demand that the
earth a. its root shall be changed, or supplied,
from time to time, with fertiliziug suhstan-
ces? Why does one plant require different
soil and treatment from another, and whence
are derived the substances which compose its
stalks and leaves and blossoms?
The farmer looks out upon his fields, and the
same inquiries occur to his mind. He cuts
away the forest of oak, and forest of pine in
variably succeeds it. He cuts away the heavy
growth of pine, and hard wood forest springs
up in its place. He finds, by experiment. that
in general, the same crop will not thrive many
successive years. upon the same spot, and un-
less he restores something to the soi,t will soon
become exhausted and barren.
The horticulturist has a wider field of obser-
walton, in proportion to the variety of his gar
den products. He observes the same diversi-
ty of taste for food in his plants, as in his ami
mals-that the grapevines and turnips are pc
culiariy grateful for a feast of 2otash-tha his
peas insistupon lime, in some form, and that
his asparagus bed Will produce all the better,
for an application of salt, in quantity sufficient
to destroy all the other vegetation in his gar
den.
From observations of this nature, several
Justions, interesting and all important to eve
y one who watches the growth of even single (
rec or flower, are suggested.
Where do plants derive the substance of their .
growth?
Why are soils exhausted by the growth and
euovsl of crops?