Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-04-25

is pursued by majority of farmers, Is
pract;.ce uiiiom a theory. Yet nothing
but great research into physical laws will
develope its full capacities, which as yet
are meagcrly measured and understood.
A man may plant corn in the spring, and
in due season gather the crop into his
barn, without having ever read book, or
even knowing the alphabet. Yet knou-
ledye-and such knowledge as can be con-
veniently impaired only by books-is ne
cessary to an intelligent understanding
of the various influences of atmosphere,
sunlight, rain and soil which operate to
cause growth Many things may be done
ignorantly and yet successfully. The sue
cession of the seasons-one of the subIim
est operations of nature-is also one of the
si,mples, to be understood they never fail
long of their promise to come, and every
body knows that he may expect something
from them. Even the least will be much,
but vastly more may always be received
Natures treasures, which are as precious
as fine, are also, like fine gold, hid IN the
earth and if they would be found, they
must be sought. The secret Of successful
seeking has been written in books, as the
results of the fairest trials and the best
experience. The farmer who can plow his
corn field without a manual of agriculture,
NAV need treatise on fructification to
caution him against breaking off the tassel
Of the stalk and carrying it as Plaything
Carefuness of cultivation will do much,
but it will not compensate for want Of in-
formation and intelligence. What then
must be the results, in such a comprehen-
sive occupation as the cultivation of the
earth, of careless practice icithout kao,ci-
edye!
The two great lacks in agriculture, as it
Is uIdinaIiiy p,aerisol, aso requisite i-ta-
nation, and carcfuIness. But the most
pressing and immediate deficiency is the
latter, the remedy of which can not be too
strongly enforced upon the attention of
farmers and cultivators everywhere. Heed
fulness may take sure step towards suc-
cess negligence walks slip-shod to poverty.
bNWe publish some further statements,
from the Rural Nep Yorker, on the results
of "the One Potato Experiment 1t
will be seen that the product varies greatly,
from one half bushel, upwards; but the
account of the largest yield, (nore than
three bushels from one black Mercer We
are not able at this moment to lay our
hands on,
To some persons, it may seem that such
crops settle the question of whole or cut
potatoes for seed, in favor of the latter
But this would be basty conclusion.
Observe, that some of these potatoes were
made to occupy 100 or more hills each,
and then an important question remains,
whether the same number Of hills planted
with moderate sized whole potatoes, would
not have produced enough more to have
made up for the difference in quantity Of
seed. If so, the cutting of this seed would
be 10 gain. We are to look on those crops
with reference to the ground on which, as
well as the potato from which, they sprang,
What is really shown by single expert
ment of this kind, is, that where it is neces
sary to economize seed, Il wW do, for
single season at least, to cut potatoes small,
or plant even single eyes, or only sprouts.
We wish some of our enterprising far
mers would undertake careful experiments,
to ascertain the comparative advantage of
whole and cut seed. We know that most
of them have already so decided an opinion
on one side or the other, that to them such
trial will seem superfuous. The very
fact, however, that some are decided on
both sides, proves that one or the other is
mistaken. Nor will it suffice for either
party to say that they have already made
the experiment, because the other party
says the same. Evidently, the experiments
! have not been accurate enough, or widely
enough spread, or long enough continued,
to settle the matter intelligibly for the
public at large. 1t is, in truth, hard
thing, (though worth the effort,) to make
satiyac,ory experiment The most that
is proved by what Is commonly called such
is, that such and such course did, under
unascertained circumstances, succeed or
fail to an uncertain degree. But We can
not enlarge now on the necessary conditions
of a conclusive experiment.-Ed. ChrOn.
The One Potato Experiments.
On my one potato crop, l would report
as follows: Soil sandy; subsoil clay; was
plowed foot deep. Eight hills occupied
four feet space, and fourteen, three feet;
and three small shovelfulls of the best fine
stable manure thoroughly worked into the
soil for each hill. Plant( - one row,
fve feet wide at the base NAV 3Qth. one