Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-27
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.

That such general knowledge of chemistry as
most educated persons possess may be useful to
the practical farmer none will deny, but that
farmers can, ought to attemptto become scientific
chemists or that they can apply nny purely chemical
knowledge to the business Of husban1ary. are
propositions few reasonable persons will affirm. Al
one time the most exiravagant expectations were
entertained ofthe benefits chemical discoveries would
confer to agriculture, and farmers were frequently
and solemnly enjoined to become chemical expert
mentalists,
Nobody deals more scnsibly with the subject Of
agricultural chemistry then Dr. Noelcker. of the
Cireneester College, and in his lecture ON 'its
relation to the cultivation of root crops delivered
before the Royal Agricultural Society, we find its
limits very justly defined. lie believes that among
the landed projectors their, agents. and the larger
farmers, especially the rising generation, II more
extensive knowledge of lhe sciences applicable to
agriculture Is needed. All these want better in.
structiun. But to teach the small farmer or the
laborer chemistry is simply absurd. To either,
the peisu would he waste Of time. So chemistry
should mover be made the direct guide to the
ngriculturist Science H. after ALL only the sys.
temltic arrangement of well authenticated facts,
aud the rising generation should be taught its
general principles But many professors ofchomistry
have over .cstimnted their own powers and i5,siead
n ciptUHtNg ne elPcrie1@ 81 Pi0cticui men, they
set themselves up ms guides to .he farmer; they
have over-estmated the powers Of the new science,
and in consequence stumbled.
The foregoing remarks are very Just Again he
snys,-" Agricultural chemistry in It's application
to farming is altogether new science hitherto
1t has been, like every new knowledge, too vague
and too general in its doctrines MS well rs in its
researches. What is required At the present time
are experiments made for special purpose research
. carried on in the lcldas well in the laboratory
We have no need of the joint abors of practical
men and mcn-ofscienee Thereare questions " hch
can only be properly Investigated if the man OF
science hcartlyioins withthe practical man. working
iheerfully together, each in his own department.
a nearer approach between agriculture and science
in short, is what is required at the present time
general knowledge ofthe principles Of farming
however useful to the practical farmer never will
help him TO grow Arge crop Of turnips; he must
have specal trimming in practical matters in order
to he successful farmer. So il IL with chemical
knowledge, Men may have excellent general chemi-
cal knowledge, but II they have not specia chemi.
cal knowledge in relation to farming their labors
will be of little direct utility to the agreulturst
In reference to the culture of root crops he saws
that generally ammonincal manurcs such as guano,
ARE thrown away on roots; and phosphate are more
profitable. Gunno and superphosphate of lime both
rather retard the termination of the seeds but they
push forward the young plant in its early grow.h
This We believe to form the true value Of such
manurcs, though perhaps this is ver-estimated--
LOii,iON Ec0ROmiS