Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-06

careful investigation, L can conceive
OF the intellectual, moral and social ell
ovation which would follow and the
material prosperity which would attend |
upon such education. For TO us, of all |
people, freeholders endowed with all the |
sacredness of domestic and civil rights,
possessed of our own lands, dependent |
each for himself on our own intelli,
gence is the opportunity given for this
development and general diffusion of |
knowledge.
Without this combination, deprived |
of the accumulation Of facts Of which
have spoken, science in agriculture
becomes powerless with it, it becomes
n most important ally to the farmer, in
fact it is reducea to one mode of prac-
tice itself, and thus becomes of the
highest value, and meets with its high
est success For it is easy to see why
practice is so powerful in providing the
best of agricultural knowledge and
why ii has thus far outstripped sci
ence in the advantages it has bestowed.
1t is because the real foundations of
agriculture cannot be explored by any
human power. In whatever the farmer
does, he is obliged to recognize an in
fiuence which the hand of man cannot
reach; which no investigation can faith
ON, no human power guide.
Agriculture obeys the laws of nature
and can do no more than use the natu-
raj forces with ingenuity and skill
Science endeavors to explain them;
and to ascertain if possible the natural
Jaws upon which the farmer depends
In doing this it advances into that
great region, where lie the vital forces,
which are shut against all human in
trusion And on this account it is very
apt to be overthrOwn by agricultural
facts. Liebig goes on from one theory
of fertilization to another, and the grow
ing crops of the neighboring farmers
pronounce them all to be false. Science
may attend upon agriculture, as slim
illus to the best eXertion, as a guide in
the use of fertilizers, as an aid in the Sc
lection of soils. But it is the patient
and prudent and experienced farmer
after all, who knows what land he
needs, and has unbounded confidence in
that great receptacle to which he con
signs his manure, and to the vivifying
power of that great mother into whose
lap he casts his seed and who gathers
his crop before his scientific neighbor
has half finished an analysis of his soils.
1t is the judicious observer of cattle, and
the wise and observant judge Of their
necessities and capacities, who regard
less of the theory of the Psychologist,
secures animals adapted to his own To-
cality, and perpetuates and improves
them by combining himself to his own
| herds for means OF increase.
1t is important to bear this in mind,
! in our estimate of what the community
requires in the way OF agricultural edu-
cation. We may so misdirect our at,
tempts to enlighten the people OH this
matter, as to lead them away from the
the farm, instead of encouraging their
hearts, and strengthening their hands
for the business of agriculture. We
may become SO confused and shaken in
our trust in the laws of nature, by our
investigations, as to lose that love OF all
her works when lies at the foundation
of good farming. But if by steady pro-
| gress in the accumulation OF facts which
are indisputable, and by patient de-
| votion to the work of drawing sound
| deductions from those facts, the won,
| derful attractions of nature are revealed
and her unerring fidelity to her prom
ises is confirmed the student of agri-
culture may go forth from the college tC
his occupation bound not by necessity
| to the drudgerg of his farm, but devoted
with all his powers to the business OF
agriculture as an enobling, useful and
| profitable art.
In saying.this / endeavor to estimate
| science Alright. We all know the value
| of scientific men. We all know they
have revealed to us those great laws, a
knowledge of which has elevated us
above the groyelng regions of super.
| stition and ignorance and terror, into
| the high heaven Of Christian admira
tion and reverence. They have taught
us how to purify our cities, how to re-
| tain our health, and how to regain it,
| what we are in the scale of being, and
to what marvellous system OF grand
| and subtitle forces, in the animal and
vegetable and mineral kingdom, we be-
| long. We know how much they have
| done to enlighten and ciyilize mankind.
But when they enter with US upon the
| field of agricultural investigation, we
ask them to pause with us before that
unexplored region, where lie the strange
forces which we and they admire, obey
and love, with the great God who made
! them.
Come now, o practical farmer, with
me, and see what you have done for the
development of your calling, guided by
the light of experience alone You
have discovered that remarkable system
| of drainage by which the hard and I'M
| yielding bed of clay becomes through the
agency of a simple circulating tube, as
| obedient to the hand of the cultivator,
| as the warmest and most fertile loan.
| You have brought out of wild and use
| less classes of plants the nutritious
grains and luxuriant fruits which nour-
| ish and delight. You have seized and
tanned the species of animals adapted to
your wants, and have produced every
variety of breed which diversity of soil
and climate and market may require.
The heavy short horn makes haste to
| repay you for his food, by rapid pro-
duction of beef The hardy and patient
| Ayrshire deyotes all her faculties to an
abundant supply for your dairy. The
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