Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-06-03
2fericulfural Department
---- ------------ :
/. d. R. COLLINS, Editor.
RELATION OF SCIENCE TO AGRI-
CULTURE.

rTOI. IL. w. OecIty VI MluuIouuiy i0"u
a paper on this subject. The style of
the paper was particularly pleasing. but
the interest of its matter was not in the
least obscured, or lost sight of by the
| grace and thorough thought trained man.
ner in which it was presented. He COM
menced by saying that the ancient phi
llosopher put the widest possible distance
between his philosophy and the useful
arts and occupations To his mind.
there was probably not the slightest con-
nection one with the other. Thought
and labor were as distant as the poles !;
or if there was the slightest relation
ship, it was that of master and servant.
Philosophy regarded labor as mental,
fit only to do its bidding. To the peo-
pie in general, science was not specu-
lation, dream, which had not any in
-terest or value to them.
The natural antagonism thus engen-
|
| dered between the theoretical and the
practical prevented either from coming
to its complete fullness. By harmonic
ing these discordant parties the benef-
cence of both could be bestowed upon
mankind. The tyranny of philosophy
laid aside, and the plea prevailing of
the old time prince and patriarch ave
are brethren; let there be no strife be-
tween us, enthroned the two together
and brought about a rule benefcent to
the human race. The speaker thought
the happy days Of reconciliation had ar
rived, and that now every discovery,
heretofore kept within the knowledge of
the few, becomes the property of all.
Science has renowned its exclusiveness
and is now the servant of all. For CON-
merce, science is revealing the laws of
the winds of heaven, reading the statutes
that rule the tickle waves and the head
strong currents of the ocean, making the
ocean as a highway, as familiar as a
daily path. On land its achievements
are no less wonderful. The way that
on the ocean was wave is here of iron.
Mountain or river is but slight obsta-
Gle to the progress of travel.
To the manufacturer and the artisan,
science has been most liberal in its ia.
vors. And having accomplished so much
for other industries and pursuits, which
was expressed in fitting words that we
cannot here repeat, the consideration Of
the subject announced was gracefully
intro duced
Prof. Seeley stated the supposition tina
two hundred millions of men are actu
ally engaged in the culture of the earth
or in occupations that minister directly
to the sustenance of mankind. Agri
culture lad not derived from classified
knowledge the assistance that ha(
been given to the arts. The complex.
ty of the application of science to agri
culture was apparent. Its application
to test the value of an ore was we'll I'm
derstood. But the connection between
/ science and agriculture is becoming s
plain that it can no longer be neglected
and practical men are now anxious to re
ceive instruction from scientific men
and scientific men are eager to impair
e what they know, or undertake new re
searches for the purpose of clearing u
t what is unknown.
The department of science most init
mately connected with Agriculture
, Geology, Chemistry, Botany and Zoolc
gy were then severally dwelt upon i
| detail in furnishing much material fl
: after thought to those who would becom
masters of their time honored professio
1 as tillers of the soil. We cannot in TIL
S brief abstract, convey much of an ide
a of how intimately every farmer in We
! mont is associated with, and depender
a upon, the laws governing in these var
r Gus departments, for whatever succe:
or reverse he may meet with in produt
ipr +bo ,oe,,l4o &C -, &c Il
It quently, but in familiar language, pr
:. sented by Prof. Seeley. The. miners
q construction and composition of tt
1t globe, as taught by Geology, the int
o mate and invisible constitution of ma
Ie ter, as revealed by Chemistry, the appl
h cation of most important rules to cult
a. walton which knowledge of Botany flu
# nishes and the iron-clad armor again
+ the numberless enemies of the harve
,e which Zoology as science to gre
N extent discloses, where all reviewed vii
skill worthy of master of the stu
8 ton. In passing Neurology, the y
II undeveloped of-shoot of Natural Philo
[e ophy and its bearings upon agricultur
1t was dwelt upon as something yet to
ar disciplined and trained into practic
use. The laws of the winds, their goil
out and their coming in, science has
IA some extent discovered. Though '
ID may never be able to compel the sky
n send down rain at our call, or the fro
to to flee at our word, still we can to sor
is extent equalize the fall of showers, al
k, mitigate the severity of the frost. r
IS benefcient influence of the winds as
III messenger to blast the seeds of pestilen
| an6 nfau l.