Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-02-22
Reasons why Every Farmer should
Pursue his Business as a Science.
Becduse agriculture as a ,Scienc

| !. Becduse agriculture as Sc'ence.
Every man who has pursued, even mod
eratcly, the Science Of Vegetable Physiol
ogy, understands perfectly that almost all
the modern improvements in fruit culture
have been made because men have devoted
themselves to the study of the great facts
in regard to the growth of plants the cir
cumstances in which they flourish most
the chemical analysis of the elements which
compose them, and the notifications of
which they are susceptible, by proper care
and cultivation. Just SO in respect of the
various soils which the farmer has to man
age. If he knows the chemical elements
which compose them, and those which
compose the various products he wishes to
grow, he will be able to adapt his crops to
his soil, and his..manure to both, in way
which will prove to all that Agriculture
has its laws; F.; and that acting i'll eonformi-
ty with them, is the basis Of the only true
art in farming. For example: wheat con-
tains gluten and starch in such proportions
that they compose together secenty fire per
centum of its entire substance. Now, if
! the farmer undertakes to raise wheat on a
soil which does not possess them, bis lost
labor and wasted capital will be the penal
ty Of his ignorance Of the scientific condi
tion Of permanent success. On the other
hand, the knowledge of these conditions,
and the application Of them in the exercise
of canton, common sense and reasonable
skill will bring an abundant reward.
! Every department Of the great business
of farming is full of the illustrations of
the point that We are how on namely,
that Agriculture is Science, and that its
laws, when known and applied, will secure
results as certain as any that attend the
application of the laws of Hydraulics in
Machinery, or those of light and chemis-
try in the beautiful productions of the
Daguerrean art.
2. Because agriculture pursued as a
Science, wih the nee5fM caution and per-
severance, is a source Of the highest and
most constant pleasure.
No thinking, active mind is content with
mere processes Of muscular cf6rt. To
such mind, the tread mill Of farmers
work, pursued from generation to genera
tion, in the same unvarying m0notony, is
tiresome enough. The toll becomes doub-
ly toilsome, because it is enlivened by no
living and inquiring thought. Aud the
farmer himself becomes almost as stupid
as the cattle he feeds, except politics, or
literature, or religion, shed at intervals,
and from afar, beam of cheerful Ii ght on
his mind. But let every process have its
well digested theory; let every piece of
work, while done in its time, and most eff
fciently performed, be an experiment
which compares different modes of manu-
ring or cultivation; let every change
be made on sober thought, and with full
knowledge Of the objects to be gained, and
of the best and cheapest means Of gaining
them in short, let the life Of a true Sci
ence send its healthy pulsations through
the whole system of farmers work, and
be feels joy " unfelt before" in every
work to which he sets his hand His
farm becomes his laboratory The pleas
ure felt by the Chemist or Artist, as he
communicates these discoveries which bring
the ends Of the earth together, aud revolu-
tionize the social condition of nations, is
shared by tue careful and Isborious student
in Scientific Agriculture, For he is ap-
plying similar principles, and his labors
tend to similar result. Every crop is a
study to him, for it has its own laws to be
studied. Every season has its charm for
him, for its changes and chances must be
carefully watched. he must make suns,
showers, and SHOWS, and frost, and FIRE, all
to minister to his interests and work out
his ends. And in doing all this-aud all
this he will do, if he works with open eye
and careful hand-will he not find plea
sure SO constant as to enliven his heaviest
toll, aud SO varied as to strip of their
charms the false attractions of city life,
and SO purely intellectual aud refined, as
to place him in dignity aud aim side by
side with the great brotherhood of think
ing men, whose hands have been busy,
but whose brains have been more busy
still and who have done most for the
wealth and comfort Of the race, because
they have done most for its improvement
in all solid and enduring Science
3. Because il ,rOuld be greatiy to tie pc
caniary adrantage Of the .Jarmer to pursue
has rocation as u ScteRce.
If he pursues his work simply because
he has done so before, or because his faith
er or his neighbors have done so, he shuts
out all Improvement, of course. If ne
makes changes blindly, he is much more
likely to lose than to gain. Besides, if he
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