The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-01-24
From tie Soil of' the South.
Experiments in Agriculture.

| most reiiaole sources OF agricultural I'M
provement. Indeed, in the present stage
of those sciences which pertain to agricu-
ture, theories, unsustaincd by experience,
are to be received with great circumspcction.
On the other hand, experiments 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 just rs un-
friendly to the development Of truth, as that
spirit which embraces, too hastily, the con-
clusions of science, unwarrantcd by the test
Of eTncricncc. We arc yet but in the dim
twilight OF agricultural science, and its
truths are too family a,ccrtaincd to consti-
tutc the mere theory of the Professor, u
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
step has been made in the direction Of true
progress. 1t is cause of regret that so little
effort has been made among us to secure
the cooperation OF these two sourec cs Of i'm.
provcment in agriculture.
We have remarked that cxperims Mt itself
is not inlalliLlc; indeed, it is often the
source of fatal errors. \ single swallow
does not make a summer, nor does single
experiment settle a principle. TO be rclia-
ble, experiments must he carefully and re-
peatedy made. Two ncighhoring planters
may determine to test the value Of guano,
for instance, as a fertilizer for cotton. \
succeeds and b fails. Neither can safely
conclude that he has settled the matter, but
they should carefully compare the modes of
application and cultivation, the varieties Of
soil "a! season, in order, If possible, 10 de-
tcrminc the causes which produced the diff.
ference in their results. The next year the
experiment should be repeated with an eye
specially to the operation Of those causes
which had seemingly controlled the rrcvi-
Gus experiment. And thus, by repeated
tests and close observation, a valuable truth
may be elected. And so, two neiglbcrs
may differ about the utility of sub-soiling
One sub-sols and succeeds another sub.soils
and fails. There is Il reason WHY the same
operation should produce such contradictory
results, and that reason should he ascer-
tanned. 1t may he concluded that the cause
lies in the difference Of the soils. and to
test this, two fields Of similar soils NAV Le
selected the next year, but the results may
still he different. 1t may be accounted for
then upon the snpposition that the modes
of cultivation are different. Another cx-
pertinent may be made Ivy special reference
to this supposed cause. and still the expert.
ments may produce different results. 1t
will not do still to conclude against sub
soiling, because it has succeeded on one
place rs often as it has failed on another.
Finally, after repeated experiments, it may
be ascertained that the difference consists
in the fact, that one field needed under
draining, while the other did not and thus
at last, the very important conclusion may
be reached, that sub-soing pays we'll where
the land is dry, but that it is useless, if tile
sub-soil is wet. We mention these cases
by way of illustration, and so we might cite
experiments in every department of agri-
culture and rural economy, but these suffice
to enforce the idea that experiments must he
cautiously conducted to make them relia-
bic.
With but little labor and expense, it is in
the power Of every 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 interest were filled
with the reports of such experiments
Each would thus contribute to his neighbor,
and in turn receive the benefit Of the labors
of others. The injudicious expenditure Of
time, money and labor, which some have
made upon experiments in agriculture, have,
in some instances, brought ridicule upon
the attempts at agricultural improvement !;
but such failures are neither arguments
against improved agriculture, nor against
experiments for that purpose. They result
ted rather from the want Of judgment in
the experimenter, than from any inherent
difficulty in the object to be attained. We
recommend no cxtravagant expenditure
none is necessary. In the ordinary man
agement of the farm, it is practicable to
noto carefully the different operations and
the result which they produce, and a de.
tailed report of such experiments as these
will secure the advantages of which we
speak.
Pineapple Jelly.-Pare and CRATE the
pineapple, and put it into the preserving
pan, with ono pound Of fine white sugar TO
Il 4 a. ...- p. ~ ..