Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-28
AFTERNOON.


AFTERNOON.
The first halrhour, and something over, Of
the afternoon session was appropriated to Mr..
Ross, of Mortified, Mass, who explained the
Ross system Of cultyating corn, and other
crops cultivated in rows, with the Ross horse
hoe. He was present by request Of the Sec
rotary of the Board, and if his statements
were true which there was no reason to
doubt the farmers present learned how
crop of corn, potatoes and pumpkins, valued
at s39s, was made for So, exclusive Of har-
vestng. The hoe is a twenty-five dollar i'm
plemeut, we believe, and if its performances
are equal to it, well backed manifesto, it must
take its place, if not at the head of labor
saving machines along side of the mower and
reaper.
Prof Henry W. SEELEy, Of Middlebury
College, next read very compact and well
written essay on the RELATION OF ScrrNcr
TO AGRICULTURE" The style Of this 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 manner in which it was presented.
lie commenced by saying that the ancient
philosopher put the widest possible distance
between his philosophy and the useful arts
and occupations. To his mind, there was
probably not the slightest connection one with
the other. Thought and labor were as distant
as the poles; or if there was the slightest
relationship, it was that of master and ser
want. Philosophy regarded labor as a meni
al, fit only to do its bidding, To the people
in general Science was but speculation {
dream, which had not any interest or yalu,
to them.
The natural antagonism thus engenderoC
between the theoretical aud the practical pre-
vented either from coming to its complete
iuue's BY harmoniziug these discordau
parties the bsnefcenco Of both could be be
slowed upon mankind, The tyranny of phi
losophy must be laid aside, and the plea Of
the old time prince and patriarch ave ar,
brethren let there be no strife between us,
enthroned the two together and brought abou
a rule beneGcent to the human race TIL
speaker thought the happy days of reconcile
| alton had arrived, and that now every discSv
cry, heretofore kept within the knowledge o
the few, becomes the property Of ALL Sci
ence has renowned its exclusiveness and i
, now the servant Of all. For commerce, sci
ence is revealing the laws of the winds o
Heaven, is reading the statutes that rule th'
tickle waves and the head-strong currents 0
the ocean, making the ocean as a highway, a
familiar as daily path. On land it
achievements are no less wonderful. Til
way that on the ocean was a wave is here 0
iron. Mountain or river is but slight oh
staele to the progress Of travel.
To the manufacturer and tho artisan sci
+ ence has been most liberal in its fayors. AM
having accomplished so much for other in
4 dustres and pursuits which was expressed il
f fitting words that we cannot here repeat, tn
. consideration Of the subject announced wa
| gracefully introduced.
I PRoF. SEELEY stated the supposition tina
! two hundred millions Of men are actually en-
, gagged in the culture of the earth, or in oocu
pations that minister directly to the susie
nance Of mankind. Agriculture had not de
rived from classified knowledge the assistance
) that had been given to the arts. The com
| plexiIy of the application of science to agri
. culture was apparent Its application Il
test the value Of an ore was well understood
But the connection between science and agri
. culture is becoming so plain that it can II
longer be neglected and practical men arr
now anxious to receive instruction from scien
. tifc men, and scientific men are eager to i'm
part what they know or undertake new re