Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-10-15

81 go sri
crops grow, OF of the wonderful and beautiful
laws ofvegetable development. He is equally
ignorant of the principles that govern the life OF
the animals he is to raise and to USE All that
he can do is to notice the practice of Others and
to initiate it as closely aspossible, not knowing
the true reasons for what he thus learnsas mat
ter ofrontine, nor knowing any good reason for
trying one thing rather than another if be wish
to make any effort at Improvement.
1 Such man is not only incapable of originating
improved methods himself, or, of meeting any
novel difficulties that come in his way, but he is
even incapable of usefully receiving from Others
the assistance which yielded by the progress of
scientific research. 1t is useless to try to explain
any particular question to one who is ignorant OF
the whole subject.in its scientific aspect--to whom
earbonic acid, ammonia, phosphoric acid, &c,
are simply hard words with no distinct idea at
tached to them, instead of standing for real things
that he has seen and smeled, and tasted and ex-
perienced, and which he knows exist all around
him, silently building up the wheat and corn and
cotton and tobacco, tho production Of which is
his business in life .,,-..,f
Please observe carefully that am not at. all
advocating the idea that scientific study alone
will even make successful farmer, or, that suct.
shouidzfven form averylarge part Of his
training. Farming is au art and, as id the case
of every other art there is way of acquiring
it but by regular, practical apprenticeship in
the field. If the hornely old saying be true,
9''He that by the plough would thrive
si Himself must either hold or drive,
it is especially true in the beginning-the young
farmer must undoubtedly learn how, with his own
hands, both to hold and drive the plough, and
how all other practical details Of the art are to
be carried on. But the requirement of this prac-
teal knowledge will not be in the least interfered
with by his having previously learned something
of the principles upon which he is to work.
Sir Humphrey Davy put this point very clearly
in the following passage from the first of his lee
lures in England on agricultural chemistry, now
more than fifty years ago 'It has been said and
undoubtedly with great truth, that q philosophi-
cal chemist would probably make very unprof
liable business of farming; and this certainly
would be the case if he were q mere philosophi-
cal chemist, and unless he mad served his appren-
ticeshp to the practice of the we'll as to the
theory. Butthere is reason to believe that he
would be, a more successful agriculturst than q
person equally -uninitiated in farming but gno-
rant of chemistry altogether; his SCIENCE as far
as it went, would be useful to him u
In other words, the question is not whether
man who has studied solely in a laboratory or
one who has derived oil his knowledge from sim
plework in the fields is likely to be the better
farmer, but whether he will not far excel them
bothwho has added to careful study of the
broad and simple principles of natural science an
equally thorough mastery in detail Of the meth
DDS by which these principles are applied to farm
ing practice. cf }%>~
Surely the man who is to spend his life in
the cultivation Of the soil may we'll bestow
few monthsin learning, not to be a farmer; that
II repeat it-cannot be learned from books or
by teachers; but in learning what, when he has
become farmer, will often prove to him steady
light, helping him to surmount present difficult
ties and pointing out to him the direction for
future improvements. -
But, as on the one hand it would be we'll that
farmers should more generally aim at acquiring
tor themselves some incite into scientific truths
50 on the other it is greatly to be desired that the
number OF chemists and other scientific laborers
devoting their attention to agriculture should be
increased
For reason to which have alluded the solu-
ton OF agricultural questions demands the COM
bined efforts of q very large number of persons
both in the field and in the laboratory-tht
amount Of work required is beyond the powers of
any one or any few of those devoting themselves
to such research.
In Europe, especially in Germany and France,
government means are literally applied to the
maintenance oflaboratories for agricultural re-
Search and large number ofthoroughly trained
chemists are constantly at work
AS an evidence that here at home we are not
altogether without NOV ement in the same direc-
to mention one step lately resolved upon by the
Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia
In arranging for the extension of instruction
rendered possible by the gift of the late Samuel
Miller of Lynchburg for the support of depart
ment OF agricultural science, it has been decided
to establish two scholarships, each of five hun
dred dollars year and tenable for two years
and to be competedfor annually at a special e1-
animation of candidates voluntarily presenting
themselves-such candidates to have previously
completed the regular course of instruction in
the school of agriculture and industrial :chemis-
try-those who are successful to engage in further
study and in the prosecution Of useful scientific
research UNI der the direction of the Professor of
the school f, r the period ofthe scholarship These
are the main features of the plan, though the de-
tails may be modified. .fiH- 10 ~
By this planit is hoped that the University may
become the means of supplying to the State
number of thoroughly trained practical chemists,
who during the proposed period of advanced
study will have had an adequate and assured sup
port as we'll as great advantage for the prosecu-
ton of their labors, and will have accomplished
much useful public work in the shape of analyses
and Investigations of matters connected with ag-
riculture.
Lastly, would suggest that just such societies
IS that have the honor of addressing, and just
such occasions as the present might be made adj I
itionally useful by the proposal of distinct agr-
The combined efforts of farmers and scientific men
not too many questions being taken up at one
time, but these to be, if possible, worked out to
definite conclusions.
Thus, at each annual meeting Joint commit
tee might be raised, consisting partly of practical
armers and partly of agricultural chemists such |
to carefully prepare for the meeting of
The following year report, in which should be |
set forth one OR two questions, clearly stated, /
and of practical interest and importance-such
IS, for example; what proportion ought the |
components Peruvian Guano &C. - |
n mixed fertilizer to bear to the phosphates for
The culture of wheat on the more important soils |
If the Valley OF Virginia ?-Is there any advan |
"a ge in using potash in the form of sulphate
'ather than murate upon tobacco, OR the re-
yerse 2--Up to what limit as to quantity may |
plaster beused on clover land with profit? and
30 forth. Each question proposed should be &C
with statement of the method pro-
1osed for examining it-a programme to be car
led ont by all those willing 10 assist in the ex-
wing the exact mode of experiment.
ng IN detail and tho heads under which returns
,ffacts obtained are wanted, Here are some
printed programmes of this kind, referring to ex-
oeriments on T. baeco manures which some gen |
lemen have been kind enough to undertake for |
ne during the present Overwhelmingly q
most unfavorable one for the purpose, owing to
he drought. These may serve to illustrate such
orms as might be used. -'
There then should bean understanding as to
he names and addresses of these farmers who
IRE willing to promise their active cooperation
n carrying out the field work of such expert /
nents as might be determined on, and, in like |
nanaer, Of tnose chemists, who agree to make
my analyses necessary to fully work out the
question or questions: Such services ought to
'e and doubtless would be, rendered freely and
Without cost, hut in cases involving expense for
fertilizers, seeds, &C. some assistance
n meeting such expenses would seem to be no
or useless mode of employing the
unds of the Society. M ~ /
Finally, report to the Society at a subsequent
Meeting upon any question thus carefully exam
ned, giving the conclusions arrived at and the
Experimental facts upon which these conclusions
lad been based, would be of great value to all