The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-28
Experiments.

Many Of the most important practical facts
in the mechanical arts, and in agriculture,
are the results of experimenting,-ofex expert
ments tried. not once or twice only.-for in
single cases adventitious circumstances may
prevent success, or seem TO give it,-when
further tests, adding light to light, would
settle the matter upon opposite conclusions
A thorough acquaintance with science may
induce US to experiment Alright, and save US
much time and patience by the application Of
true principles; but science alone can seldom
demonstrate practicle results in advance. In
the application of scientific principles to the
arts and to agriculture, there are so many cir
cumstances to be taken into the account, the
application of which cannot be exactly fore
seen, that we can seldom venture safely upon
course sof practice, till the utility Of it has
been well demonstrated by actual tests
When Sir Humphrey Davy, as scientific
man, ascertained that the soldering of zinc to
a sheet of copper would protect it from corro-
sion in salt water, he was so confident that he
had discovered a principle which would save
thousands to ship owners by the sheathing of
vessels, that he obtained permission to super
intend the coppering of a ship himself on his
own principles, adding zinc to that metal. The
result verified the truth of his theory; the
ship performed voyage and the sheathing
did not corrode; but for this advantage, the
owners lost more by an unlookedfor result,
viz. by being covered more than a foot in
depth with sea-weed and marine molusce'
which rendered her bottom so rough as great
ly to impede her progress through the water.
So, at last, the discovery proved ofno service,
Sir Humphrey was right in his science, but In
reducing it to practical purposes, he had over
looked, or had not discovered, the circumstance
that zinc diverting the copper of its COR
roding or poisonous power, invited the adhe-
sion of banacles, &C., till the bottom was COW
ererd like half an acre of earth attached to the
ship, to be drawn through the water.
Mere science, therefore, can seldom settle
practical results. The most she can do Is to
acquaint us with certain clear principles, and
suggest our applying these principles to practi-
cal purposes by the tests OF experiment.
Lord Bacon used to say, that experimenting
is but asking questions Of Nature. This Is
truly so. The most we can do, If we would
come at certain knowledge is to ask questions
Of dame Nature in the form Of making expert
ments. But all such questions should be based
on principles of natural science and dehnitivs-
ly proposed, or Nature will treat our inquiries
with an Indifferent reply.
Some people whom we know have great
aversion to experimental agriculture. They
have, perhaps, tried few experiments and
failed in them. Consequently they abandon
the whole object In disgust as having lost 30
much time and labor uselessly. Ifexperiments
are tried without knowledge of scientific
principles, IL need be no marvel II the expert
ments fail But let him know something
whereof be Is about before he begins Then
let him 90 to work. A few experiments win