Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-27

which make smooth the rough corners of life
must not be neglected.
Prof Nicholson gave his second lecture on
Friday. He began by speaking of the impossi-
bility of occupying in detail all the ground in
cluded in the science of agriculture. The
subject is inexhastibe. The created world is
divided into the organic and the inorganic. The
organic world is divided into two great king
doms-the animal and the vegetable. Organic
and inorganic bodies differ. Organic structures
grow by means of organs; inorganic structures
are destitute of organs. Plants and animals de-
velop from a germ; inorganic substances do
not Plants and animals grow by selecting
| nourishment; minerals by eonglomeration.
Plants assimilate other substances minerals do
not, Plants and animals constantly change
their constituents minerals never change.
Plants and animals attain full development,
and after existing limited period die-all or
ganisms die-butinorganic bodies donot. Plants
and animals reproduce and propagate their spe-
cies. Again, individuality exists in organic
structures, but not in inorganic substances; for
example the broken pieces of block of mar
BILE are marble STILL but the fragments of q shat.
tered tree are not trees.
The inorganic or mineral kingdom furnishes
food for the vegetable kingdom, and vegetables
afford food for animals. These three are the
trinity of the world. God gave (Gen. 1907 veg
etables to animals to eat The prime purpose
of vegetation is to furnish food for animals of
the mineral world, to preserve vegetable life.
This has an application to agriculture Agri-
culture has for its object the production of GER
tain plants for food and clothing for man.
Therefore, to be an agricuturalist man must
have a knowledge of the vegetable kingdom.
The art of agriculture consists of the practices
by which plants are produced. The science of
agriculture is an exposition of the laws govern
ing the production of plants. Science may be
practiced to perfection without knowledge of
its existence, yet no one succeeds we'll in an art
without some knowledge of its laws. As an
example, the farmer learns to adapt his crops
to the soil, and learns the rotation of crops
merely by observation and without knowledge
of the laws governing in such cases. 1t is by
callecting facts that science arrives at her laws
Science supplies the place of experience
From the beginning agriculture has been di-
vided into the two departments of tillage and
pasturage. Abel kept his focks and Cain titled
the ground. The division began at the gate of
Eden. There are other minor divisions, but
these are the most important
If time permitted, it would be interesting to
inquire into the early modes of farming. Jacob
was well versed in many of the mysteries of
cattle breeding. The more we know of the pro-
fciency of the ancients, the less room we have
for Boosting. The iron and brass implements
made by the disciples of Tubal-C may have
been superior to ours. One of the prominent
characteristics Of agriculture is its slow progress
This arises from the imuobility of men in fixed
customs, Greek poet has said ITO instruct
an old man and raise the dead are two things
almost equally difficult There is a we'll
known insect which always cries, Katy-didl u
Katy p and by it the speaker is remind
ed of race of farmers who always say, Daddy
didr' Daddy did!W
He acknowledged that it was rather severe,
but he claimed the right to criticise, being a
| farmer. himself The ancients had their thresh-
ing machines and mills In Solomon's temple
were dyes of many cOlors, superior to ours.
Some arts were known to the ancients of which
we are new ignorant. You, the young men Of
this generation, are heirs of the responsibilities
of your forefathers. In proportion as your OPP
portunities are great, so are your responsible.
ties The ancients had only the art, while We
have the science and the art. To be master o.
the science of agriculture should be preferred
by a young man to the mastery of any Other
science in all the range of human knowledge
Farming bears favorable comparison with al
other professions. The scientific farmer has tn,
created world for his study, his contemplation
and his enjoyment.
The above are only prominent outlines o
these lectures, as gathered from notes taker
during their delivery. In order to be fully un
derstood and appreciated, they must be heard
from the lips of the speaker, whose style is-ex
ceedingly pleasant graceful and eloquent.
MEMO.
METHODIST PUSHING ITS WAY AMONG
THE HEATHEN.-The Methodist publishes