Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-07
UNION CITY.
ADDRESS OF GEN. W. B. BATE,

! a WIN, III view Oh THESE great truths WI
deny the importance of science TO agricul
ture? 1t establishes the relations between
the crop, and the chemical properties of tn
s soil out OF which it grows. lift teaches hin
with the same ease how TO feed his plants
as it does how to feed his flocks; If it show
how the presence of certain constituents
viii impoverish, and certain Others, wher
4 properly combined, viii enrich his soil; if 1
explains the action Of the mineral upon tht
vegetable kingdom, and how the dead eartf
is turned to food for the living; then is il
not the fulcrum upon which rests the Arch
imedean lever that is to upturn anC
revolutionize agriculture? Again, thi:
woodworking chemistry is not confined
alone to the culture of the fields but it in.
vades the grassy meadow and the fruitful
orchard.
The system of manuring and irrigation
adopted by Mr.. Mech, of England, it is
said, enabled him to gather seven crops
of hay from his meadow in one year
We are told by this science, "The root
of the tree selects for the soil, the
kind and quality of inorganic matter
required for its life. Any other tree
may be grated upon it, provided it requires
he same inorganic substances, in nearly the
same proportion, in its natural state. On
the orange, the lemon will grow, because
the inorganic food of each is nearly the
same; but the fig and grape cannot be en-
grated on the orange tree.
They need more lime and potash than the
orange wants for its life; and the air cannot
furnish them to the graft. The dependence
of the graft for its inorganic supply, is on
the roots of the tree upon which it is en-
| grated"
"Organic chemistry is but young sci
ence, walking hand in hand with geology, a
goddess who is pouring her first libations
on the altar of Mother Earth-libations, ac-
ceptable TO God and to man-she is modest
in her step, but sure in her progress, and as
she wends her way to the shrine of her devo-
! ton, she holds the key to the mysteries of
the =" Inner temple" of nature. q follow her.
and she will Unfold 10 your enrapt vision,
the beautiful relations and varied adapta-
tons of earth and air, and fire and water
provided for your use.
Therefore, conclude that as the earth
was created to promote the comfort and
happiness of man, and as he is its natural
and ordained priest, every part of it is sus-
ceptible of being converted TO his use and
appropriated to his advancement in the
scale Of physical, moral, and intellectual
being. | venture to predict, that the mys-
terious mantle which now covers many of
its wonderful and utilizing properties, win
be rent, as vail, by the hand of science,
and the chTysalis, which God, for the time,
concealed in its clriously wrought wrap
pings, will, by the aid of toing science,
work its unfedged form from its darksOme
eel, and lift its beautiful wings, as the but
ter1y, into the joys of light and air. Is this
less probable than that Franklin and Morse
should snatch the lightning's fiery wing, as
it wreathes in sportive twists about Gre
bosom of the cloud, and chain it, with wiry
links, TO the mechanical battery, as medi-
um of thought and conversation for man?
Would this development be more start
ling, than that the genius of Fulton should
circumvent the escaping yapOr, Old Oceans
breath, and subdue it into subseryience. I'M
I'll, mounting the crested wave on her heav-
ing bosom, out-rides the storm; or, seeking
a sister element, stride with iron limbs
limbs that never weary-along her check
cred face, plunging here and there in mad
leaps across her living arteries and through
her solid heart, dragging in her train the car
of commerce across a throbbing CONT
nent?
Wherefore, then, shall the husband
man shrink from the task assigned him.
when Gods curse babe him live by the
sweat of his brow and subdue and replen-
ish tie earth; yet, opened up to him thas
economy of nature which invites him to
redemption?
If agriculture is the natural calling Of
man; if it is the chief source of animal
life; if upon it depend all the diversified
interests Of society; if it Turns the wheels
of the factory, and propels the car of COM
merce; if it gives strength to the sinews
of war" and potency to the wand of peace;
if it Christianizes, eleyates and redeems
man: is it not Of all yOcations, the one in
which there should be most pride? If so,
let it be encouraged, not only by private III
dividuals; not only by such public enter
prise, such generous competition as is evi-
denced here to-day, but by the State. If in
Kentucky, with all her untold wealth OF
field products, and its natural adjunct stock
wealth, has single institution Of learning,
devoted exclusively to agricultural education
and advancement, l am not aware of IT,
Ny own State is but a little ahead Of her
twin-sister in this regard; she has but one
under her fostering care, and that, according
to the generous and benevolent motives by
which its birth was inspired, is too meanly
provided for, considering the necessity for its
existence and the vast utility arising frStn
its operations. 1t is situated at Knoxville, ,
amid the hills and valleys of our Switzerland, /
where boundless wealth lies buried. in the
bowels of the former, and unsurpassed crops /
Of Cerials, are annually gathered from the /
teeming bosom of the latter. 1t affords /
those appliances of science by which the /
mind of the young is imbued with the prin- !
ciples of organic and inorganic "applied /
chemistry" as well as adapted to 4
Kentucky and Tennessee /
have both been neglectful of this I,
great source Of public enlightment and util- /
ity. Should not such institutions be estab- |
lished on the dark and bloody ground" |
as Grand Centres for the radiation of sCien. !
tifc light, and the diffusion of agricultural !
art? Tennessee should, at least, establish /
one in each of her Grand Divisions, and sus-
tain them by public munifcence.
1t is something to observe these things /
and to give science, on her path of toll, a
word Of cheer. 1t is blessing to mankind /
to advise the means by which the fertility of |
the earth may be increased, and its products !
multiplied.
The life Of the husbandman is more invi- |
ting TO the practice and Development of |
true scientific philosophy than any other call /
ing. In the quiet and repose of his fields; .
in that solitude which is the "sChOol Of gen |
ius:" in the contemplation of nature, work
ing her silent, mysterious and mighty labor
8tOry, the process of vegetable and animal |
life, his mind becomes acute, analytic, COM
prehensiye, and often rises to the true dig .
nifty of moral and intellectual greatness. 1t !
IS true, there are many unthinking men who /
seem TO stagger on fortune by sheer luck; |
snG as many who are constantly making
scientific experiments; experiments, which,
''like dead-sea fruit, tempts the eye, but turns
10 ashes on the lips" and of whom, instead
Of growing rich, it may be said, "chill pen
lry repressed their noble rage Yet, isO-
ated instances form exceptions to rules in
stead of establishing them.
While it cannot be desirable that every
farmer should be experimenting with cruel
bic and retOrt, with alkalies, salts &c: vet it
IS the duty of every one to observe and
report cause and consequence, as they NAV
come under his practical observation; and
.hus TO encourage science as he expects
% reap the fruits Of its research. Many
IF those practical actors who have won
prizes in the race of life, on this our great
Dlympian plain, though not surrounded
by philosophical apparatus nor working in
let no opportunity pass to en-
courage agriculture by scientific develop