Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-10-03
AGRICULTURAL.
APPLYING MANURES.


1t may, perhaps, appear to some rather
out Of place to talk of manure at this season.
1t is, however, a subject of too much practi-
cal importance, to be really out of place at
any season. Farmers are not always over
attentive to those matters, upon the careful
consideration Of which the future product
iveness Of their farms depends, and shall
therefore offer no apology or excuse Tor CIV
ing their rennissness and inattention gen
tie jog at this time, by way of an awake
enr.
ga stitch in time saves nine, says sthe old
adage Every one must be aware that IN
order to succeed in agricultural efforts, one
must necessarily understand something of
the philosophy of manures and | would OBJ
serve tllatt KY object at this time is far less
to embody speculative opinions and theor-
les, than to arouse attention to certain phil
osophical principles, as illustrated by famil-
lar results, in the practice of individuals to
whom the investigation of these principles
and their exposition, have been subjects OF
patient and long pursuit The really little
accurate knowledge we possess at present on
this all-important topic, must operate as a
powerful incentive tonew efforts, rather than
as a sedative; and the little we have learned,
whether bydint ofactual practical experiment
or by thewritings of others, can only be pro-
ductive of the bestresults, when it is permit
ted to excite an interest, and to arouse the
understanding to full and justappreciation
of the extent we have yet to learn.
The world abounds with therories, and to
sift the true from the suppositious and rad
ically false, is the task imposed by necessity
upon all who would behold their efforts pros
porous, and their labors crowned with sue
cess.
tits time that we arouse from these dreams
We must look about us Reason must no
longer remain subordinate to fancy; and if
we would progress upon principles of sober
reason and philosophy we hope ever to
see ourselves successful in the prosecution
of not only the most ancient, but the most
honorable and the most useful, also, OF all
human employments, and which has, in
every age, constituted the basis of national
prosperity and glory, wherever civilization
has diffused Its kindly BEAMS REASON and
PHILOSOPHY must direct our course and the
method of its pursuit.
While one labors to build up or remodify,
another, equally sanguine, perhaps, in the
truthfulness of his own system, is as assidu-
ously laboring to pull down; and hence it
is that notwithstanding the discrepancies of
philosophers and the opposing nature of
their ''creeds," which, as we become ac-
quainted with all, deter us from adopting
any of them, in detail, we haveyet amid the
brick and mortar, enough perhaps of adapt
ed material to erect and finish what may be
a consistent and valuable edifce of our own.
On this subject my advice to every one is
look well before you leap adopt no system
without candid consideration consult the
minutes of your own and your neighbors ex-
perience, and when an experiment has prov
ed successful, whether sanctioned by theor-
les or not, let it be tested on limited scale
at first, preparatory to its adoption or rejec-
ton, as it may subsequently appear to de-
serve. 1t is not always the case that an ex-
pertinent which has been attended with good
results on one species of soil or crop, or in
one season, will prove equally so when the
circumstances are varied Hence opinions
predicted upon data thus obtained, are not
safe, and are as likely to mislead as to d.
rect Alright. 1t is only oft-repeated and uni
form results that ought to satisfy us in such
matters and hence the importance of pre-
serving study and observation, and of candor
in conducting all experimental efforts tend
ing to this great .-G9n1anto,0D Tele-
0rnDh.