Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-10-16

life and light. Juno, the atmosphere,
with its stormy and capricious changes.
Early agriculture suffers from these chau-
gcs, which impede more or less the foster
ing influence of the pure 6rmanent that
lies beyond, and hence man has to watch
with incessant and slcepless care over the
labors of primitive husbandry. This ever
watchful superinteudence is typifed by
the Argus, with his wakeful eyes. His
four eyes are the types of the four
seasons. He is slain by Mercury aud then
10 is left free to wander over the whole
world. Mercury, who slew tho Argus, is
the God Of language, of invention, and the
inventor Of letters, and hence represents
that when the rules and precepss Of Agri-
culture were introduced, first orally and
then by writing, mankind was released
from the ever watching caro- which early
agriculture requires, aud agriculture, now
reduced to system, went forth in freedom
and spread itself among the nations. 1t
has received further Interpretation in
our day, by the many inventions which
abound in our land, tightening labor and
rendering crops more secure. No nation
has shown the fertility Of invention, in
this regard, like ours. 1t was estimated
tha. in the year 1850, sl5l, 900, 900 were
invcs,ed in agricultural machines in this
country, and of this amount, Pennsylvania
had the substantial sum Of $l4,000,000
Invested.
Further of this fable, before 1 leave it:
We are told that the eyes Of the Argus
were transferred by juno to the plumase
Of her favorite bird, the peacock, which, it
is we'll known, gives sure indications BY
its cry, Of changes about to take place in
the atmosphere, and in this respect, there
fore, intimately connected with the opera,
tions of husbandry.
This suggests to me subject of much
Importance to the farmer, to which | shall
briefly allude, and have done: and that is
the study of Climatology. Climatology lie
the Investigation of the causes on which
the climate of any country depends. Itis
now receiving the attention Of our ablest
philosophers; and tho Government Of the
United States is every yaar expending
large sums of money upon the investiga-
tion. In fact, it may be said, the whole
science of Agriculture depends upon this
study. "Tho hopes of the future Of As.
ricul,urc principally rest on the advance
Of abstract science-not upon the accumu-
lation of facts, of which the connection or
dependence are unknown, but upon def.
mite conception of the general principles
OF which these facts are the result" The
manual labor on farm is the least part
OF the farmers work-unless labor is gui.
dsd By an Intelligent mind, it will bo what
We call in law JrmaB. fulmen--a blind
and senscless effort. The importance Of
this study may be illustrated by . fact
very near US. In some parts Of our coun.
try, wheat has done best when planted late
in Autumn, and We find farmers Of those
parts acting upon it. In others, it has
done better BY being planted early in tho
season. Tho reason Of this is obviou,
from this explanation. The temperature
Of tho ground is affected BY the manner in
which the rays of she sun act upon it and
BY its powers Of radiation and absorption
The healthy and timely termination Of
seed can only take place when the ground
is Of the right temperature to receive IL
otherwise, it might be subjected to prcma
sure decay, or lose the necessary influence
of the summer by too long an exposure il
tho ground. Different fields on the SAINT
farm may have different temperatures, ant
different time Of planting be necessary
70, every field. On this subject, Prof
Henry observes: "The labor bestowed
upon investigations Of this kind, is not, a
che narrow sighted advocate Of immediate
utilitarian results, would affirm, withou
practical importance; on the contrary, i
is the basis Of the highest improvement
which the art of agriculture is susceptible
On every acre of ground, definite amour
Of solar force is projected, which may b
employed, under proper conditions, in dc
veloping organization and the great OF
ject OF the husbandmau, is to so manag
the conditions that the last possible amour
Of this be lost in uneconomical results.
1t requires no book learning to make ihes
observations. Every farmer can observ
bis 6elds-to note how long it takes hi
seed to germinatc; and under what cor
ditions Of the atmosphcre-or even to tr
tho temperature of the ground By buryin
bottles at different depths. The result
ageueral principle which is to guide his
in his farming operations.
This subject Of Climatology is too full t
be compressed here. There are, how eve
some general facts ascertained, which ma
serve to show its value, and may give a
usefui hint