Daily Mississippi clarion and standard. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1866, 1866-07-21

be mentioned to be admitted by the
most careless. How then is the evil
to be prevented in future, and how
is the injury already done to be
remedied?
There are some who seem to expect
that science ought to give them some
magical formula, by which, without
additional trouble, they might contin-
lie to live carelessly as heretofore
Bat it is not by patent recipes, or crude
experimenting, but by the path OF eX-
perience illuminated by common sense
and sound reasoning, (which consti-
tutes science, that we must seek this
consumation devoutly to be wished
First, We mast study oar soils, and the
means provided By nature far the main
tenance or resuscitation of their fertility.
Secondly, We must teach what aOe hare
so learned to oar agriculturulists, espe-
cially the young, together with the
principles of rational agriculture.
An agricultural Surrey is the need
full preliminary step towards the es-
tablishment of truly practical Schools
of agriculture, in which the youth of
the land shall be taught, not only what
they ought to do in certain suppose
titious cases, but what, in fact and in
practice, are the cases they will have
to deal with.
Both these important objects were
contemplated in the inception of the
Survey, but the former alone has thus
far been essentially promoted, on &C
count both of the incompatibility, at
first, of the duties of a teacher and
chief of the Survey, and the compare
tive inutlity of merely theoretical in
struction in this branch.
Both objections having ceased to
exist, by reason of the advanced state
of the work, it is hoped that now, under
the pressing demand for information
of this kind, the second and most i'm
pOrtant part Of the programme can be
made to resume its place, and n chance
for agricultural education be afforded
the agriculturalist The facts and prin-
ciples set forth by printed report will
be long in becoming part of popular
consciousness, unless they are brought
to bear on the rising generation, and
made part and parcel of their educa-
ton.
But the success of all that has been
and can be done, depends always and
pre- emincntly upon the intelligent in
terest of the agricultural population in
the advancement of their pursuit, and
of their own prosperity. The scien-
tific investigator can but show the
ways and means it is for them to avail
themselves Of the information con
veyed, and in their turn to exert them
selves to amplify and complete it.
The State, through large portion
Of its length and breadth is underlaid
by marls and greensands, excelled
by none in New jersey or Virginia
where they have made the wilderness
Of broom sedge bloom like the rose
But what does this knowledge avail :
man who prefers raising a quarter of 6
bale Of cotton per acre, to doubling
his crops by digging mari pits on one
half of his land? What if the land.
supposed to be worn out are shown t.
be merely in a state of suspended ami
. nation waiting but intelligent cul
ture to reclaim them, if no one i
found willing to bestow it? What i
it is shown that artesian water can b.
made to flow where the poisonou
magnetism waters are now daily quaff
the trouble of boring the wells? w
ed, if the chronic ague is preferred t.
have beds of Ignite, or brown coal
a traversed by railroads; but our CRATE
(if CRATES We aCiU have), continue t.
be fed with Pittsburg coal, and tn
native product is known only a
"black dirt"
Let all contribute to the extent o
their ability, towards systemati
knowledge and development of thei
resources, and the prosperity of Mis-
sissippi will soon be re-established up
on a firmer basis than ever before.
Persons residing within more con
venient reach of Oakland College thai
4 Oxford, may address Prof Georg
1 Little of that institution, who ha
courteously offered his cooperation
!, EUG. W. HILGARD.
State Geologist of Mississippi