The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-05-06
@WDAl 990N0MY
From the Scientific American.
SCIENTIFIC FARMING.


into two classes. The first great class, con-
tanning all but about one in thousand, are
content to go on in the ways Of their grand
fathers. They understand farming fully
they are practical farmers. These men add
nothing to the knowledge, and but little to the
wealth, either Of themselves or of the world
at large. They can be disposed Of in very
few words. The other class are enthusiasts;
and under the heading which we have laid
down for this article would branch gloriously
into dissertation on salts and sub-salts,
soils and sub-soils, acids, gasses, and inn
proved machinery. The road is equally
simple to them, but it is very different one
from that of the class referred TO. Class
No. Q holds that all farmers cultivate too
much ground that none plow deep enough;
that none manure strong enough; that none
bestow sufficient attention on fences; that
none plant trees and vines enough; that
none have sufficient regard to sustaining
the power of the soil; and, in short, that
none are sufficiently mathematical, chemical,
and, generally speaking, abtrusely scientific
in their operations. They would induce
farmers to subscribe for every agricultural
periodical, read every book, attend every
fair or agricultural lecture, and become per-
feet walking dictionaries in their familiarity
with the names and opinions Of all chemists
and alchemists, from the discoverer Of
Glauber salts down to the manufacturer Of
Paine's gas.
In practice, however, il happens almost
invariably that these scientific farmers lose,
rather than gain, by their own farming ope-
rations, and this fact cannot be considered
too significant. There is an extreme in this
business as in every other, and whether the
matter be viewed in an abtruse scientific
light and mathematical formulas and equa-
tions be developed 10 show the state Of af-
fairs; or whether we take, in ordinary Ian
guage, the simple term Judgment" as ex-
prcssive Of the element desired, the fact is
indisputable that the truth lies between the
extremes, and is very difficult matter fully
and properly to be arrived at.
Rotation in crops is desirable; but how
often the crops should be changed with every
variety Of soil, and with every conceivable
ratio Of the cost Of labor as compared with
the value Of the products, Is matter ex-
tremely difficult TO determine. Rotation in
wolves extra labor. To change pasture TO
tillage, and this again to meadow, is far
more expensive than a continuation OF either
condition: and the truly wise farmer ascer
tains, or judges as accurately as possible,
the point where the conflicting considera-
tlons actually meet. Planting trees is most
assuredly good investment in general /; but
a farm all orchard would necessitate great
expense for fertilizers, and a long and pa
tient waiting for return. Guanos and
artificial manures are, in many cases, highly
profitable but unfortunately the knowledge
Of soils and the capacity TO describe. them
so that every farmer NAV determine for him
self precisely what is wanted, and how
much, on his land, aud the actual pecuniary
result. is vet far from being Effected. lm-
proved machinery is highly advantageous,
but il is easy to be led into the expenditure
of too much. and to be most cgregiously inn
posed on in such devices.
While we are thus free to admit the posi-.
bility, III fact the strong temptation. IN those
of progressive minds 10 invest largely 10
science al the expense Of practical results,
the great dispropurtiun in the two classes
first referred TO must be borne in mind, aud
each reader may ask himself which of the
two classes he most probably ranks in. A
perfectly reliable aud inIallibe judgment
would call for a Ear larger amount Of culti-
satinn per acre. and a greater expenditure
for fertilizers aud machinery than generally
obtains. The mass need no checking in this
respect, but the few who do are most likely
10 be found among the readers Of this jour
nal.
Having sufficiently pointed out the danger
of oyerdong 10 science, we ulay the more
heartily urge the old grsnnies TO their duties.
Il is true that ntdrly every farmer culti,ates
too many acres of land. IL is true that few
farmers avail themselves so fully as i profit.
able, 81 the improvements Of the age. either
in fertilizers, cultivation, rotation, drainage.
irrigation, harvesting, or curing. Thousands,
yes, millions Of dollars are annually lost TO
The country and TO the world through tie ig-
norance and obstinacy Of farmers, which
very few dollars worth Of lime pleasantly
applied to the reading Of still fewer dollars
worth Of information, would have entirely
avoided while at the same time the obtuse
mind Of the hard.fsted labOrer would have
been expanded and developed, and his capa-
city and means for enjoyment greatly IN.
creased. Store, then, the mind with facts,
and diligently rvltiyate The judgment TO
discriminate. II reaprrs aud haryeslers.
ditching machines, slb.soil plows, expert
ments III drainage, &c, cost too much to be
cSpedient for one, club together the neigh
boring farmers, aud make purchase or cx-
pertinent. Form associations Tor mutual