Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-03-25
Agricultural Teaching.

One Of our most highly esteemed agricul-
turAl professors not long since remarked
70 W that one OF the M ST embarrassing
difficulties he met in teaching was tire ant
OF definite authorities. whose decisions
might be accepted As final.
In the exact sciences. what ia known Is
known posiliyeIy. Spal NAV. he, e Ugh'- yubh-
tuic farming 10 still in such All experiment.
al stage that there are few authorities
whose weight Is considered to positively
overthrow the apparently conflicting tesli-
mony OF some newly recorded trial. The
laws Of nature are exceedingly intricate.
and 20 many various conditions are involy-
ID Ia the production Of any given crop un-
der different Circumstances Of climate,
weather. soil. &C., that it requii e. the mos,
patient and unbiased observation and study
70 evolve rules which shall be suited tor the
general guidance. All the laws OF vegeta.
Ole aud animal reproduction. and develop
tnent OF chemical changes aud affinities Of
the effects vi climate aud seasons, must be
faithfully sought and studied, and these
studies are in their very nature Incl hAusti-
bic and ever lew. II is often said with re-
proach to those who study and profess
SEINE knowledge Of Agricultural matters.
You do not agree among yourselves !;
how eau you expect TO convince any body
elser But this very disagreement only
proves our knowledge partial, not false.
such ~ 1t Is, il 10 very good. but we want
more Of II. Perhaps there is no way In
which farmers can further their own and
each others interests 40 efficiently. as by
series Of carefully conducted and infinitely
recorded experiments. 1t scarcely matters
what the nature Of the work may be.
whether feeding, or breeding cattle or the
ma aAgement OF any field crop. the essen
tails are the most faithful watchfulness
ever each step OF the process. and all exact
record Of the conditions and results. II is
only by comparing many such experiments
and carefully collating the evidence. that
any general laws can be established
When, however, one has really learned .
great general law or principal, the zpplica-
ton Is almost infinite. You may trace il,
and implicitly rely upon It's action, where
the ignorant would not dream Of any such
regulating law.
Practical experience too often goes with
the unlcsrned, and the wise confins them.
not do in agriculture. Study and practice
must 60 substa Rtially together. But while
actual farm operations must prove and
complete The deductions OF the agricultural
student; there Is an opportunity for the
use of almost every variety Of humsn
knowledge. Natural history in all its
branches interviewer with the interests Of
the farm. A knowledge Of chemical and
elemental laws 10 necessary TO the farmer
and to all the fruits Of the earth in those
nelds Of culture which are less gross, but
not less real, than the II uits Of the visible
soil. be HAS primal and inalienAble right
When authorities seem TO fail, we must
then make authorities. BY proving. or dis
proving the theories Of those writer's best
entitled 70 respsct, and enlsrging the scope
Of our studies and efforts. And this wc |
hops and bsiievs The present generation Of |
farmers mean to do. aud will do. and la the |
next decade we confidently look 70 see |
very great PROCESS In this directions.