Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-11-30
improve d Me thods,In Fafim,ing.

| Ele gam the mastery over nafure4.a
| thorough knowledge Of her way $ and laws
Iof action is first required. !, a3ga' siSi
3 This Knowledge IS called science a SIS
name that Jars upon thesears of those who
| are accustomed toassociate with 1T all that
his dry, abstruse and worthless in the
range of human requirements.
8 When understood at ight, this prejudice
is dispelied, and we learn that noibing
smore attractive or efficient can; be found
to. furnish food for thought. to. discipline
the mind and give fund Of, useful inr
forRlation that will be highly p-,zed for &
its intrinsic value Ia the practicalispur-
suits of lfe3aos 200 Ii .lseaaa ags ~ sssaa
4 a. The ,tlemchts efssoilse the laws, of life,
the growth of plshts, and GO finals, with
their, complex relations and mutual de-
pendence, the actions and 5re-aet ions tina ais
are constantly faking place in the; painer-,i
al and organic Kingdoms, are subjects in q,
which the farmer cannot fail 10. feel an
Interest, when the means Of gaining such =
! knowledge, are placed within bis reach. 'r7<
| The in formation ganed 10 the discuss
ton OF these and indrefh topics csnnot
fail to, be ofoonsl antluse IN the practice Of
his profession, besides furnishing an mex
| haustibie source of in Intellectual enjoy&, p
nent a aaEd. -. II
In advocating the claims of science as, f.
a means asdSaucing the interest Of ag.
riculture..a word Of caytion is perhaps
advisable lest apprehension in re- 2
gard to its pracica! uses, gives rise toaaza
] false impression aIow sidg .s3lsss -
+ Science in unfold ing the mysteries Of Z,
nature. brings to,ligh. many Of the laws
that underlie and explain the rules Of ~
practice that experience has prescribed g
for our guidance, and thus widening the
| fed of knowledge, points outinew subjects
for experimental investigation that may
| in their turn develop additional rutes OF
practical value
J : go far, then, as improvements in agri- D.
| culture are Concerned, scfe5tes, in its pres
eut deve lopment, is merely suggestive.
it cannot turn ish rules to guide our prac-
tee it can only point out the direction
| in which new inTestaga ions may be tH
made with prospect of successful results.
II thus Performs iasseryice. the i'm portance Is,
| Of which caahardy be goverestma ed. -r
| Abandon tue idea that abstract ,inves-
/ t-gat;ons in scieice are, Of themselves, ~
sufficient TO revolution;ze r'practice and s.3i
bring about agricultural millennium, and
/ the true road to progress will be readily j,
gained. benz s.f ..es.ls ,-,F, an
In speaking, then, Of i.nnroved farm
| ing. improved methods. better systems
| of practice, etc.. would be understood
| to Indicate modes of practice that have IS
been ty the experience of intelligent. ~,
prac teal men, and thus shown to be bet.
ter than the methods now more generally
| IN use, "'@"
Agriculture has been called the mothers =
of art, but in pointo real Developments 7eJ
it has not as yet passed the stage Of in.
fancy. For long time stationary, il
not on the ret ograda. it is But Quite re- 't
Gently that fair start has been gained
in the way Of progress. q 'a''' o1osaa.F 9dI
I The progressive spirit of the age, 81 d
wbieh the past few years has given ah ., -
impetus to the growth and, development
of the mechanical arts to an extent that
challenges our admiration. is now, by 80
directi increa:ed attention TO improve 81
nlents in agriculture, laying sure foun-
dation for its continued advancement, by
developing the principles on ghieh it is ,-..
based, and thnsinsurihg greater certain-
ty in its results. .. $500. -.r,
From present ind catohs we may rea- 'f "a
sonablv expect AT no distant rcriod. 10 la'.
see agriculture, from the, perfection of
its processes, enabled to assume that Ell
high position among the industrial arts
whicE is justly claimed for it on the 's
ground OF its preeminence as means 'ofbsa
prosperity.
10 artsin this coasummaiiop SO deyoutiy az
to be wished, requires an earnest, unitet -,
and persistent effort Oh the. part eff the D =
aerieuiiurists. hssf ssysHs - IIiR Efiss.s svi'
= Tina 9eaxpefSencc ana de4ailed eotiserva- Z, ri